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Organic Protection of Cowpeas with Shea Butter: A Sustainable Solution for Sub-Saharan Villages

This study explores the use of shea butter as a natural protection method against cowpea storage pests in Mali. The research delves into the efficacy of different shea butter treatments and their impact on preventing pest infestations in cowpeas. The results suggest that shea butter can serve as a safe and cost-effective solution for preserving cowpeas post-harvest in remote villages, potentially benefiting children's nutrition. The discussion delves into the ease of adoption by village women, sustainability of the method, associated risks, and key takeaways.

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Organic Protection of Cowpeas with Shea Butter: A Sustainable Solution for Sub-Saharan Villages

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  1. Hypothesis tested • Since shea butter is locally made by village women from shea nuts owned by village women and wild-collected by them from village shea trees, Vitellariaparadoxa(= Butyrospermumparkii), and since shea butter is traditionally used in cooking cowpeas, shea butter is a good candidate for organic protection of cowpeas against its main storage pest, C. maculatus.

  2. Materials and Methods • Organic cowpeas, Vigna vinculata • C. maculatus from cowpeas harvested in village of Sanambele, Mali • Environmental chamber 55+/-3% R.H.; photoperiod 12:12::light:dark; 28o C

  3. Bioassay Procedures • Organic shea butter from Sanambele (Mali) women’s cooperative • Treatments: control (no shea butter); 0.01g; 0.05g; 0.50g; 1.0g warmed shea butter per 50g cowpeas. • 50 intact cowpeas randomly selected • 10 female C. maculatus per bioassay container • Post-adult emergence age specific 0-24 hrs, 24-48 hrs, 48-72 hrs • 4 replicates • Behavioral observations 1 hr, 15 da, 20 da, 25 da • Embryo development observations

  4. Results

  5. C. maculatus Oviposition

  6. C. maculatus Eggs Hatched

  7. Adult C. maculatus Emergence

  8. Discussion • Why will adoption of shea butter to preserve cowpeas postharvest be easy for village women? • What does this mean for the children of this remote village? • Is this sustainable? • Are there risks to mothers or children? • What is the take-away message?

  9. Conclusion • As long as cowpeas are protected against C. maculatus, native villagers may safely store cowpeas and serve them, from harvest to harvest, to their children to prevent kwashiorkor. • Shea butter is a local, “at-home”, no-cost, safe, protection method for cowpeas in Malian villages, and throughout Sub-Saharan.

  10. Postscript • Lesson #1 – Transdisciplinarity • Lesson #2 – Know the community

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