By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
Agricultural experts have urged the Benue State government to partner with research institutions and private companies to enhance food production in the state.
Leading a team to the office of the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources on Thursday, Vitalis Tarnongu, a large-scale farmer and Chief Executive Officer of Teryima Nigeria Limited, called on the government to collaborate with his seed company to give farmers access to improved seeds.
Tarnongu presented high-yielding varieties of cowpea, millet, soybean, and maize developed by scientists at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM), formerly the Federal University of Agriculture, to the commissioner.
He described the university as a knowledge hub that farmers and government must leverage to boost livelihoods.
Dr. Teryima Iorlamen, a Seed Systems Principal Investigator at JOSTUM, explained that the institution had developed drought-tolerant varieties of cowpea and maize, noting that many farmers were still unaware of the research breakthroughs.
“I work with over 2,000 farmers under Teryima to spread these high-yielding seeds across Benue and other northern states. These varieties have been in existence for more than 10 years, but many farmers still do not know about them. With government support, farmers can benefit from early-maturing maize and cowpeas that are ideal for climate change conditions,” Iorlamen said.
Tarnongu, who also chairs the Federation of Agricultural Commodities Association of Nigeria (FACAN) in Benue, added that his short-duration varieties of maize, cowpea, and sesame were crucial for addressing climate challenges.
Responding, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Benjamin Anchaver, commended the initiative and pledged to engage the experts further in strengthening the state’s agricultural sector.
