The amount of loses in cowpea production is obtained during post harvest. Poor practices like improper seed drying, poor storage lowers the quality and quantity of cowpea seed.
Cowpea is consumed by house holds, provide income and protein for animal. Cow pea, ground nuts and soy bean can be used as trap crops to control parasitic weeds such as striga and fixes nitrogen into soil.
Drying of seed
As far as seed drying is concerned improper drying affects seed viability and germinability. Dry well threshed cowpea seed under sunshine for 4 hours for 3 days and store in container off the ground.
Cowpea seed beetle lay eggs which fix on pods or seeds, hatch and bore into seed.
Seed storage
As beetles are the most affecting insect for cowpea seed there is need to reduce seed damage by avoiding larvae introduction into store.
While storing, cut off oxygen air supply and avoid opening of container to prevent egg hatch. Mix seed with silt sand and ash to remove any air fro seed before storage. This kills beetles without mating. Finally dry plants with pungent smell to kill or repel beetles during storage.
