Description

A poster presented at the 2012 Global Pulse Researchers Meeting, Kigali, Rwanda- “Transforming Grain-Legume Systems to Enhance Nutrition and Livelihoods”. Abstract: The concept of participatory Farmer Field School was established from 2009 to 2011 in six villages in central southern Niger with 107 farmers, 52% of women. 15 new technologies were tested for the development of cowpea production. Improved and early maturity varieties were more productive than local varieties. IT 90 K 372-1-2, Melakh, KVX 909-1P2 and TN 5-78 genotypes were distinguished by their high yield which ranged between 333 and 1388 kg / ha. The addition of animal manure or mineral fertilizers led to a yield increase of 5 to 317%. Botanical insecticides such as neem seed extracts, tobacco and pepper have been shown quite effective against field pests of cowpea Clavigralla tomensicollis,Anocplenemis curvipes, Aphiscraccivora Koch, Amsacta moloneyi and Mylabris spp. It was identified that a combination of 5 to 6 technologies can increase the yield of cowpea from 9 to 171%. The FFS has also boosted the producers with the establishment of an operable system for improved seed production at the two sites and others five surrounding villages. Key Words: Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Niger, insecticide, fertilizer, traditional varieties, Africa, biopesticides, IPM, yielding.