Participatory Selection of Cowpea Varieties in Kilifi County of Kenya

Aim: To identify farmer preferred cowpea varieties in coastal lowland Kenya.

Study Design: The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications.

Place and Study Duration: Tezo location, Bahari division, Kilifi County, Kenya during July – October 2011/2012 cropping seasons.

Methodology: Thirty nine farmers (30 female and 9 male) from three farmer groups in Tezo location, Kilifi County participated in the establishment and evaluation of 11 cowpea varieties using their own selection criteria. The varieties were evaluated at flowering, podding, maturity and post harvest stages. Farmers’ cowpea selection criteria before flowering and at podding were high grain yield, drought tolerance, early maturity, ease of harvesting and leafiness.

Results: Kutambaa, KVU 27-1 and Nyeupe were rated top varieties at these stages. Farmers’ selection criteria at maturity and after harvest included grain yield, color, taste and cooking duration. KVU 419, Kaima koko and Nyeupe were rated top varieties at these stages. Grain yield varied from 3.3 t ha-1 (KVU 419) to 0.48 t ha-1 (Kaima koko).

Conclusion: The results of this study have demonstrated the need for plant breeders to integrate grain color, taste and cooking duration traits in cowpea improvement programmes. Integration of KVU 419, Nyeupe, KVU 27-1 and Kutambaa cowpea varieties into the maize-based system is likely to improve cowpea productivity in Kilifi County, Kenya.