The IITA cowpea breeding program aims to strengthen its efforts through hiring additional staff, upgrading infrastructure, and optimizing breeding methodology. Plans include recruiting breeders, molecular scientists, and support technicians; upgrading screening facilities; prioritizing traits like aphid resistance and drought tolerance; shortening breeding cycles; and intensifying collaboration with national agricultural research systems. The goal is to increase adoption of improved cowpea varieties and better support smallholder farmers.

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IITA COWPEA BREEDING
PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT PLANS
IITA Cowpea Breeding Unit

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Introduction
• Cowpea breeding program has been in existence at IITA since the
establishment of the institute
• The efforts have received support of several donor agencies :
USAID, EU, BMGF…
• A number of improved breeding lines have resulted and these
have been shared with national partners who evaluate and
release those with desired attributes
• The BPAT has been tested on the program at IITA
• We find the tool useful in identifying strengths and weaknesses of
the program.

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• The Monsanto/IITA cowpea improvement project initiated by
BMGF is an opportunity for strengthening our breeding program
• The result of the cowpea program’s needs analysis by Monsanto
and IITA personnel became available recently
• We have discussed activities of the joint project and sub-
agreements signed with NARS partners
• INERA
• SARI
• IER
• IAR

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Breeding Organization
• Recruitment of additional cowpea breeder
• Recruitment of several postdocs (molecular breeder,
HPR entomologist, physiologist)
• Recruitment of support staff (technicians)
• Recruitment of senior biometrician

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Infrastructure
• Upgrades of facilities for screening for aphid resistance
and seedling drought tolerance
• Upgrade of irrigation facility
• Screenhouses and irrigation systems need upgrading
• Mechanization (harvesting and seed processing)
• Specific capital equipment replacement plans

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Breeding Methodology
• Trait prioritization
• Needs analysis – Monsanto/IITA
• Optimize breeding workflows and reduce cycle time
• Increase the size of the program
• Implementation of BMS
• Increase the use of molecular tools in our breeding –
UCR

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Breeding Methodology
• Understand germplasm diversity better in the
breeding pipelines (haplotype diversity)
• Insure genetic purity and integrity at all stages of
breeding pipeline
• Conduct environmental analysis
• Improve seed handling and threshing

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Cultivar devpt, release & pro.
• Intensify collaboration with NARS in developing and
releasing varieties
• Intensify distribution of our CIT

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Program impact
• Different ongoing projects/initiatives will increase
adoption of improved varieties.
• Assessment of impact on a regular basis (if fund is
available)

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Strategic planning & Mgt
• Cowpea breeding objectives aligned with IITA Crop
improvement strategy
• Continue supporting NARES through sharing best
practices, training, collaborating on projects…
• Enhance database management of the breeding
program

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Budget and finance
• Ongoing activities have supports from different
projects
• Continue search for additional funding opportunities

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THANK YOU