Abstract

Cowpeas form an important part of the local Malian diet, and the main preference seems to be for a white- or cream-coloured grain of medium size, with good soakability and cooking properties. More detailed information on local methods of marketing and use of the grain is required, because the addition of a legume to the diet is desirable to provide for normal growth and health maintenance. The objective of this project is to develop high- and stable-yielding cowpea cultivars resistant to drought, pests, and diseases and acceptable to Malian farmers.

Post-Project Summary

This project surveyed food legume production systems; selected cowpea varieties; and developed agronomic intercropping practices to improve cowpea production. One hundred and thirty local varieties collected throughout Mali were maintained and tested in comparison to new International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) varieties. It was concluded that two local cowpea varieties, Gorum Local and Niban, and two introduced varieties had good grain quality. The introduced varieties, however, gave considerably higher yields than the local ones when grown in pure stand with insecticide applications. In the traditional method of growing cowpeas intercropped with sorghum or millet, the local photo-sensitive varieties proved well adapted. It was also found that a cowpea crop could be relay-cropped with maize to create good yields of both crops. It was noted that insect-resistant varieties were being made available through an IDRC-supported IITA project in Upper Volta: Food Legumes (IITA) (3-P-82-0256). Support continued in a second phase.

Recipient Institution(s)