Socio-Economic Constraints of Adopting New Cowpea Varieties in Three Agro-Ecological Zones in the Senegalese Peanut Basin

Abstract

Socio-economic constraints like gender, education, age, and income significantly affect the adoption of improved agricultural technologies. The objective of this study was to determine socio-economic factors that affect the adoption of improved cowpea varieties in the Senegalese peanut basin. The study was conducted in three (Bambey, Kebemer, and Kaffrine) of six regions of the peanut basin based on regional importance of cowpea production and rainfall gradient. In each study region, ten villages were selected, and random sampling was used to select eight heads of agricultural households within each village. The questionnaires were administered to 240 randomly selected farmers across the three study regions, 7 communes, and 30 villages. Results showed most heads of households were middle-aged (52–54 years old), married (95–100%), illiterate (84%), and men (95–100%). Households were mostly agriculture dependent (87%), low literacy rates (26% least primary school), and large family sizes (average of 15 members). The median cowpea yields across the study area varied from 35–100 kg ha−1, well below the ~300–400 kg ha−1 average yields reported for Senegal and Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of farmers (67%) in the study regions did not use improved varieties, and the main reasons were low seed availability (78.8%) and limited access to technical knowledge and information (76.3%), but only 5.8% indicated seed price as a barrier to improved variety adoption. Major uses of cowpea in the study area were for marketing, livestock feed, and human consumption. In Kaffrine, fodder production was the major (85%) criterion for cowpea variety selection, whereas in the north (Bambey and Kebemer), taste, maturity date, and grain yield were major selection criteria. Factors that had positive effect on the likelihood of using improved cowpea varieties include; access to extension services, membership in farmers’ organization, cowpea being the main crop of production, organic farming, market, and livestock-oriented production systems, access to farmland and credit, dependence on agriculture as the main source of household income, and education of head of household. We conclude that there is a critical need for training, access to improved seeds, awareness, and financial support to producers to increase the adoption of new improved cowpea varieties, yields, profitability, and nutritional security among smallholder farmers in the Senegalese peanut basin.

Cowpea residue management effect on productivity of subsequent millet in a legume‐cereal crop rotation

“…Field experiments were conducted near the National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA) in Bambey, Senegal (14.709874°N and −16.481225 W, Figure 1). Crop production in the Bambey (Diourbel) region is generally rainfed and dominated by millet, cowpea, and groundnuts integrated with livestock farming or forestry (Beye et al., 2022). The climate is of the Sahelo–Sudanian type and is characterized by an average annual temperature of 27–28°C and annual rainfall amounts of 520 mm from 1991 to 2016 (Climate Research Unit of East Anglia, 2019).…”

“…In Senegal, farming systems are dominated by cereal monoculture generally practiced in fields closer to farmsteads and cereals‐legumes rotations system in “bush fields” farther from the village (Beye et al., 2022; Samaké et al., 2006). Planting monoculture cereals in fields around the home allows generally good (average or more) yields because of large quantities of domestic organic wastes added to the soil (Tounkara, 2017) and used as an effective way to meet the growing demand for food (Franquesa, 2020).…”

“…In addition, in most of the countries, blanket fertilizer recommendations developed over 50 years ago are still applied without soil and climate variability consideration (Bado et al, 1997;Bationo & Mokwunye, 1991b;Berger et al, 1987;Pichot et al, 1981;Pieri, 1989;Sédogo, 1981Sédogo, , 1993. In Senegal, farming systems are dominated by cereal monoculture generally practiced in fields closer to farmsteads and cereals-legumes rotations system in "bush fields" farther from the village (Beye et al, 2022;Samaké et al, 2006). Planting monoculture cereals in fields around the home allows generally good (average or more) yields because of large quantities of domestic organic wastes added to the soil (Tounkara, 2017) and used as an effective way to meet the growing demand for food (Franquesa, 2020).…”

Dual‐purpose cowpea grain and fodder yield response to variety, nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium fertilizer, and environment

“…Notwithstanding the yield advantage of these new varieties, a recent study showed that majority of farmers (67%) in Senegal did not use improved cowpea varieties, and the main reasons were low seed availability (78.8%) and limited access to technical knowledge and information (76.3%), with only 5.8% indicating that seed price was a barrier to adoption (Beye et al, 2022). This suggests that new cowpea varieties are less known by producers and little information is available on best agronomic practices to improve grain and fodder yields of these varieties in the different environments in cowpea-producing regions (Beye et al, 2022;Dube & Fanadzo, 2013;Kristjanson et al, 2002). In Nigeria, research of Omokonye et al (2003) showed a significant variation in grain and fodder productivity among dual-purpose cowpea varieties, with more than 100% seed and fodder yield differences among tested dual-purpose cowpea varieties.…”

Cowpea Constraints and Breeding in Europe

“…In addition to its important nutritional potential, its short biological cycle makes this crop ideal for participation in organic farming systems due to its high rates of nitrogen fixation, phosphorus use efficiency and regrowth capacity [ 16 , 17 ]. Like other leguminous crops, it enhances soil improvement due to its ability to coexist with several Rhizobium bacteria species [ 18 , 19 ], resulting in the enrichment of the soil with nitrogen [ 20 , 21 ].…”