The executive Director of the institute for Agricultural Research Ahmadu Bello University Zaria professor Ibrahim Umar Abubakar says the institute has developed a new variety of seeds which resist cowpea disease called Moruka Testulalis aimed at a boosting cowpea production in the country.
Abubakar stated this during a cowpea field day held at Bagadawa village in Dawakin tofa local government area of Kano state.
He said the institute was working tirelessly in conducing various researches targeted at curtailing various challenges that hinders cowpea production in Nigeria .
The executive Director maintained that moruca Testulalis was the major challenging insect that affects cowpea production,which account for thirty percent of it’s yield lost.
He said the institute was able to developed a pod Bora resistance cowpea which resist moruca insects and reduces cost of production.
Professor Ibrahim Umar Abubakar noted that the new variety of seeds is currently under trial in kano,KADUNA,Bauchi,zamfara,Niger,Abuja,oyo,and Abia states among others.
Khadijah Umar and Jibril Musa jibo were among the farmers that participated in the enlightenment programme on the new variety of seeds. They said the new seeds would boost cowpea production and address numerous challenges that affect production prior to the Advent of the new technology.
