The Emir of Rano Chiefdom in the northern Nigerian state of Kano, Amb. Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa has commended the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) for its dedication to advancing agricultural technologies that have proven to be beneficial to smallholder farmers and rural communities.
Amb. Inuwa who spoke when a delegation led by AATF met with him to garner support for the adoption of Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea (PBR) a genetically modified version of the locally consumed beans variety to resist the pod borer reiterated his commitment to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable agricultural practices and enhance the resilience of local food systems, hence a his decision to fully support the promotion and adoption of PBR cowpea within the Rano Emirate.
The meeting held at the Emir’s Palace in Rano aimed to solicit the Monarch’s support in promoting the uptake of PBR Cowpea, crop designed to withstand the devastating impact of pests and enhance agricultural productivity in Nigeria.
The leader of the delegation, Dr Jean Baptiste, AATF Regional Representative for West Africa said that cowpea, a staple crop in Nigeria, plays a crucial role in addressing food security and nutritional needs, particularly in rural communities.
Baptiste said that AATF and partners including Nigerian scientists, developed the PBR cowpea varieties by genetically engineering it to resist the destructive effects of the pod borer as a way of offering a sustainable solution to improve yields and enhance farmer livelihoods.
