Federal Government Trains Southeast Women Farmers on Biotechnology and Disease-Resistant Seedling Deployment

Federal agency SHESTCO empowers 35 women farmers in Enugu and Anambra with disease-resistant seed technology to boost Southeast food security.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 11:31 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Champion Newspapers

Empowering Rural Women Through Advanced Biotechnology

A federal research initiative led by the Sheda Science and Technology Complex, or SHESTCO, has launched a targeted training program to modernize farming practices in Enugu and Anambra States. Under the "Seedwise Women Project," the agency is educating female agriculturalists on the practical application of biotechnology to improve crop resilience. Dr. Andrew Iloh, Deputy Director of the Biotechnology Advanced Research Centre, emphasized that the program is designed to bridge the gap between high-level scientific research and grassroots farming. By focusing on women, whom Iloh described as the "custodians of biodiversity," the government aims to create a ripple effect of technical knowledge throughout the Southeast's rural communities.

Combating Pests with Genetically Improved Crop Varieties

The training specifically highlights the advantages of improved seedlings, such as the pod borer-resistant cowpea, which are engineered to withstand common pests without excessive chemical intervention. These biotech crops are developed to address the specific environmental stressors found in Nigerian soil, including drought and local insect populations. Dr. Iloh clarified that these varieties, including Bt cowpea, Tela maize, and Bt cotton, undergo rigorous scientific validation and regulatory approval before reaching the market. The objective is to replace traditional, lower-yield seeds with varieties that offer predictable harvests and reduced operational losses for small-scale farmers.

Addressing Public Misconceptions and Seed Safety

A significant portion of the workshop was dedicated to demystifying the science behind genetically improved seeds. SHESTCO officials addressed common misconceptions regarding biotechnology, noting that approved seeds in Nigeria have been certified by relevant regulatory agencies for both environmental safety and human consumption. By explaining the intersection of traditional breeding and modern molecular biology, the trainers sought to build institutional trust among participants. This educational outreach is considered vital for the adoption of new technologies in regions where skepticism toward non-traditional farming methods remains a barrier to industrial progress.