In Africa, nutrient intake deficiencies are widespread. We, therefore, investigated the potential contribution of cowpea dishes to the ingestion of several macro- and micronutrients. Processors and consumers were interviewed and cowpea dishes analyzed. Energy, protein, iron, zinc, and calcium contents ranged from 1647 to 2570 kJ, 10 to 25 g, 1 to 35 mg, 1.5 to 3.0 mg, 38 to 380 mg per 100 g d.w., respectively. The iron and calcium contents were highest in dishes containing leaves. The consumption of these dishes should be promoted along with research on how to further decrease the associated antinutritional factors of traditional cowpea dishes.

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Mechanical shelling and dehulling methods were tested to evaluate their impact on Fusarium infection and fumonisin contamination in maize. All shelling methods which were tested were found to damage the grains. The IITA sheller caused the highest level (up to 3.5%) of damage. Fusarium populations were higher on damaged grains, the highest being recorded from grains damaged by the IITA sheller (2,533.3 cfu g(-1)). Fumonisin levels were higher in damaged grains, the highest being in maize shelled with the IITA sheller (2.2 mg kg(-1)). Fumonisin levels were positively and significantly correlated with the percentage of damage caused by the shelling methods, and with the number of Fusarium colonies in maize. Mechanical dehulling methods significantly reduced fumonisin levels in maize, resulting in a mean reduction of 62% for Mini-PRL, 65% for Engelberg, and 57% for the attrition disc mill. It is important for farmers to choose appropriate shelling methods to reduce mycotoxin contamination. Dehulling should be widely promoted for the reduction of mycotoxins in maize.

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Agricultural mechanization is on the rise in Africa. A widespread replacement of manual labor and animal traction will change the face of African agriculture. Despite this potentially transformative role, only a few studies have looked at the effects of mechanization empirically, mostly focusing on yields and labor alone. This is the first paper that explores perceived agronomic, environmental, and socioeconomic effects together, thereby revealing linkages and trade-offs, some of which have been hitherto unknown. Data were collected using a novel data collection method called “participatory impact diagrams” in four countries: Benin, Kenya, Nigeria, and Mali. In 129 gendered focus group discussions, 1330 respondents from 87 villages shared their perceptions on the positive and negative effects of agricultural mechanization, and developed causal impact chains. The results suggest that mechanization is likely to have more far-reaching agronomic, environmental, and socioeconomic consequences than commonly assumed. Most perceived effects were positive, suggesting that mechanization can help to reduce poverty and enhance food security but other effects were negative such as deforestation, soil erosion, land-use conflicts, and gender inequalities. Accompanying research and policy efforts, which reflect variations in local agro-ecological and socioeconomic conditions, are needed to ensure that mechanization contributes to an African agricultural transformation that is sustainable from a social, economic, and environmental perspective.