African cowpeas black-eyed peas facts and information

Black-eyed peas also known as Cowpeas or niébé originated in Africa and are widely grown around the world. Niébé, a variety of cowpea is a drought-resistant bean that thrives even in the dry, arid soils of the Sahel.

The niébé bean improves soil quality in the Sahel by fixing nutrients since its nitrogen requirements low; its roots form nodules that contribute to the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.

The Sahel of Africa is a huge dry area and includes northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, central Mali, northern Burkina Faso, southern Algeria, Niger, northern Nigeria, central Chad, central and southern Sudan, northern South Sudan, Eritrea, Cameroon, Central African Republic and northern Ethiopia.

African cowpeas black-eyed peas facts and information


Cowpeas, especially the Niébé variety of cowpea is grown by many women small farmers, throughout West Africa.


What exactly are cowpeas? African cowpeas black-eyed peas facts and information.


Black-eyed peas or cowpeas originated from West Africa.

Throughout Africa black-eyed peas are known as cowpeas.

Cowpeas are the most important seed legume in the tropical savanna areas of Africa.

Black-eyed peas or cowpeas are grown and eaten extensively in Asia, South and Central America, the Caribbean, the United States, the Middle East and Southern Europe.

Cowpea plays an important role in the livelihoods of many rural families in Africa, Latin America and Asia by providing nutrients deficient in cereals.

Cowpeas provide the bulk of proteins and vitamins such as folic acid, micro-elements such as iron, calcium, zinc and also carbohydrates in many food deprived areas of the world.

Cowpea is an important staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in arid Savannahs of West Africa and the Sahel.

Cowpeas are a valuable source of vegetable protein, vitamins as well as valuable income.

Western and Central Africa is the leading cowpea producing regions in the world producing around 64 percent of the estimated 3 million tons of cowpea seed produced each year.

Nigeria is the world’s leading cowpea producing country; Senegal, Niger, Ghana, Mali, Cameroon and Burkina Faso are significant also significant producers.

Niébé is a variety of cowpea grown by many women small farmers, throughout West Africa.

Black-eyed peas get their name from their characteristic appearance of a black dot in the middle of a cream colored bean.

The black-eyed pea is believed to have been introduced to the United States through the African slave trade.

Black-eyed peas are said to bring good luck when eaten on New Year's Day in the Southern US. The peas represent good luck, and are served with collard greens that represent money.

Black-eyed peas are full potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron.


Cowpeas or black-eyed peas are popular in Africa and in the South USA.

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