Biotech Updates

IITA/Gatsby on Cowpea Production Benefits Farmers in Nigeria

August 3, 2007

In the International Improvement of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)/Gatsby crop-livestock project, farmers are taking advantage of extra early varieties of cowpea to double their production and increase their income. The rainy season in the Guinea savanna in northern Nigeria normally starts in June and ends in September. With such a short rainy season, cowpeas can be planted only once.Under the project, extra early cowpea varieties are harvested by August, and a second batch is planted in September. The grain yields from extra early cowpea varieties were estimated at about 700 to 1100 kg/ha, a record high. 

The full article is available at http://www.iita.org/cms/details/news_details.aspx?articleid=1136&zoneid=81.