Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata] cultivation on the Sahelian region of west Africa: Farmers' preferences and production constraints

Genetic improvement to increase the yield performance of the cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] variety is a beneficial and affordable way to the poor farmers in the Sahelian region in West Africa. However, there is insufficient information on farmers' perception about the crop and the major production constraints in cowpea cultivation needed to facilitate the development of cowpea varieties suitable for the Sahelian region in West Africa. Therefore, a systematic on-farm survey was conducted to collect the latest information about cropping systems, cultural practices and major constraints in the cowpea production as well as farmers' preference for cowpea varieties in three typical villages in the Sahel. The results indicated that cowpea is mostly planted as an intercrop between pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) rows around two weeks after planting of millet and weed control was the most important practice during the cropping season. We found that insect-pests and low plant density should be the major constraints in cowpea production in the study area. The local varieties had common traits such as indeterminate spreading growth habit and white seeds with black eye. The farmers prefer dual purpose cowpea varieties with desired proportion of grain and fodder yields rather than mainly grain type and fodder type varieties. About two third of the farmers purchase cowpea seeds at the time of planting from the local market due to strong demand of domestic consumption, sales in the local market for cash after the harvest and poor harvest of cowpea grains. The results obtained from farmers and cowpea fields in the study area could be useful to select cowpea varieties which are adaptable to the local environments and preferred by the farmers in the Sahel.