Plateau Cargo Airport: East-West Seed Unveils 40 Vegetable Varieties For Export Vegetables

News Investigators/ East-West Seed Nigeria has unveiled 40 improved vegetable varieties to boost agricultural exports, increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen Nigeria’s food security.

Gideon Oluwasheun Orolakin, Country Manager of East-West Seed Nigeria, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the National Field Day held in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s plan to convert Plateau State Airport into a cargo airport to facilitate direct exportation of agricultural produce, particularly vegetables and potatoes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu announced the plan during a recent engagement in Plateau, saying the proposed cargo airport would open international markets to farmers and stimulate economic growth.

Speaking at the event, Mr Orolakim called for a shift from subsistence farming to profitable, dignified and sustainable agricultural businesses to improve farmers’ livelihoods.

He said the field day showcased about 40 improved vegetable varieties, providing farmers with practical opportunities to assess their performance and profitability.

According to him, the varieties were displayed at different stages of production, with some still growing on the field while others had been harvested and displayed as produce.

He explained that the demonstration enabled farmers to observe the crops’ performance and appreciate the benefits of adopting improved seed technologies.

Orolaki said participating farmers were expected to serve as ambassadors and informal extension agents by sharing the knowledge acquired with other farmers in their communities.

He described agriculture as the foundation of Nigeria’s economy, noting that farmers played critical roles in ensuring food security, creating employment and sustaining communities.

According to him, agriculture employs more than 70 per cent of Nigerians, making it the country’s largest employer of labour.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Mohammad-Lawal Atanda, Director-General, National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), commended East-West Seed Nigeria for supporting farmers with quality seeds and practical training on improved cultivation techniques.

Atanda, represented by Dr Idris Bala, said NIHORT was supporting tomato farmers in selected local government areas of Kaduna State with improved seeds and training to combat pest infestation.

He said the initiative was designed to strengthen tomato production and equip farmers with practical skills to control Tuta absoluta, a destructive pest threatening tomato cultivation.

He identified the benefiting areas as Shika, Giwa, Lere and Ikara, adding that improved tomato seeds and relevant agricultural inputs would be provided alongside training on effective pest management.

Earlier, the Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Bamalli, had urged farmers to adopt improved crop varieties and modern farming practices to enhance productivity, strengthen food security and improve livelihoods.

The Emir, represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa-Bamalli, Madakin Gonar Zazzau, said farmers remained central to national development, describing them as the backbone of food security, peace and prosperity.

He said the field day provided an opportunity for farmers to observe improved vegetable varieties, appropriate planting distances, fertiliser application techniques and effective pest management practices.

Bamalli expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) and East-West Seed, describing the initiative as an important contribution to agricultural development.