Agriseeds Cowpea CBC2 Production

Climatic Requirements

Grown best in Zimbabwe Ecological regions III, IV and V.

250 – 500mm rainfall is adequate for cowpea production.

Soil Requirements

Best yields are obtained from well drained soils with a pH of 6-7

Planting

Planting time: from end November to first week of January.

In high rainfall areas it is best to plant late from mid December to avoid diseases.

Seed dressing

Use Thiram 80% WP at 70g/100kg of seed if not certified to control damping of seeding disease.

Cowpea Field Management

Diseases

Cowpea is susceptible to a wide range of diseases.The best control measure is through the use of virus-free seed produced under strict rogueing production systems (i.e., removing and destroying any plants showing virus disease symptoms). Anthracnose – fungal disease that affects the stem, branches, leaves and pods. Control – grow resistant varieties; chemical control (mancozeb) or any other suitable fungicide.

Pests

Pests include Aphids, Heliothis bollworm, CMR beetle and Tip-wilter. After harvest, the seed is susceptible to bruchids, a grain borer. These pests may be controlled with appropriate chemicals.