As a follow up to the need analysis and subsequent capacity building on appropriate agronomic practices for optimum yield of cowpea and soybeans conducted at the platform meetings, RIU–N in collaboration with seed-producing companies: the IAR-ABU, Seed Project Ltd and the IITA, facilitated the adoption of improved cowpea seed varieties by three thousand farmers in Kaduna and Kano states. One hundred of the adopters were members of the RIU-assisted Cowpea-Soybean IP. The adopted cowpea varieties included IT277-2 (dual purpose, medium maturing: i.e. high yielding and high forage potential); IT97K499-35 (high yielding striga-resistant, medium maturing) and IT98K-205-8 (high forage potential, striga resistant). This paper outlines the implementation of research on improved varieties and the production of cowpeas and soyabeans.
