Production constraints and breeding approaches for cowpea improvement for drought prone agro-ecologies in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is an important grain legume which is widely grown in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for food and feed. Its grain contains high levels of protein, energy, micro- and macro-nutrients. In SSA cowpea productivity is considerably low due to a wide array of abiotic and biotic stresses, and socio-economic constraints. This review summarizes challenges and constraints to cowpea production, breeding methods and progress, genetic variation and analysis of cowpea. Therefore, this review could serve as baseline information for cowpea breeders, agronomists and producers in Namibia as well as for similar agro-ecologies in SSA.