In the Sahelian countries, the main pest problem in stored grain cowpea is the cowpea weevilCallosobruchus maculatus.In Senegal, the groundnut oil treatment and the fumigant carbon tetrachloride failed to give control of this pest. Among eight tested active ingredients commonly used to protect stored food‐stuffs, the best results were obtained with pirimiphos‐methyl. This insecticide treatment at 12–5 ppm has been extended in two farmer pilot area of the Sahelian zone, and is efficacious for six months. In the future, resistant varieties and the use of local plant substances to control cowpea weevil could be alternative control methods or part of integrated pest management.