UDS releases new drought-tolerant cowpea varieties

In a landmark development for the nation’s agricultural sector, the National Varietal Release and Registration Committee has approved six new climate-smart and drought-tolerant cowpea varieties developed by the University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, in the Northern Region.

The approval was granted in early November this year, pending a final endorsement from the National Seed Council.

This achievement marks the first-ever release of crop varieties by the UDS since its establishment over three decades ago.

The new varieties promise to significantly enhance food security, nutrition and climate resilience in Ghana and beyond.

The approved cowpea varieties are - Tuya Bilichini, which matures between 50–55 days. It is also high in potassium and iron. Kachagu Tuya matures in 55–60 days and is rich in calcium, magnesium and iron, while AGRAWACC Tuya - 55–60 days, and has high fat, protein and ash content.

The rest are Atiriyinya Tuya, which matures within 70–75 days, and is high in calcium, zinc and iron;

UDS Ny-25 matures in 75–85 days and contains high carbohydrate, while Zara Tuya, which is rich in calcium, zinc and protein, matures in 55–60 days.

Breakthrough
The breakthrough was led by Sanatu Mustapha Alidu, an Associate Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics at the Crop Science department of the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences (FoAFCS), UDS.

Auction
Following successful field visits and a detailed presentation by Prof. Alidu, who served as the lead researcher and principal investigator, the committee approved all six varieties after evaluating their resilience, yield performance, nutritional value and other key economic traits.

Prof. Alidu said the varieties were rich in essential minerals and, therefore, well-suited to boost the nation’s food security and family incomes, including cultivation in the Guinea and Sudan savanna agro-ecological zones.

“They also represent a significant contribution to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s flagship Feed Ghana Programme and the nation’s broader agricultural transformation agenda,” she added.

All six varieties demonstrated strong adaptability to different farming systems, including sole cropping, intercropping and double cropping, with some suitable for mechanical harvesting.

The development of the cowpea varieties was a collaboration amongthe UDS, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research–Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR–SARI) and the Japan International Research Centre for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS–TERRA).

Upon final approval by the National Seed Council, the varieties would be made available for multiplication and distribution to farmers in the coming seasons.

Prof. Alidu expressed gratitude to all collaborators and partners, saying ''the success in the development of the new varieties heralds a new era of research partnerships aimed at tackling food security and building climate resilience for Ghanaian farmers’’.

Source: graphic.com.gh