Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is the most important leguminous fodder crop suitable for both summer and rainy seasons, mainly due to its quick growing habit and high yielding ability. Cowpea is indigenous to Africa and India. It has been cultivated from very early times for human consumption. Fodder cowpea can be profitably grown as a summer crop in rice fallow of sandy loam soils where water is not available to raise a subsequent crop. It can be considered as a complementary crop in the rotation sequence of rice-rice-cowpea because of the leguminous organic residues available for fertility enrichment.

Cowpea is grown as a seasonal crop, which is bushy, trailing or climbing. Stems are 1 to 3 m long, glabrous or slightly hairy. Leaves are trifoliate, inflorescence auxiliary having a few to several flowers. Pods are linear and cylindrical.