Vigna unguiculata

Description

A creeping bean type plant with straight firm pods. Both cover crop types (leafy) and grain types occur. There is a deep tap root and many branches occur from it in the surface of the soil. The root nodules are large and round. They can be 5 mm across. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The end leaflet can be 12-16 cm long. This leaflet is larger than the side leaflets. The side leaflets are assymetrical. The stipules at the base of the leaf are large and with spurs at their base. Flowers occur often in pairs on the end of long flowering shoots. This stalk can be 2 cm to 30 cm long. Only 2-4 flowers in each stalk produce pods. Flowers are white, yellow or blue. They are large and showy. The standard petal is 2-3 cm across. The pods are about 15 cm long. The seeds are white except for a dark scar.

Edible Uses

Most cowpeas are grown on the African continent, particularly in Nigeria and Niger, which account for 66% of world cowpea production. The Sahel region also contains other major producers such as Burkina Faso, Ghana, Senegal, and Mali. Niger is the main exporter of cowpeas and Nigeria the main importer. Exact figures for cowpea production are hard to come up with as it is not a major export crop. Estimating world cowpea production is rather difficult, as it is usually grown in a mixture with other crops, but according to a 1997 estimate, cowpeas were cultivated on 12.5 million hectares (31 million acres) and had a worldwide production of 3 million metric tons (3,000,000 long tons; 3,300,000 short tons). While they play a key role in subsistence farming and livestock fodder, the cowpea is also seen as a major cash crop by Central and West African farmers, with an estimated 200 million people consuming cowpea on a daily basis. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as of 2012, the average cowpea yield in Western Africa was an estimated 483 kilograms per hectare (431 lb/acre), which is still 50% below the estimated potential production yield. In some tradition cropping methods, the yield can be as low as 100 kilograms per hectare (89 lb/acre). Outside Africa, the major production areas are Asia, Central America, and South America. Brazil is the world's second-leading producer of cowpea seed, accounting for 17% of annual cowpea production, although most is consumed within the country. Cowpeas are grown mostly for their edible beans, although the leaves, green seeds and pods can also be consumed, meaning the cowpea can be used as a food source before the dried peas are harvested. Like other legumes, cowpeas are cooked to make them edible, usually by boiling. Cowpeas can be prepared in stews, soups, purees, casseroles and curries. They can also be processed into a paste or flour. Chinese long beans can be eaten raw or cooked, but as they easily become waterlogged are usually sautéed, stir-fried, or deep-fried. A common snack in Africa is koki or moin-moin, where the cowpeas are mashed into a paste, mixed with spices and steamed in banana leaves. Dan wake cowpea dumplings are common in northern Nigeria and environs. They also use the cowpea paste as a supplement in infant formula when weaning babies off milk. Slaves brought to America and the West Indies cooked cowpeas much the same way as they did in Africa, although many people in the American South considered cowpeas not suitable for human consumption. A popular dish was Hoppin' John, which contained black-eyed peas cooked with rice and seasoned with pork. Over time, cowpeas became more universally accepted and now Hoppin' John is seen as a traditional Southern dish ritually served on New Year's Day.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves, young pods and ripe seeds are all eaten. They can be steamed, boiled, stir-fried etc. The leaves can be dried and stored. The dried seeds are used in soups and stews. They are ground into flour or fermented. The seeds are also used for bean sprouts. Roasted seeds are used as a coffee substitute.

Distribution

It grows in tropical and subtropical climates. It grows from sea level to 1800 metres altitude in the tropics. In Ethiopia it grows between 500-2,000 m above sea level. Plants can stand high temperatures. Some kinds can tolerate drought. They are sensitive to cold and killed by frost. Plants germinate with a temperature between 11.5-15.5°C. The best growth is between 20-35°C. They can grow on a range of soils providing they are well drained. They are a short day plant. They do well in the semiarid tropics. It will not tolerate acid or alkaline soils. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 280-410 mm. It can grow in arid places. It can tolerate shade so is good for inter-cropping.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Guiana, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It is grown from seeds. Seed collection is easy. Seeds remain viable for several years if carefully stored. A seeding rate of about 20 kg per ha is suitable and seed are sometimes broadcast then thinned. Cowpeas mostly inbreed giving pure lines.

Other Information

It is a valuable food as well as a cover crop. It is cultivated. It has become well accepted in some areas of Papua New Guinea. eg Baiyer River.

Notes

Chemical composition: Protein (crude) = 28.0% (dry). Fat = 1.4% (dry). Fibre (crude): 3.1% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 3.4% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 33.4% (dry). Sucrose = 6.8% (dry). D-glucose = 0.2% (dry). D-fructose = 0.4% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 13.1g. Threonine = 4.2g. Serine = 4.8g. Glutamic acid = 17.5g. Proline = 3.7g. Glycine = 4.2g. Alanine = 4.7g. Valine = 6.1g. Cysteine = 0.8g. Methionine = 1.4g. Isoleucine = 5.0g. Leucine = 8.3g. Tyrosine = 3.6g. Phenylalanine = 6.4g. Lysine = 8.2g. Histidine = 3.5g. Arginine = 8.9g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.16% (dry). Potassium = 0.47% (dry). Magnesium = 0.15% (dry). Calcium = 0.08% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 1.43% (dry). Zinc = 28mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 90mg/kg-1 (dry). Manganese = 20mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 6mg/kg-1 (dry).There are about 150 Vigna species. They are mostly in the tropics.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Adenguare, Agwa, Akara-binch, Akedi, Akitereku ase, Amuli, Asedua kokoo, Atidua, Barbati, Be-hlawi, Belawi, Beloi, Besei, Birijori, Black eye pea, Black-eyed bean, Bodi, Bojo, Boo, Bora bean, Bori, Caspi chiclayo, Caupi, Dau den, Daun talak, Dau-trang, Dinaba, Dinawa, Dolique a oeil noir, Dunguri, Eboo, Eggobe, Ekiyindiru, E-lel, Enkoole, Ere, Ewa, Ewe, Feijao-macanha, Fore-metan, Frejol, Frijol de vaca, Gahat, Imare, Imbumba, Indumba, Iniangu, Jiang dou, Kacang merah, Karnikara, Kaspi purutu, Kattukanam, Kelege kelegete, Kollu, Kuerbse, Kunde, Laputu, Likote, Madan bean, Manawa, Mandala, Mazi bori, Mbwenge, Mkunde, Mole, Mpindi, Mugobiswa, Muma kiore, Munaoa, Munawa, muNyemba, Mwende, Ngor, Nhebe-limboncadje, Nhebe-limboque, Niaw, Niebe, Nkasa, Nsili, Nthooko, Nyawa, Nyemba, Nyebe, Nyele, Nzooko, Obo, Obo alwala, Omugobe, Peanut bean, Pini, Sasage, Sbaithai, Seb, Shirshira, Sosso, Tau kok, Tchaasse, Te bin, Thua pum, Tindlubu, Tinhlumayo, Titoun'ti, Tnainyeritonn'te, Towo, Vainita, Verdura, Wake, Wakei, Watalo-binch, Yoo

References (126)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 31
• ABDELMUTI
• Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
• Acipa, A. et al, 2013, Nutritional Profile of some Selected Food Plants of Otwal and Ngai Counties, Oyam District, Northern Uganda. African Journal or Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. 13(2)
• Agea, J. G., et al 2011, Wild and Semi-wild Food Plants of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom of Uganda: etc. Environmental Research Journal 5(2) 74-86

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