Farmer preferences and legume intensification for low nutrient environments

Abstract

Improved varieties of legumes adapted to nutrient deficiency have the potential to improve food security for the poorest farmers. Tolerant varieties could be an inexpensive and biologically smart technology that improves soils while minimizing fertilizer costs. Yet other technologies that improve productivity and appear to be biologically sound have been rejected by farmers. To translate benefits to smallholder farmers, research on low-nutrient tolerant genes and crop improvement must keep farmer preferences and belief systems in the forefront. We review farmer participatory research on legume-intensification and soil fertility management options for smallholder farmers in Africa, including recent results from our work in Malawi and Kenya. We suggest that indeterminate, longduration legumes are the best bet for producing high quality residues, compared to short-duration and determinate genotypes. This may be due to a long period of time to biologically fix nitrogen, acquire nutrients, photosynthesize and grain fill. Also, the indeterminate nature of long-duration varieties facilitates recovery from intermittent stresses such as drought or pest pressure. However, indeterminate growth habit is also associated with late maturity, moderate yield potential and high labour demand. These traits are not necessarily compatible with smallholder criteria for acceptable varieties. Malawi women farmers, for example, prioritized early maturity and low-labour requirement, as well as yield potential. To address complex farmer requirements, we suggest the purposeful combination of species with different growth habits; e.g. deep-rooted indeterminate long-duration pigeonpea interplanted with short-duration soyabean and groudnut varieties. On-farm trials in Malawi indicate that calorie production can be increased by 30% through pigeonpea-intensified systems. Farmers consistently indicate strong interest in these systems. In Kenya, a 55% yield increase was observed for a doubled-up pigeonpea system (a double row of pigeonpea intercropped with three maize rows) compared to traditional, low density intercrops. However, the need for improved pigeonpea varieties with high intercrop suitability, including reduced early branching, was highlighted by a farmer preference study in the same area. These examples illustrate the potential for participatory research methodologies to drive biophysical research in farmer-acceptable directions.

To Meet Future Food Demands We Need to Change from Annual Grain Legumes to Multipurpose Semi-Perennial Legumes

“…Some research has shown, though, that different services associated with the pigeonpea crop, are valued differently by men and women. It has been found for example that women do not value soil fertility services but value food consumption (Snapp & Silim, 2002). Compared to our findings this is much too general a statement.…”

“…Furthermore, as surplus maize is sold in May-June to cover school fees and debts, among others, the crops of pigeonpea that can be harvested in August-November gives the farmer a small income for which new farming inputs can be acquired. This diversification is obtained with very minor additional labour demands, which is an important issue for female farmers as the stressed by the female participants (Høgh-Jensen & Odgaard, unpublished data), which agrees with Snapp & Silim (2002).…”

The future of grain legumes in cropping systems

“…Since grain legumes are often cultivated by women, and become a mainstay of the diet when populations cannot afford meat, there can be a negative stigma about the value of grain legumes. To expand the cultivation of grain legumes in less developed areas, all of these socioeconomic and cultural factors need to be well understood to fully unlock the potential of legumes to improve cropping systems and the livelihoods of these farmers (Sperling et al 1993;Snapp and Silim 2002).…”

Realigning research and extension to focus on farmers’ constraints and opportunities

“…Some species of shrubby legumes not only biologically fix N, but also improve availability of phosphorus, and thus increase crop yields (Snapp and Silim, 2002). A long-term Zimbabwe study found that grain yield and profitability can be increased by 50% or more if fertilizer is applied to maize after a grain legume rotation, or a maize-legume intercrop, compared to continuous maize (Waddington and Karigwindi, 2001).…”

“…A key step in this process was a survey of pigeon pea exporters to determine the critical quality traits for the dehulling process. A newly released variety, ICEAP 00040, is a case in point; through collaborative research a high-yield variety has been identified that meets both farmer and industry standards (Snapp and Silim, 2002).…”