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Cowpea beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus, is a major pest of stored cowpea. Farmers use mostly synthetic insecticides to control the pest in store, although biopesticides such as neem oil have been proven to be a sustainable alternative. The objective of this study was to determine the effective and feasible rates to enhance cost-effectiveness of neem oil in the management of C. maculatus in stored cowpea grains. A laboratory experiment was conducted, in which sterilised healthy cowpea grains (50 g each) were treated with neem oil at 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1 ml and 0.05 g ACTELLIC Gold Dust® (16 g kg-1 Pirimiphos methyl + 3.6 g kg-1 Thiamethoxam). The experiment was laid out in a completely randomised design, with four replications. Results revealed that adult female C. maculatus laid eggs on all the treated cowpea grains, except those treated with 1.0 ml of neem oil. However, no adult emergence and damaged grains were recorded from grains treated with 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 ml of neem oil. This study has shown that cowpea grains treated with 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 ml of neem oil outperformed those treated with insecticide actellic dust. Among the rates of neem oil assessed, there was no significant difference between their effect on the management of C. maculatus. Thus, 0.50 ml of neem oil per 50 g of cowpea grains is the most cost-effective rate for the management of C. maculatus in stored cowpea grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of seeds of high-performing varieties is one of the constraints to the development of cowpea production in Benin. The objective of this study was to enhance the capacity of the farmers to evaluate and select improved varieties for sustainable production of cowpea. Four varieties, containing three improved varieties from Burkina- Faso and one from local germ bank, were evaluated in farmer's fields of the farmer's platform of Klouekanme and Aplahoué agricultural sectors in the department of Mono, south west of Benin. The varieties KVX 421-2J ; KVX 402-5-2 ; KVX 397-6-6 from Burkina-Faso and local Kakanon were tested during one season, using mother and babies approach by forty height (48) farmers partners. The farmers were trained on the method of selection and evaluation of varieties an inter and intra visits were organized to permit farmers to compare their own plots to those of their colleagues. Synthesis and restitution meetings involving farmers and non-farmers were organized. Grain and biomass yields, production cycle time, seed fat and color were the selection criteria defined by producers. Based on these criteria, the ranking by producers in order is: KVX 421-2J, KVX 402-5-2, Kakanon and KVX 397-6-6. Improved variety KVX 421-2J from Burkina-Faso were selected by the farmers. This variety presented the best grain yield at 1065 kg ha-1 and a high level of biomass yield at 1735 kg ha-1, with short production cycle of 67 days. The introduction of this new variety will increase quantitatively and qualitatively the production of cowpea in the area and improve farmer income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]