Enormous potential to grow cowpea market

Cowpea is a multipurpose legume crop, yet its potential is not fully utilised in Namibia in terms of production and marketing.

According to the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB), it holds enormous potential for marketing expansion in Namibia and its popularity as an alternative food for a healthier diet has increased its demand for use as a plant-based protein.

The NAB says that cowpea is one of the most widely cultivated legumes globally and since it can grow in harsh environment under dry-land conditions, it is one of the most widely grown legume crops in sub-Saharan Africa, including Namibia.

It says that cowpea is the third most important staple crop in Namibia, after pearl millet and sorghum.

“Cowpea is grown by 95% of small-scale farmers in Namibia from different regions, namely Kavango East and West, Oshikoto, Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati, Zambezi and Otjozondjupa.”

The NAB says that Nakare, Oshindimba and Bira are the most commonly planted cowpea varieties, while the white grain-coloured cowpea with a high above-ground biomass is the most popular type.

“Intercropping of cowpea with sorghum and pearl millet is the dominant cowpea farming system in northern Namibia.”

The NAB says that the majority of farmers in these areas grow cowpea for food, as feed for their livestock, as a form of cash income and for the improvement of soil fertility.

It further points out that cowpea is a source of protein and carbohydrates as protein makes up 23 to 25% of the grain and 27 to 34% of the leaves, while 57% is a carbohydrate. Therefore, cowpea is commonly referred to as “the poor man’s meat”.

However, the NAB says that there is no formal market of significant scale in Namibia cowpea, therefore the grain and its products are currently marketed informally and are mostly consumed in rural areas.

“Consequently, cowpea production, productivity, and market supply in Namibia have declined in recent years due to lack of a formal market and other challenges such as low yields, the unavailability of improved seeds, post-harvest loss and damages caused by field pests such as cowpea weevil and parasitic weeds such as Striga and yellow witchweed.”

Furthermore, the NAB says that cowpea yields in Namibia vary from 250 to 500 kg per hectare which is relatively low compared to potential yields of 1 500 to 3 000 kg per hectare.

“Several research studies were recently conducted in Namibia, which were directed towards cowpea improvement on aspects of production, productivity and market creation with promising results.”

According to the NAB, cowpea is a drought-tolerant and well-adapted crop under Namibian climatic weather conditions, with a short growth duration.

It says that given the low rainfall received on the onset of 2021/2022 and the prevailing high temperatures due to climate change, cowpea is the appropriate crop for local farmers, particularly for the small-holder farmers.

Cowpea production in Namibia is dominated by small-holder farmers, who presumably market their produce through informal markets, says the NAB.

“In Namibia over 95% of cereal crop producers intercrop cowpea at a minimum average area of 0.5 hectares to 3 hectares per producer.”

It says that cowpea production costs range from N$3 900 to N$4 600 per hectare, while a study conducted by the NAB in 2020 estimated that over 60 000 hectares could be under cowpea cultivation in Namibia, producing more tonnage at a yield average of 250kg per hectare.

“However, there is no formal market to absorb this production and therefore cowpea is dominantly consumed at a household level in the remote areas and very small quantities are sold in the informal markets.”

On the other end the NAB says that there is an increase in the importation of dry beans, including dry cowpea, into the Namibian formal-urban market, due to an increase in demand.

Cowpea can be sold as dried beans, canned beans, fresh beans and bean flour and it is often included in soup mixtures as a relish for the staple food.

However due to the lack of value addition and processing of cowpea products in Namibia, the cowpea market is confined to dry beans.

“Despite its smaller market share compared to other crops, cowpea is well established in certain markets such as the informal markets in the Northern and North Eastern parts of Namibia.”