CSIR-SARI engages farmers in selecting promising cowpea varieties

The exercise, conducted at the CSIR-SARI Manga Station in Binduri, involved farmers assessing 15 candidate cowpea varieties and identifying those they preferred based on observable characteristics and their own farming and market priorities. The activity forms part of the Cowpea Breakthrough Project, funded by the Gates Foundation through the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The participatory varietal selection (PVS) exercise is designed to ensure that farmers have a voice in identifying the varieties that may eventually be recommended for cultivation, rather than leaving selection decisions entirely to researchers.

Dr. Theophilus Kwabla Tengey, Senior Research Scientist and Lead of the Cowpea Improvement Programme at CSIR-SARI, said involving farmers in the selection process was essential to developing varieties that respond to the realities of farming communities.

“We don’t want to impose varieties on farmers. We want them to have a choice. We want them to take part in this selection process so that they will eventually choose the varieties that they want,” he said.

Dr. Tengey explained that the candidate varieties had undergone several years of breeding and evaluation across locations before being presented to farmers. Their participation provides an opportunity to identify materials that combine promising agronomic characteristics with traits farmers value, such as maturity, pod characteristics, seed size and other features relevant to production and use.

During the exercise, farmers selected their five most-preferred varieties and explained the reasons for their choices. Researchers will analyse these preferences and compare them with scientific performance data to guide decisions on which materials merit further evaluation and advancement. Any subsequent recommendations for variety release will depend on the relevant evaluation and approval processes.

Cowpea is an important source of dietary protein and iron and contributes to household food and nutrition security in Ghana. It is widely consumed in dishes such as waakye and boiled beans, popularly known as gobɛ. Varieties with suitable maturity periods, good yield potential and resistance or tolerance to important production constraints could help farmers manage seasonal risks and improve returns.

Dr. Patrick Attamah, a Research Scientist at CSIR-SARI Manga Station, said the station provides an important environment for evaluating cowpea materials because farmers in the area face challenges including poor soils, a relatively short rainfall period and Striga infestation.

“We are interested in identifying materials that can mature early and tolerate drought, while performing under the conditions farmers experience in this area,” he explained. He added that evaluating candidate varieties across different locations helps researchers understand how they perform under varying agroecological conditions.

Farmers who participated in the exercise welcomed the opportunity to assess the varieties directly. Akurugu Monica said some of the candidate materials appeared to offer better yield potential than varieties traditionally grown in the area, with longer and larger pods attracting her attention.

Ibrahim Patience also expressed interest in materials that appeared to mature early and showed promising signs of withstanding pest attacks. These were farmers’ initial observations and preferences, which will be considered alongside scientific assessments before conclusions are drawn about yield potential, maturity and pest resistance.

The exercise reflects CSIR-SARI’s commitment to demand-led crop improvement, in which farmers’ experiences and preferences complement scientific research. By involving farmers early in the selection process, the Institute aims to improve the relevance of future varieties and increase the likelihood that promising materials will meet farmers’ needs.

The ultimate goal is to identify cowpea varieties that combine sound scientific performance with the characteristics farmers value, contributing to more productive, resilient and profitable cowpea farming in northern Ghana.

A1 Radio | 101.1Mhz | Joshua Asaah | Manga

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