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https://e-catalogs.taat-africa.org/org/technologies/improved-cowpea-varieties-short-duration-white-cowpea-varieties-for-boiled-grain-market

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Improved Cowpea Varieties: Short Duration White Cowpea Varieties for Boiled Grain Market

High-yielding, early maturing, and striga-resistant cowpea varieties for farmers!

The IITA improved cowpea varieties are short-duration white cowpeas that mature in 65–76 days and are highly productive, yielding over 1.5 t/ha compared to 0.5 t/ha for traditional varieties. They are resistant to Striga, Alectra, and major diseases, while also being drought-tolerant, making them suitable for smallholder farmers in the Guinea, Sahel and Sudan Savanna zones. The seeds are medium to large, white, fast-cooking, and maintain their shape when boiled. Rich in protein (>23%) and essential micronutrients, these varieties enhance nutrition security while providing farmers with a reliable source of income, contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable development.

This technology is pre-validated.

9•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

Provide good nutrition, employment, and household income for most farmers

Others: Positive high

Animal industry: Source of fodder for animal feed

The poor: Positive high

Cheap source of protein and generates income for the poor

Under 18: Positive medium

Provides good nutrition

Women: Positive high

Source of income for women, easy to cook, saves women time, and energy saving as well

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

The technology was designed for adaptation in the dry Savanna, especially the Shael and Sudan Savannas agroecologies

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

The technology is packed with drought-tolerant varieties, protecting farmers' production in drought-prone areas and periods.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Soil conservation and fertility restoration due to its nitrogen-fixing capability

Carbon footprint: Same amount of carbon released

During decomposition, cowpea plants release carbon, with studies showing that 60-64% of the initial plant carbon can be lost as CO2 within 68 days. This carbon release is a natural part of the carbon cycle and contributes to soil health and nutrient cycling

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Cowpea farming can contribute to environmental health in several ways, primarily through improved soil fertility, increased carbon sequestration, and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

By fixing nitrogen in the soil and improving soil structure, cowpea farming can help build healthier soils, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance overall ecosystem resilience

Water use: Much less water used

These drought tolerant varieties require less water for growth and development

Problem

Persistently low farmer income: With yields as low as 500 kg/ha, smallholders remain trapped in poverty, limiting rural development progress.
Severe pest, disease, and weed constraints: Striga, Alectra, and recurring infestations erode food security and sustainability of interventions.
Climate vulnerability: Drought-prone and low-fertility soils reduce the resilience of farming systems, leaving farmers exposed to shocks.
Weak nutrition outcomes: Farmers and consumers lack sufficient access to affordable, nutrient-dense cowpea, fueling malnutrition in vulnerable groups.
Barrier to scaling impact: Without improved varieties, donor investments in agriculture have limited, short-term effects.

Solution

High-impact agricultural solution: Improved varieties triple yields, raising farmer incomes and reducing rural poverty.
Climate resilience: Drought and Striga resistance make this technology ideal for vulnerable farming communities.
Nutrition-sensitive intervention: Protein- and micronutrient-rich seeds directly address malnutrition in food-insecure regions.
Alignment with SDGs: Contributes to Zero Hunger, Good Health, Poverty Reduction, and Climate Action.
Scalable investment: Proven demand from farmers and consumers ensures sustainability of donor-funded interventions.

Key points to design your program

A Solution for Cowpea Farming in Africa

This technology addresses key challenges in cowpea production, including low productivity, Striga and Alectra infestations, drought, and major diseases. Improved Cowpea Varieties mature within 65–76 days, much faster than traditional varieties, enabling early harvests and multiple cropping cycles in challenging environments.

They support several Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2 by improving food security through higher yields, SDG 3 by enhancing nutrition with protein- and micronutrient-rich seeds, and SDG 13 by promoting climate resilience in smallholder farming systems.

This technology is ideal for development programs focused on improving food security, farmer incomes, and rural livelihoods. With support from organizations like IITA and national agricultural research programs, it provides technical assistance and ensures successful adoption for cowpea farmers across Africa.

IP

No formal IP rights

Scaling Readiness describes how complete a technology’s development is and its ability to be scaled. It produces a score that measures a technology’s readiness along two axes: the level of maturity of the idea itself, and the level to which the technology has been used so far.

Each axis goes from 0 to 9 where 9 is the “ready-to-scale” status. For each technology profile in the e-catalogs we have documented the scaling readiness status from evidence given by the technology providers. The e-catalogs only showcase technologies for which the scaling readiness score is at least 8 for maturity of the idea and 7 for the level of use.

The graph below represents visually the scaling readiness status for this technology, you can see the label of each level by hovering your mouse cursor on the number.

Scaling readiness score of this technology

Maturity of the idea 9 out of 9

Uncontrolled environment: validated

Level of use 7 out of 9

Common use by projects NOT connected to technology provider

Maturity of the idea										Level of use
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Botswana	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Central African Republic	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Chad	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Malawi	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Mali	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Mozambique	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Niger	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Senegal	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Sierra Leone	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Somalia	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
South Africa	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
South Sudan	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Sudan	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Tanzania	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Togo	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Zambia	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted
Zimbabwe	Testing ongoing	–Not tested	–Not adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid		–		–
Semiarid		–		–
Subhumid		–		–
Humid	–	–	–	–

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 1: no poverty

Technology generates income for farmers, driving them out of poverty

Goal 2: zero hunger

Technology provides affordable and nutritious food ,contributing to hunger alleviation

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Technology provides a cheap source of protein and micronutrients required for good health

Goal 13: climate action

This is a climate-smart technology; the varieties are drought-tolerant

Good Agronomic Practices for Improved Cowpea Varieties

Use quality seeds – Always buy seeds from certified sellers or trusted seed companies to ensure high germination and healthy plants.
Prepare the land properly – Cowpea grows best in well-drained soils. Avoid planting in waterlogged areas.
Plant at the right spacing – For short-duration varieties, use 75 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants within a row.
Fertilize correctly – Apply NPK fertilizer two weeks after planting to support strong growth.
Control weeds – Weed the field 3–4 times during the season, depending on weed pressure in your field.
Protect against insects – Spray recommended insecticides 3–4 times in a season to reduce insect damage.
Harvest on time – Harvest when pods are mature and dry to avoid losses.
Dry properly before threshing – Ensure pods are well dried before threshing and storing to maintain grain quality.
Store safely – Use PICS bags or airtight containers to protect seeds from Bruchid damage during storage.