Cowpeas come in different varieties, some of which are climbing and erect, like Dr. Saunders, while others are creeping, such as Bechuana White. The climbing type is particularly well-suited for use as forage or as a cover crop.
These versatile legumes can be intercropped or rotated with other crops and are known for their ability to tolerate drought. Additionally, cowpeas are a valuable source of protein and enrich the soil by leaving nitrogen behind for subsequent crops. It is estimated that the global annual cowpea crop covers approximately 12.5 million hectares, producing a total of 3 million tons of grain for food consumption.
The leading regions for cowpea production in the world are West and Central Africa, contributing to 64% of the estimated 3 million tons of cowpea seed. Nigeria stands out as the leading cowpea producing country, followed by Brazil. In Australia and Asia, cowpeas are mainly cultivated for fodder, cover crop purposes, or to enhance the soil with nitrogen and nitrogen-fixing microbes. South Africa’s cowpea production is concentrated in the North West, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga provinces.
Cowpeas offer various culinary uses. They can be cooked or steamed after soaking in water overnight, and their fresh, immature pods may be boiled as a vegetable. The leaves and growth points are commonly used as a vegetable dish, similar to spinach, and can also be dried and used as a protein substitute. Green cowpea seeds can be roasted and ground as a coffee substitute, while the dried seeds are often mixed with onions and spices and fried in oil.
As for animal feed purposes, cowpeas are used in hay production and to make silage, which is preserved animal feed suitable for use during droughts. Making cowpea silage involves mixing cowpea leaves with the green leaves of maize or sorghum, compacting the green matter, covering it with plastic, and weighing it down to make it airtight. The mixture is then left to ferment.
Cowpeas are particularly valuable for animal feeding, with good yields of high-quality dry matter. Under dryland conditions, yields of cowpea forage can range from 2 to 3 tons of dry matter per hectare, while in irrigated areas, yields of up to 8 tons of dry matter per hectare have been recorded. The best feeding value for animals is achieved when cowpeas are intercropped with maize. Local farmers who harvest and store cowpea fodder during the dry season can earn up to 25% of their annual income by selling it as fodder.