Cowpea feedgram: production and utilization
1991
Calub, A.D.
Cowpea or paayap in Pilipino is a tropical legume. It is widely planted in the Philippines but in limited quantity. It is chiefly consumed as vegetable for its immature pods or seeds. Although its 23% crude protein is lower than the 44% in soybean oil meal, it could be grown as valuable feed grain. Wide-scale production could help reduce annual importation of soybean oil meal worth $60 million. Its use as a feedgrain is discussed, along with its production potential as an intercrop to corn. Intercropping would keep its price low and competitive to soybean. At the same time, it adds income to the corn crop and help lower production cost by suppressing weeds and fixing soil nitrogen. Operation of small village feedmills capitalizing on corn and cowpea is likewise explored as a cooperative farming strategy. Such strategy is envisioned to make smallhold animal raising more profitable while adding value to the grain crops.
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