Cowpea Leaves: Feasible Solutions to Overcome Seasonal Availability

Abstract

Key Messages

• Despite the critical role of cowpea leaves in the ASAL as a food security crop, drought, diseases and pests remain major challenges to be addressed. Prioritizing alternative water sources and extension services is recommended.
• The gender of a household head influences the use of cowpeas leaves in the ASAL. There is need for food security initiatives to adopt gendered approaches in the promotion the value addition approaches and utilization of cowpea leaves.
• Even though the cowpeas leaves are the main vegetables in ASAL households, the fresh forms are highly perishable; households in the ASAL areas need to employ the complementary utilization of both the preserved and fresh forms to assure food security.
• Limited knowledge on value addition technologies coupled with lack of equipment remain major limitations on processing, preservation and improved consumption of cowpeas leaves.
• Dehydrated products from cowpea leaves contain adequate amounts of limiting minerals and hence provide possible food vehicles for dietary diversification of the diets of the populations vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies.