Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)

Here is a short fragment of a new book that will be published in the summer 2003 with the title of: “The basics of the institutional dynamics: to the new sociology of markets”. The book will include a big theoretical part and the part devoted to empirical studies of the market that were held during the last two years. The provided text is the theoretical part of the book. The author analyzes the notion of competition and compares several basic approaches to its definition.

What is the Competition

http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/rome2007/docs/Utilizing%20and%20conserving%20agrobiodiversity%20in%20agricultural%20landscapes.pdf

Utilizing and conserving agrobiodiversity in agricultural landscapes

Agriculture and fishing are the primary source of almost all our food, as well as of many other products, so remain vital activities even though their share in the economy is small and in continuous decline. Partly for this reason public policy in these areas is almost entirely integrated at European level in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Forestry policies are also heavily affected by EU-level decision-making. As agriculture dominates in terms of direct contribution to GDP and numbers of people engaged in it, as well as accounting for the largest amount of public support expenditure, it is agriculture that will receive the greatest attention here.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Cowpeas (blackeye peas, or simply beans in many parts of Africa), Vigna unguiculata, are widely grown in the tropics and subtropics for human as well as for animal food. Nigeria, Brazil, and Niger are among the major producers and account for over 70% ofthe world crop (137, 174). Nigeria alone produces ca 900,000 tons annually (172). Grown mainly as a secondary crop in associa­ tion with other staples such as maize, sorghum, millet, and cassava, cowpeas constitute the cheapest source of dietary protein and energy for most poor people in the tropical world (132). They are eaten as green seeds, green pods, and dry grains, and tender leaves are used as a vegetable (101, 104, 132). In addition, the haulm is fed to cattle in a number of countries (132). Cowpeas originated in the savannah region of West and Central Africa (39) and, like many other crops with a long history of cultivation, they are subject to heavy losses or entire crop failure (24, 85, 169, 189) as a result of severe insect pest predation (e.g. 24, 25, 174, 175). The pest spectrum is wide, and practically every part of the cowpea plant has an adopted pest species. While the pest status of the different insects may vary from one country or region to another (169, 175), the losses reported suggest that anyone major pest of cowpeas can cause substantial economic loss if left uncontrolled (32, 169).

Insect Pests of Cowpeas

Advances in cowpea research , Advances in cowpea research , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات و اطلاع رسانی کشاورزی

Advances in cowpea research

Pest management practices in cowpea: a review

Calendar and monitored insecticide application for the control of cowpea pests

Pest management in cowpea. Part 2. Integrating planting time, plant density and insecticide application for management of cowpea field insect pests in eastern Uganda

Louis E. N. Jackai

Papers

Insect Pests of Cowpeas

Advances in cowpea research

Pest management practices in cowpea: a review

Calendar and monitored insecticide application for the control of cowpea pests

Pest management in cowpea. Part 2. Integrating planting time, plant density and insecticide application for management of cowpea field insect pests in eastern Uganda