The Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM), Benue State, formerly known as the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), is set to release a new variety of cowpea, FUAMPEA 5. The new variety is an improvement of the earlier released FUAMPEA 3 & 4 and is expected to meet the requirements of cowpea farmers in terms of size and color. The development of the new variety was a collaboration between the university, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and other seed companies, funded by the Sygenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture (SFSA). The Acting Vice Chancellor of JOSTUM emphasized the importance of extending these improved varietals to rural farmers to enhance food security.