Cowpea cultivation in Burkina Faso has progressed from 1978 to the present through conventional and molecular breeding techniques as well as increased farmer involvement. Production increased from 100,000 tons in 1978 to 600,000 tons in 2013 due to the release of over 30 new varieties, some of which are now widely adopted. The combination of conventional and modern breeding approaches along with participatory research and variety selection has led to developments such as Striga resistance mapping, DNA markers, and the first Bt cowpea variety with pod borer resistance.

1. Progress in cowpea cultivation, improvement, and storage in
Burkina Faso from 1978 to date
Batieno1 B. Joseph ,Tignegre1 Jean-Baptiste, Neya1 B. James, Zida1 Elisabeth, Ilboudo1 Dieudonné , Dabiré 1 Clémentine, T. Jeremy
Ouedraogo1 , I. Drabo1, Sidibe1 Hamadou, Zongo1 Hamadou, Zida1 Serge Felicien, and Gnankambary T. Karidiatou1
(1) Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Burkina Faso
 FROM 1978 to 2000 manly Conventional breeding without
farmers’ involvement
 2000 to date combination of Conventional and molecular
breeding and farmers’ involvement through PRA and FPVS
 Main achievements:
o Mapping of Striga gesnerioides resistance (Ouedraogo et al.,
2002)
o Development of SCAR Markers (Ouedraogo et al, 2012)
o MARS & MABC using SNP Markers (Laalsaga et al. 2015, Batieno
et al. 2016)
o Bt cowpea (pod borer resistant cowpea)
o Varieties released through FPVS are the most cultivated
 Production increased from 100 000 T in 1978 to 600 000 T in 2013
 Seeds production by public and private sectors
 Well established seed enterprises due to AGRA funding
 Government support
 NGO’S and development projects
 Large scale dissemination of cowpea production and
conservation technologies
Contact:
Batieno Benoit joseph, PhD
(00226)70728746
bbjersi2003@yahoo.fr
 Screening methods for insect resistance (Pod bugs, Aphids, Thrips,
Maruca) available
 Reduction in the number of insecticide spray (2-4 sprays depending
of the type of production)
 Development and use of Bio pesticides
 Integrated pest management
 Triple bagging (PICS) technology developed for storage improvement
 Development of new improved varieties
Dissemination of technologies
Support & organize cowpea value chains
Increase cowpea exportation
Adoption modern technologies
TREND OF COWPEA PRODUCTION
Variety Komcallé
Grain
color white
Testa Rough
Hilum black
100seedw 20,1g
100seedw
compared
to KVX396
+ 25,63%
 Cowpea breeding was established in 1978 through iita-safgrad
project at Kamboinse
 From 1978 to date more than 30 varieties have been released and
some adopted
 Most popular varieties are captured in table 1.
Variety Name Year
release
Yield/ha weaknesses Sthrenghs
KVX 396-4-5-2D 1988 1.5-2 Pod rot, striga and
small seed
Large adaptation,
resistant to viruses
KVX 61-1 1988 1.5 Brown blotch Resistant to Striga, easy
to cook, sweet
KVX 745-11P 2001 Gr:0.8
Fod:4
Pod shattering,
small seed
Striga, fourrage
Gorom local 1978 1,2 Virus, brown seed Striga, drought tolerant
NAFI (KVx771-10G) 2012 1.8 To be determined Striga, Virus, grosses
graines
TILIGRE(KVx775-33-
2G)
2012 1.8 To be determined Striga, Virus, large
seeds
KOMCALLE (KVx442-
3-25SH)
2012 1.2-1.8 To be determined Striga, Virus, early
maturing, large seeds
YIISYANDE 2013 2 To be determined Striga, Virus, large
seeds
NIIZWE 2013 1.2 Macrophomina Striga, Virus, early
maturing , large seeds
Variety KVx396-4-5-2D
Grain
color white
Testa rough
Hilum black
100seedw 13.3 g
376225
330210
456600
276349
444712 436156
253190
537680
453629
626113
441015
598524 580000
Productionintons
Year
IDT2-002