Cowpea(Vigna unguiculata)

Description:

Cowpea is an important grain legume throughout the tropics and subtropics, covering Asia, Africa, and Central and South America, as well as parts of southern Europe and the United States. Cowpea, a drought tolerant crop, has the unique ability to fix nitrogen even in very poor soils. It is also shade-tolerant and, therefore compatible as an intercrop with many cereals and root crops. Subsistence farmers in sub-Saharan Africa usually intercrop their cowpea with maize, sorghum, millet, and cassava.

Statistics:

Annual global production is now approximately 3.3 million tons. The largest areas under cultivation are in Central and West Africa.

How Cowpea is Used and its Nutritional Value:

Cowpea, an important legume in the tropics, has many uses. In fresh form, the young leaves, immature pods and peas are used as vegetables, while several snacks and main meal dishes are prepared from the grain. All parts of the plant that are used for food are nutritious, providing protein, vitamins (notably vitamin B) and minerals. The cowpea haulm is also a great source of livestock feed, and therefore of great value to farmers.

CGIAR’s Work in Cowpea Research:

Since 1970, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria has worked on developing and distributing improved cowpea materials and new germplasm lines to over 60 countries. IITA is maintaining a collection of about 15,000 accessions of cultivated cowpea and 1,500 accessions of wild cowpea relatives in its gene bank. Considerable progress has been made in cowpea breeding, and a range of varieties has been developed, combining diverse plant type and maturity with resistance to several diseases, insect pests, and parasitic weeds. Improved varieties have also been developed for grain and fodder. In addition, IITA has developed varieties for intercropping with maize, cassava, yam, millet, and sorghum to benefit smallholder farmers who practice intercropping and use little or no inputs. Among the most promising technologies developed by IITA are varieties resistant to Striga, aphids, and bruchids, improved storage techniques using solar drying, and the use of botanical pesticides in the field and in storage. Recently, IITA has developed an improved strip-cropping system, where two rows of maize, millet or sorghum are planted between four rows of improved cowpea varieties. Minimal inputs of fertilizer and pesticide
are applied as needed. Read more about the benefits of this system in CGIAR's 2005 Annual Report.

The improved cowpea varieties are being cultivated in 63 countries, some of which have been given popular local names such as: ‘Vijaya’ (victory) and ‘Varuni’ (breeze) in SriLanka; ‘Akash’ (sky) and Prakash (light) in Nepal; ‘Big Buff’ in Australia; ‘Fahari’ (hope) and ‘Tumaini’ (pride) in Tanzania; ‘Bubebe’ (fast growing) in Zambia; ‘Umtilane’ in Swaziland; ‘Dahab El goz’ (gold from the sand) in Sudan; "Dan ITA’ (son of IITA) and ‘Wake Rani’ (dry season beans) in Nigeria; "Asontem’ and ‘Bengpla’ in Ghana; ‘Korobalen’ and ‘Sangaraka’ in Mali; ‘Epace’ in Brazil and ‘Cubinata’ and ‘Mulatina’ in Cuba.

Sources

IITA web site

Advances in Cowpea Research.
Editors: B.B. Singh, D.R. Mohan Raj, K.E. Dashiell, and
L.E.N. Jackai. IITA and JIRCAS. 1997.

Technical Advisory Committee. Priorities and Strategies for Resource Allocation during 1998-2000.
April 1997.