Disseminate high yielding A. vogelii parasitic weed resistant cowpea varieties in Kenya
Cowpeas account for roughly 16% of Kenya’s pulse production and 90% of the production is grown in Eastern Kenya, mainly in Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Embu, and Tharaka-Nithi counties. Minor volumes are produced in Coast Province (3.7%), Rift Valley (1.6%), North Eastern (0.8%), Central (0.6%) and Western (0.3%) provinces (USAID, 2010). The legume is an important source of protein and calories, as well as vitamins and key minerals such as zinc and iron, and is therefore a key source of nutrition for rural families living in the ASALs.
Through research, KALRO has developed and released 4 new cowpea varieties which are high yielding with tolerance to Alectra vogelii parasitic weed. These varieties includes; Kunde Tumaini, Kunde tamu, Kunde Soko and Kat-Kunde. However, these newly released varieties have not been integrated into farming and production systems to enable the farmers and traders to benefit from them. Moreover, the private sector players require the cowpea grain produced in sufficient quantities and quality. This is achievable through organized production, marketing and enhanced consumption of cowpea grain by small holder farmers. The sub activities are include
- Production of dissemination materials
- Identify, mobilize and capacity build communities in target Counties
- Enhancing seed availability and awareness of the new amaranth varieties
- Production and collective marketing of grain amaranth
- Capacity building on production and marketing
- Establish and operationalise innovation platforms in the value chain
- Promote farmer to farmer learning exchange tours
- Enhance value addition in the value chain
- Linkage of producers to markets
- Value chain analysis
- Promote job creation in the value chain
Manuals
- Cowpeas Manual
Varieties
Crop/Kit |
Variety Name (Code) |
Release Name |
Owner(S) Licensee |
Maintainer and Source |
Areas for Optimal Production |
Maturity Duration |
Yield (T/Ha) |
Special Attributes |
Cowpeas |
1002/1005/3 |
Kunde - Faulu |
KALRO |
KALRO Katumani |
Low - High altitudes ranging from 5 – 2000 meters above sea level (Coastal , Eastern, Central and Western) |
70 - 80 Days |
1.5 -2.13 |
· Large size grain; · Early maturing; · Alectra vogelii tolerant; · Dual purpose. |
1005/1002/1 |
Kunde -Tamu |
KALRO |
KALRO Katumani |
Low - High altitudes ranging from 5 – 2000 meters above sea level |
70 - 80 Days |
1.5 -2.0 |
· Early maturing; · Alectra vogelii tolerant; · Tender and sweet leaves when cooked; · Dual purpose. |
|
1005/1003/3 |
Kat- Kunde |
KALRO |
KALRO Katumani |
Low - High altitudes ranging from 5 – 2000 meters above sea level |
80 - 90 Days |
1.4 - 2.0 |
· Alectra vogelii tolerant · High yielding · Dual purpose |
|
1005/1002/1/1/1 |
Kunde - Soko |
KALRO |
KALRO Katumani |
(Coastal , Eastern, Central and Western) |
80 - 90 |
1.4 - 1.9 |
· Large size grain · Alectra vogelii tolerant · High yielding |
|
1005/1004/3 |
KUNDE- TUMAINI
|
KALRO |
KALRO Katumani
|
Agro- ecological zones AEZ Lower mid- altitudes (LM) IV and V and dry transitions LM III and IV |
80 - 90 Days |
1.5 - 2.0 |
|