The National Varietal Release and Registration Committee Approves Six New Drought-Tolerant Cowpea Varieties Developed by UDS Nyankpala, Campus, Tamale Pending approval by the National Seed Council on the 6th and 7th of November 2025:
In a major boost to Ghana’s agricultural sector, the National Varietal Release and Registration Committee has officially approved the release and registration of six new drought-tolerant cowpea varieties developed by the University for Development Studies (UDS), Faculty of Agriculture and Food and Consumer Sciences (FoAFCS), Nyankpala.
The approval followed successful field visits and a detailed presentation by Professor Sanatu Mustapha ALIDU, a lecturer UDS, Nyankpala Campus and the lead researcher and principal investigator of the project. The new varieties were evaluated for their resilience, yield performance, and nutritional value across the Guinea and Sudan savanna agro-ecological zones of Ghana.
The varieties include:
1. Tuya Bilichini (UDS-CrS-F142-1) – Matures in 50–55 days with a yield of 2.5 t/ha and high potassium and iron content.
2. Kachagu Tuya (UDS-CrS-F20-2) – Matures in 55–60 days, yields 2.6 t/ha, and contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, and iron.
3. JIRCAS-Sasage Tuya (UDS-CrS-F116-3) – Matures in 55–60 days with high fat, protein, and ash content.
4. Atiriyinya Tuya (UDS-CrS-F325-4) – Matures in 70–75 days with a yield of 2.6 t/ha and high calcium, zinc, and iron levels.
5. UDS Ny-25 (UDS-CrS-F55-5) – Matures in 75–85 days, suitable for green manure and silage, and noted for its high carbohydrate content.
6. Zara Tuya (UDS-CrS-F186-6) – Matures in 55–60 days, yields 2.5 t/ha, and is rich in calcium, zinc, and protein.
All six varieties demonstrated strong adaptability to sole, intercropping, and double-cropping systems, with some of the proposed varieties suitable for mechanical harvesting.
The development of these varieties was a collaborative effort between UDS, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research–Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR–SARI), and the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS–TERRA).
According to Prof. Sanatu Alidu, the release of these improved cowpea lines marks a significant milestone in enhancing food security, farmer income, and climate resilience in northern Ghana and beyond.
With the National Seed Council’s approval, the varieties will now be made available for multiplication and distribution to farmers in subsequent seasons.
