By Alberta Asanewa Dwirah
Farmers across Ghana are reporting higher yields and lower production costs following the introduction of Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea, an improved variety designed to combat persistent pest infestations in cowpea farming.
A farmer at Heritage Seeds Company Limited, Abukari Abdulai, said in an interview that cowpea production in recent years has been severely affected by pests, particularly the maruca pod borer, resulting in significant losses for farmers and seed producers.
“Cowpea production was becoming a nightmare for many of us. In some cases, farmers could lose up to 100 per cent of their produce due to pest infestation,” he stated.
He explained that before the introduction of the improved variety, farmers relied heavily on insecticides, applying them between six and 12 times within a single production cycle.
“We were spraying between six and 12 times in a season, which increased our production costs and also posed risks to our health and the environment,” he added.
Mr Abdulai noted that the PBR cowpea has significantly reduced pesticide use to about two or three applications per season while maintaining high yields.
“A farmer who used to apply about 10 to 15 litres of insecticide per acre is now using just one or two litres. This has drastically reduced production costs and increased profits,” he said.
He further indicated that the innovation has revived interest in cowpea farming, with many farmers returning to the crop after previously abandoning it.
Meanwhile, a food scientist, Dr Flora Amagloh, assured the public of the safety of the PBR cowpea. She said the genetic modification focuses solely on pest resistance and does not affect the crop’s nutritional composition.
She added that assessments by the National Biosafety Authority have confirmed that the crop poses no allergenic or toxic risk. The reduced use of pesticides, she noted, could further enhance food safety.
“Unless someone already has an allergy to cowpea, there should be no problem,” she said.
Experts are encouraging farmers and the public to embrace biotechnology, noting that innovations such as the PBR cowpea provide practical and sustainable solutions to agricultural challenges, while strengthening food security and improving livelihoods in Ghana.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com