Early cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walpers) basic seed production at the Serviço de Produção de Sementes Básicas - SPSB (Basic Seed Production Service) of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Enterprize - EMBRAPA, started in 1979, when 39t were produced with contracted farmers and research institutions. In 1980, 274t were produced and, in 1981, 234; the main cultivar was "Pitiuba". Specific technical activities in basic seed production and quality control include land selection, and fïeld inspections at preflowering, flowering and pre-harvesting stages, when field conditions are checked against previousiy stablished quality field standards. After harvest seed quality is verified by means of laboratory tests. Pre-basic seed, needed for the establishment of basic seed producing fields, has higher quality standards and is checked additionaly, in "post control" plots for better assurance on its genetic purity and trueness to type. As a consequence of the recent availability of new and higher yielding varieties, and of adequate volumes of basic seed, it is possible and necessary that private seed companies become involved in the production and distribution of improved cowpeas seeds in the North and Northeast Brazil.