(ABUJA-Nigeria: May 12, 2026) Farmers in Nigeria are seeing significant benefits from genetically modified (GM) crops. New varieties of cowpea, maize, and cotton provide higher yields, lower production costs, and better protection against pests and drought.
Research published in the 12th edition of the African Seed, with contributions from Dr. Tignegre Jean Baptiste (AATF Project Manager for Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea) and others, noted that GM crops are making a real difference in farming communities. “For many smallholder farmers, GM crops have changed the growing season from one of stress and heavy losses to one marked by greater confidence and more reliable harvests.”
A clear example is cowpea production, where the introduction of the pod borer-resistant cowpea, SAMPEA 20-T, has changed farming for thousands of households. Before this variety was available, farmers struggled with the Maruca vitrata pod borer, a harmful pest capable of destroying as much as 80 percent of a harvest during severe outbreaks.
To control the pest, many farmers had to spray pesticides six to ten times each season, often without protective gear. This practice raised production costs and put farmers, particularly women who typically handled spraying, at risk for health issues like skin irritation, headaches, and eye troubles.
The situation started to improve after the commercial release of the improved cowpea variety in 2019. Farmers report that the new crop provides almost complete protection against the pod borer, cutting pesticide sprays from ten to just two per season. The result has been healthier crops, lower costs, and increased incomes for households.
The data shows that yields have increased by about 20 percent in moderate pest seasons and by as much as 100 percent during severe infestations. Farmers also save between $25 and $37 per hectare in spraying costs, which can now cover school fees, food, and other family needs.
Adoption of this technology has steadily increased. Certified seed production grew from 7 metric tonnes in 2020 to 489.8 metric tonnes in 2024, and the number of farmers using these seeds jumped from 3,500 to 244,900 during the same time. Studies by the International Food Policy Research Institute project economic benefits of about $350 million from the crop, including $258 million directly benefiting farmers.
A similar transformation is happening in maize fields with TELA maize hybrids, such as SAMMAZ 72T, 73T, 74T, and 75T, which were released for commercial cultivation in 2024. These hybrids combine resistance to fall armyworms and stem borers with drought tolerance, two major challenges for maize farmers. During the 2024 wet season, farmers planting TELA maize reportedly harvested nearly twice as much grain compared to those using traditional varieties. The average yield from TELA fields was 5.9 tonnes per hectare, while non-TELA fields averaged just over 3 tonnes.
Farmers say the new maize varieties also lessen the need for repeated pesticide applications. Conventional maize may need several sprays, while TELA maize often requires just one or none at all. This decrease in pest damage has led to higher profits, with farmers earning 137 percent more in net revenue than those planting conventional varieties.
Cotton farmers are also starting to see benefits from biotechnology. Between 2019 and 2024, Mahyco BG-II cotton was grown on about 20,900 hectares in Nigeria, with 750 hectares planted in 2025 alone. The crop’s better insect resistance, improved lint quality, and reduced spraying needs are helping to encourage interest in a sector that has faced many challenges.
Across Nigeria, farmers report practical and immediate benefits from GM crops: higher yields, fewer chemicals, lower costs, improved health, and more stable incomes. For many families, this translates to more food on the table, better ability to pay for education, and greater resilience against climate challenges.
From the farms comes a clear message from those most affected: Nigerian farmers are adopting GM crops because the technology is beneficial for them.
