By CHRISTIANA LOT, Jos –
The Besang Chun family has unveiled plans to cultivate a 5-hectare Chun farm as a foundational step to preserve their cultural heritage and back Plateau State’s renewed agricultural drive.
The President of Besang Chun, Chief Pamson Dagyat, disclosed this during the Wonong Chun 2025 Festival in Vwang on Saturday, where he urged family members and the wider Berom community to embrace farming as a means of promoting health, unity, and food security.
Chief Dagyat described the initiative as part of a broader commitment to support Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s agricultural policies, highlighting Chun’s vital role in Berom tradition and its emerging global appeal as a highly nutritious grain.
According to agricultural historians, Fonio (acha) known locally as Chun among the Berom and commonly referred to as “hungry rice” is one of Africa’s oldest cereals, cultivated for more than 5,000 years. Celebrated for its rich nutritional profile and gluten-free properties, Chun holds profound cultural significance in Berom land, where ancient rituals precede each farming season to invoke divine blessings. Studies have identified over 16 varieties of Chun traditionally preserved across Berom communities.
Highlighting the cultural importance of Chun, Chief Dagyat said the Wonong Chun Festival “transcends the boundaries of a mere event” and embodies a sacred time of prayer, gratitude, and unity for the Berom people.
He said, “As we honor this sacred practice, we are reaffirming our vital role as guardians and custodians of Chun, the staple food of the Berom people. This commitment goes beyond mere sustenance; it connects us to our land, our shared history, our hopes, and our prayers.”
This year’s festival, themed “Together Let’s Cultivate Chun,” emphasized the family’s deliberate steps toward promoting farming in solidarity with wider government efforts.
“Scientific research has revealed the remarkable nutritional benefits of this exceptional grain, emphasizing its role as a healthy food for people of all ages. It is no wonder that Chun is one of the most sought-after grains globally,” he added.
Chief Dagyat disclosed that the family’s National Executive Committee (EXCO) will lead the cultivation of the 5-hectare farm as a demonstration of their commitment, while encouraging members and the entire Berom community to engage in farming “this life-sustaining grain” to secure a healthier future.
In his remarks, the Gwom Rwey Vwang, His Royal Highness Da Gyang Gutt Ballak, praised the Besang Chun family for upholding an essential cultural tradition.
He said, “This clan is a fantastic clan. In our tradition, before anyone goes to farm acha (fonio), these people must first pray. They are maintaining the tradition they inherited from their forefathers, and as a traditional ruler from this district, I am very, very happy that they organized this festival here.”
Describing acha as the most revered crop in Berom land, His Royal Highness underscored its cultural and medicinal value. He prayed for a peaceful farming season and urged the younger generation to sustain the tradition.
“That is why this festival is being organized every year so that the younger ones will learn from it, copy it, and continue with the tradition till the kingdom come,” he added.
Participants at the Wonong Chun Festival were treated to an exhibition showcasing diverse varieties of Chun, with detailed explanations of their significance. Traditional prayers were also offered in accordance with longstanding Berom customs to usher in the new farming season.
