Two new cowpea varieties ready for release in Ghana

The Crop Research Institute (CRI) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Ghana has proposed that two varieties of cowpea developed by the institute be released for public use.

The development of the new varieties is to address the malnutrition problem among lactating mothers and children in the country. Seven out of every 10 pregnant women suffer from anaemia resulting from iron deficiency. The two varieties proposed were based on the results of on-station and on-farm evaluation, chemical composition and sensory evaluation done by the institute.

The two varieties are IT87D-611-3 with the name "Nhyira", meaning blessing in Akan and IT87D-2075 with the name "Tona", meaning profit in Dagarti.

Dr. Hans Adu-Dapaah, a plant breeder and chief research scientist of the Institute, explained that Nhyira was early maturing (65-68 days), high yielding (2.3tonnes/hectare), moderately resistant to virus, resistant to Anthracnose and Cercospora leaf spot; high in iron, energy, phosphorus and protein contents; and tolerant to leaf hoppers and drought. Its leaves are rich in protein and minerals; it has high biomass and suppresses weeds.

The Tona variety has high energy, phosphorus and iron; is resistant to Cercospora leaf spot, viruses and to leaf hoppers, and is medium maturing (71-80 days) and drought tolerant.

Adu-Dapaahexplained that apart from providing cash income for the farmers, cowpea also supplied the bulk of plant protein in the diets of most people in West Africa. "Cowpea leaves, green pods, green peas and dry seeds are all consumed as human food while the fresh and dry haulms provide fodder for livestock. Major constraints to cowpea include insect pest (thrips, pod sucking bugs and storage weevils), fungal, bacterial and viral diseases, Striga gesnerioides and drought."

Dr. Adu-Dapaah said cowpea breeding at CRI focused on the development of varieties that were early to medium maturing, resistant to insect pests, diseases, striga gesnerioides and drought.

He called on Ghanaians to patronise the two cowpea varieties for their nutritional needs.

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