Importance of the Social Structures in Cowpea Varietal Demands for Women and Men Farmers in Segou Region, Mali

Abstract

Cowpea is the second most consumed leguminous crop after groundnut in Mali. Its national production was 260,000 tons in 2018. It contributes to nitrogen fixation in the soil. The improved varieties of cowpea cultivars contain traits such as high grain yield, drought resistance, and early maturity. However, the adoption of improved cowpea varieties remains low. The non-participation and or non-consideration of the needs of men and women farmers in the varietal selection process contributed to the low adoption rate of improved cowpea varieties. This study aims to understand the gender dynamics and social structures within the communities. It examines its influence on the adoption of improved varieties of cowpea. Anchored on gender relations theories, gender and social structures are analyzed as the core frame for organizing social relations that guide and coordinate individuals’ actions in a given situation. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were applied to collect data from cowpea growers in 11 villages around the Cinzana Research Station. It emerged from the study that male farmers are quick adopters of newly released cowpea varieties because they are mainly more involved in trials, innovation platforms, field visits, demonstration plot activities, and FPVS than women. Women are less involved in these activities, except in sorting harvested cowpea grains and seeds in the Cinzana Research Station. Women's participation in cowpea related-activities is determined by the rules and norms of physical mobility and the structures that control and guide social interactions and connections within and outside of households and communities. The study recommends efficient resource allocation within households and communities, and the set up of strong institutional frameworks (such as innovation platforms) to enable women in adopting new and improved cowpea varieties and to expand the available opportunities in the cowpea production system.

Gender trait preferences among smallholder cowpea farmers in northern Ghana: lessons from a case study

“…These studies (Rabé et al, 2022;10.3389/fsoc.2023.1260407 Frontiers in Sociology 09 frontiersin.org Karikari et al, 2023;Moussa et al, 2023), however, assumed preference for traits among producers and end-users to be genderblind, therefore did not consider trait preferences for both men and women. From the study, the finding that more women preferred pods that grow above the canopy for the reason that such cowpea are easier to harvest confirms (Ridgeway, 2009;Sylla et al, 2023) that gender relations fit into social structures that define agricultural tasks. Such tasks such as harvesting of cowpea as generally done by women may also define trait choices by women farmers.…”

“…The observation from the sex-disaggregated focus group discussions that women had limited access to land can be considered as one of the social barriers to adoption in northern Ghana. The nexus between gender relations and social structures also define access to land and other agricultural inputs (Ridgeway, 2009;Sylla et al, 2023). Rules embedded in communities regulate activities, decision and roles mostly in favour of men to the disadvantage of women (Kabeer, 1994).…”

Coping Strategies on Climate Variability Among Cowpea Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

“…The implication is that majority of cowpea farmers in the study area are married. Married farmers are expected to be more committed to cowpea production enterprise as source of income due to family responsibilities attached to the status (Sylla et al, 2023). Regarding household size of the respondents, 48.3 percent indicated 5 persons or less, while the average household size of all respondents was 6±3.94 persons.…”

Enhancing Cowpea Productivity in the Sahel: Exploring Seed Access among Smallholder Farmers in South-Central Niger

“…Studies have shown that access to input markets (e.g., certified seeds) is likely influenced by various factors, including household wealth (livestock and land), access to finance and extension services (knowledge), distance to the nearest input market, and input source [5,9,10]. Efforts such as Cowpea Innovation Platforms (CIPs) that include financial institutions have helped smallholder farmers access loans and expand their crop production [8,20,35]. The adoption of seeds of improved varieties by smallholder farmers is not solely a matter of agronomic choice but is deeply entwined with socio-economic factors.…”

“…In addition, sociocultural norms and gender inequalities can influence farmers' access to certified seeds due to limited control over resources, restricted decision-making power, and unequal access to extension services and credit [17][18][19]. For instance, a study conducted in Mali showed that men are more likely than women to participate in trials, innovation platforms, field visits, and demonstration plot activities, making them quick adopters of newly released cowpea varieties [20].…”