NEWS:

2 Jun, 2016


Participants pose for a group photo
The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) has encouraged farmers in the country to use the cowpea variety resistant to Alectra vogelii (Kaufiti), a common witch weed that attacks and lowers the yield of most regume crops including cowpea known as khobwe or Nseula in vernacular.

The advice was given last week by Associate Professor Vernon Kabambe of the Crop and Soil Science Department at LUANAR’s Bunda College Campus during the opening of a Cowpea Stakeholder Workshop, aimed at enhancing research capacity for the development and promotion of Alectra resistant cowpea cultivars as well as briefing stakeholders on the Alectra resistant variety.

Kabambe, who was part of a team that conducted a research on the new variety said there were many advantages of growing the disease resistant variety as opposed to other cowpea varieties that are prone to Alectra vogelii.

“Cowpea has the same potential as other legumes like soya beans and pigeon peas. Apart from its high protein content, cowpea can be used in many ways including making of cakes. It is also a source animal feed and green manure for production of other crops.

“However, the presence of the witch weed Alecra vogelii has been hindering production of cowpea. If farmers use the improved variety, they will be assured of high yield and quality seed,” said Kabambe.

Head of Crop and Soil Sciences Department at Bunda Associate Professor Max Lowole hailed the McKnight Foundation of United States of America for supporting the project, which he said started in 2006 under the title: ‘Development and Promotion of Alectra-Resistant Cowpea lines in Malawi and Tanzania.

Lowole said the workshop was important as it also provided a platform for the stakeholders and partners to share ideas and developments from other areas.

Amongst the workshop participants were government extension officers, research officers, crop development officers, officials from Agriculture Development Divisions, representatives from Farmers Union of Malawi, Seed Traders Association, Concern World Wide, World Vision Malawi, Agricultural Commodity Exchange and officials from Agriseed Technologies Limited (AgriTech) of Tanzania, who were the project partners.

Written By Patricia Nkhoma