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Technical Kisanखेती, तकनीक के साथ
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Lobia (Cowpea)KharifOpen-pollinatedUpdated 2 September 2026

Kashi Kanchan

ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi's 2007 release — a dwarf, early, disease-resistant bush cowpea bred for both spring-summer and rainy-season vegetable cropping across the Gangetic plain.

SeasonKharif
Maturity period50–55 days to first picking
Expected yield150–175 q/ha green pod
Suitable soilLoam

Quick facts

Crop
Lobia (Cowpea)
Type
Open-pollinated
Season
Kharif
Maturity period
50–55 days to first picking
Seed rate
15–20 kg/ha for vegetable-pod cropping
Expected yield
150–175 q/ha green pod
Suitable soil
Loam
Release
Released 2007 · ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi

About this variety

Kashi Kanchan is a dwarf, bush-type vegetable cowpea released in 2007 by ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR), Varanasi. It grows to a compact 50–60 cm and is photo-insensitive, meaning it flowers and fruits reliably regardless of day length — flowering begins around 40–45 days after sowing, with the first picking ready by 50–55 days, so it suits both spring-summer and rainy-season plantings. Its pods are long (about 30–35 cm), dark green, soft and fleshy with no fibrous parchment layer, which is what makes it a favoured market variety. The release carries documented resistance to Cowpea golden mosaic virus and to Pseudocercospora cruenta, the fungus behind cowpea's common Cercospora leaf spot — a genuine, useful combination of viral and fungal protection for a crop otherwise vulnerable to both.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeOpen-pollinated
    Maturity50–55 days to first picking
    Yield potential150–175 q/ha green pod
    Disease resistanceResistant to Cowpea golden mosaic virus and Pseudocercospora cruenta (Cercospora leaf spot)
    SoilLoam
    SeasonKharif

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeSpring-summer (February–March) or rainy season (June–July) — the variety is photo-insensitive so both windows work
  • Seed rate15–20 kg/ha for vegetable-pod cropping
  • Spacing45–50 cm between rows, 20–25 cm between plants for its compact bush

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

50–55 days to first picking

Expected yield

150–175 q/ha green pod

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Documented resistance to both Cowpea golden mosaic virus and Cercospora leaf spot covers the two biggest disease risks a cowpea vegetable grower faces, in one variety.
  • Being photo-insensitive, early-flowering and early-picking, it gives a fast, reliable turnaround crop in both the spring-summer and rainy seasons.
  • Fleshy, parchment-free 30–35 cm pods with a green pod yield of 150–175 q/ha make it a strong market variety.

Things to consider

  • Bred and yield-tested as a vegetable (green-pod) cowpea rather than a dry-grain type — a grower wanting mainly dal should compare it against a grain-focused release.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Bihar
  • Jharkhand

Frequently asked questions

What diseases is Kashi Kanchan resistant to?

It carries documented resistance to Cowpea golden mosaic virus (a whitefly-spread virus) and to Cercospora leaf spot, caused by the fungus Pseudocercospora cruenta — together the two most damaging disease pressures a cowpea vegetable crop typically faces.

Can Kashi Kanchan be sown in both summer and the rainy season?

Yes — it is photo-insensitive, so it flowers and pods reliably regardless of day length, and is recommended for both spring-summer (February–March) sowing and the standard rainy kharif (June–July) window.