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Ibadan, Nigeria
July 31, 2007
Farmers participating in the
International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture/Gatsby crop-livestock project in the
northern Guinea savanna of Nigeria are taking advantage of the
extra early varieties of cowpea supplied them under the project
to double their production and earn more income.
The rainy season in the Guinea savanna agro-ecological zone in
northern Nigeria normally starts in June and ends in September
with a few showers before and after the season (May and
October). Under such a short duration of rainy season, farmers
plant cowpea only once. However, with the intervention of the
IITA/Gatsby crop-livestock project, early maturing varieties of
cowpeas are being distributed to the farmers at the end of May
or early June. Thus, the first cowpeas are now planted with
maize in a mixed cropping system. The extra-early (60 days)
cowpea varieties are ready for harvesting in August; while the
maize is harvested in September. The second cowpea planting
follows immediately after the maize stalks are cut down and
packed from the field to allow for cowpea which takes over as a
sole crop.
In addition, the farmers are being trained on improved
cultivation methods, and better seed storage techniques. They
are equally advised to store seeds for planting for subsequent
farming seasons. That is not all. The farmers themselves are
coming up with new ideas because of the availability of improved
cowpea seeds. For instance, with the first rains by end of April
to early May, farmers are now planting cowpea either as sole
crop or intercropped with melon; and in relay with tomato, yam,
maize and, sorghum.
Last year, extra-early cowpea varieties were introduced to 95
farmers in 10 villages including Zango Aya, in Igabi LGA of
Kaduna State, with the active participation of the State
Agricultural Development Project. The farmers who kept seeds
harvested from the trials decided to plant a particular variety
(IT93K-452-1) with the first rains at the end of April, this
year. Harvesting was in June. The grain yields were estimated at
about 700 to 1100 kg/ha, which to them was a record high,
especially considering the fact that the crop was on the field
for barely two months.
One of the farmers, Alhaji Yahaya could not hide his joy as he
told IITA scientists and extension agents how other farmers have
been trooping to his house to buy the cowpea grains. When
reminded of the need to keep some seeds for planting, Alhaji
Yahaya said that the early harvest was mainly for subsistence
i.e. for food and cash. The profits from the harvest, he said,
were used to buy fertilizers, pay for labour and take care of
family needs. He said he will plant another set of crop in
August for seed preservation and planting. Another important
discovery was the high grain yields (700-800 kg/ha) in some
fields that were not sprayed with insecticides |
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