Groundnut production constraints and farmers’ trait preferences: a pre-breeding study in Togo

Abstract

BackgroundGroundnut is an important legume crop in Togo. However, groundnut yield has been steadily decreasing for decades as a result of lack of organized breeding program to address production constraints. Though, low yielding varieties and late leaf spot have been often reported as the most important constraints, there is no documented evidence. Identifying and documenting the major production constraints is a prerequisite for establishing a good breeding program with clearly defined priority objectives and breeding strategies. Thus, the objectives of this study were to identify groundnut production constraints and assess farmers’ preferred traits.MethodsA participatory rural appraisal approach was used to collect data on agronomic practices, farmers’ preferences, and possible threats to production through individual and group interviews. Three regions and three villages per region were selected based on the representativeness of groundnut production systems. In each village, 20 farmers were randomly selected and interviewed; thus, a total of 180 farmers were interviewed. Content analysis was carried out for qualitative data and for quantitative data generated within and across regions, comparative descriptive statistics were carried out. Differences in perception and preferences were assessed using chi-square tests.ResultsThe study has revealed that, though there were some variation across the regions, traits pertaining to yield such as pod yield (66.66%) and pod size (12.12%) were the most important. Leaf spot diseases, rosette and peanut bud necrosis (37.77%) and insects such as pod sucking bug and bruchid (27.77%) were considered to be the most important constraints limiting groundnut production. Among diseases, farmers in all the three regions indicated that late leaf spot is of economic importance which they associated to various causes such as maturity, drought, or insects. No gender differences were observed for the perception of constraints and groundnut traits preferences. Land size is significantly influenced by age and gender. Besides, farmers have pointed the lack of improved varieties and the unavailability of groundnut seeds highlighting the necessity of a sustainable groundnut seed system linked with a strong breeding program.ConclusionThis study has enabled understanding of the farming practices, constraints, and farmers preferred characteristics, thus providing the basis for a participatory breeding program in Togo which should consider that farmers perceive low yielding varieties and diseases as major constraints to production.

Farmers’ management of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) diversity, their varietal preference traits and uses in Southern and Central Benin

“…The study revealed the existence of 8 different peanut folk varieties across the study area. This diversity is found to be very low compared to that found in Bolivia (62 distinct landraces) area of peanut origin [25] and higher than those encounter in Togo (4 varieties) [12] and Tanzania (8 varieties) [13]. The loss of peanut diversity in the study area is not alarming.…”

“…In opposition to peanut farmers of Uganda [8], Tanzania [13], Ghana [26], Niger [27], Malawi [28], and Togo [12] for which insect pests and, diseases were the main constraints of t production, Beninese farmers perceived rodent attacks as the most constraint. This perception is share by Pakistan farmers, which also mentioned rodents as main constraint of peanut production [29].…”

“…However, very little information exists on the diversity of peanuts grown in Benin agriculture. While this information is necessary for breeders as a prerequisite for establishing a good peanut breeding program [12]. It is therefore important to document the diversity of peanuts grown in Benin, but also the farmers' criteria of varietal preferences to ensure adoption of improved cultivars by farmers [13].…”

Participatory analysis of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) cropping system and production constraints in Burkina Faso

“…The abandonment of the groundnut sector for the bene t of other cash crops (cotton, sesame) by authorities (10) and the limited support from policies in groundnut breeding may be the causes of the disorganization of groundnut seed production system (46,47). In the Central-Western regions the high level of humidity thanks to a good annual rainfall exceeding 1000 mm (29), diseases were reported with predominant occurrence causing important loss of production (13,43,48). The high fertility of soil increased soil value which became out of reach for small farmer specially women.…”

“…PRA are nowadays acknowledged as a strong tool in plant breeding ensuring an e cient identi cation of farmer's constraints, preferences and also a large uptake of varieties and technologies. In Togo, (13) have conducted a PRA study as a pre-breeding activity to identify farmer's constraints and preferences in groundnut production. (14) used Participatory variety development as best approach to enhance sorghum germplasm and preserve local agrobiodiversity of this crop in Burkina Faso.…”