Expounding the production and importance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Ethiopia

Cowpea is an important legume crop growing across the world mainly in tropical and subtropical regions including Ethiopia. Besides its noticeable production, little is known about its yield, productivity, importance, and distribution in Ethiopia. This review paper aimed to reveal the production and...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Erana Kebede, Zelalem Bekeko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-01-01
Series:Cogent Food & Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1769805
_version_ 1818621576918073344
author Erana Kebede
Zelalem Bekeko
author_facet Erana Kebede
Zelalem Bekeko
author_sort Erana Kebede
collection DOAJ
description Cowpea is an important legume crop growing across the world mainly in tropical and subtropical regions including Ethiopia. Besides its noticeable production, little is known about its yield, productivity, importance, and distribution in Ethiopia. This review paper aimed to reveal the production and importance of cowpea in Ethiopia. Cowpea is produced in Ethiopia primarily for its edible seeds, pods and the leaves that are used as human food and animal feed, and income provision to households. Its production is practiced under varying cropping systems including sole cropping, intercropping and mixed cropping system. The yield of cowpea has generally remained below the potential of the crop and consistently remained below the world averages as a higher proportion of farm households grow cowpea on marginally fertile and infertile soils. The overall low yield potential of cowpea is mainly attributed to limited attention by research and development programmes, severe attacks of pest complexes, low soil fertility, drought, poor management practices, marketing problems, and poor technology dissemination and popularization. However, Ethiopia has a high potential for the production of various crops, especially cowpea, due to the diverse agroecology and suitability of the country. Moreover, the integration of cowpea with the farming system has significant importance in improving nutrition, soil productivity, feed quality, and withstands the impact of climate change. Therefore, further research strategies, promotion of improved agronomic practices, and successful marketing systems are required to alleviate problems and boost the production of cowpea in Ethiopia.
first_indexed 2024-12-16T18:11:29Z
format Article
id doaj.art-094043aaa517485485ab6fcef21ec06d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2331-1932
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-16T18:11:29Z
publishDate 2020-01-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Food & Agriculture
spelling doaj.art-094043aaa517485485ab6fcef21ec06d2022-12-21T22:21:45ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Food & Agriculture2331-19322020-01-016110.1080/23311932.2020.17698051769805Expounding the production and importance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in EthiopiaErana Kebede0Zelalem Bekeko1Haramaya UniversityHaramaya UniversityCowpea is an important legume crop growing across the world mainly in tropical and subtropical regions including Ethiopia. Besides its noticeable production, little is known about its yield, productivity, importance, and distribution in Ethiopia. This review paper aimed to reveal the production and importance of cowpea in Ethiopia. Cowpea is produced in Ethiopia primarily for its edible seeds, pods and the leaves that are used as human food and animal feed, and income provision to households. Its production is practiced under varying cropping systems including sole cropping, intercropping and mixed cropping system. The yield of cowpea has generally remained below the potential of the crop and consistently remained below the world averages as a higher proportion of farm households grow cowpea on marginally fertile and infertile soils. The overall low yield potential of cowpea is mainly attributed to limited attention by research and development programmes, severe attacks of pest complexes, low soil fertility, drought, poor management practices, marketing problems, and poor technology dissemination and popularization. However, Ethiopia has a high potential for the production of various crops, especially cowpea, due to the diverse agroecology and suitability of the country. Moreover, the integration of cowpea with the farming system has significant importance in improving nutrition, soil productivity, feed quality, and withstands the impact of climate change. Therefore, further research strategies, promotion of improved agronomic practices, and successful marketing systems are required to alleviate problems and boost the production of cowpea in Ethiopia.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1769805cowpeacropping systemmanagement practicesnutritionproduction
spellingShingle Erana Kebede
Zelalem Bekeko
Expounding the production and importance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Ethiopia
Cogent Food & Agriculture
cowpea
cropping system
management practices
nutrition
production
title Expounding the production and importance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Ethiopia
title_full Expounding the production and importance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Ethiopia
title_fullStr Expounding the production and importance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Expounding the production and importance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Ethiopia
title_short Expounding the production and importance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Ethiopia
title_sort expounding the production and importance of cowpea vigna unguiculata l walp in ethiopia
topic cowpea
cropping system
management practices
nutrition
production
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1769805
work_keys_str_mv AT eranakebede expoundingtheproductionandimportanceofcowpeavignaunguiculatalwalpinethiopia
AT zelalembekeko expoundingtheproductionandimportanceofcowpeavignaunguiculatalwalpinethiopia