Cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints in the upper west region of Ghana: farmers' consultation and implications for breeding
Abstract Background Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is used primarily as food for humans and feed for animals. It is also used for soil management within a cropping system. However, cowpea production is confronted with numerous challenges. As such farmers and consumers alike have certain prefer...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-06-01
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| Series: | CABI Agriculture and Bioscience |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-023-00159-1 |
| _version_ | 1797806609024417792 |
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| author | Benjamin Karikari Margaret Delle Maale Ebenezer Anning Daniel Brain Akakpo Afishata Mohammed Abujaja Isaac Kwahene Addai |
| author_facet | Benjamin Karikari Margaret Delle Maale Ebenezer Anning Daniel Brain Akakpo Afishata Mohammed Abujaja Isaac Kwahene Addai |
| author_sort | Benjamin Karikari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is used primarily as food for humans and feed for animals. It is also used for soil management within a cropping system. However, cowpea production is confronted with numerous challenges. As such farmers and consumers alike have certain preferences in terms of production and utilization. This present study investigated cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints among farmers in the Nandom, Lambusie and Lawra districts in the northern part of the Upper West Region of Ghana. A total of 306 farming households were sampled from the 3 chosen districts. Questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection. The IBM SPSS software, version 22, was employed to analyze the data using descriptive statistics, specifically frequencies, percentages and crosstabulations. Results The study’s results indicated that a majority (58.5%) of the cowpea farmers practice intercropping, whereas a minority (41.5%) practice sole cropping. The farmers intercropped cowpea with maize, millet, sorghum and yam. Farmers preferred cowpea varieties with the following traits: high yield, drought tolerance, early maturing, pest resistance, improve soil fertility, high price, high demand, better taste, less cooking time, storage quality, palatability and fast growing. Farmers indicated that susceptibility to storage pests, high pest incidence, late maturity, difficulty in harvesting, high input cost, small grain size, low yield, high disease incidence, poor colour, lack of improved variety, and drought are some constraints that hinder cowpea production. Conclusion Results indicate a need for behavioural change communication to assist cowpea farmers to adopt improved and appropriate cropping systems. Farmers should be involved in cowpea technology development in order to understand their preferences and constraints to enable subsequent adoption of such technologies. The results from this study call for an interdisciplinary committee to plan and breed cowpea varieties that meet the needs of the farmers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:09:51Z |
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| id | doaj.art-dd2c1a7bcb5841589f4a0092752cc3e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4044 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:09:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | CABI Agriculture and Bioscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-dd2c1a7bcb5841589f4a0092752cc3e22023-06-11T11:22:16ZengBMCCABI Agriculture and Bioscience2662-40442023-06-014111110.1186/s43170-023-00159-1Cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints in the upper west region of Ghana: farmers' consultation and implications for breedingBenjamin Karikari0Margaret Delle Maale1Ebenezer Anning2Daniel Brain Akakpo3Afishata Mohammed Abujaja4Isaac Kwahene Addai5Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences, University for Development StudiesDepartment of Agricultural and Consumer Science Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences, University for Development StudiesDepartment of Agricultural and Consumer Science Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences, University for Development StudiesDepartment of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, University of GhanaDepartment of Agricultural and Consumer Science Education, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences, University for Development StudiesDepartment of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Sciences, University for Development StudiesAbstract Background Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) is used primarily as food for humans and feed for animals. It is also used for soil management within a cropping system. However, cowpea production is confronted with numerous challenges. As such farmers and consumers alike have certain preferences in terms of production and utilization. This present study investigated cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints among farmers in the Nandom, Lambusie and Lawra districts in the northern part of the Upper West Region of Ghana. A total of 306 farming households were sampled from the 3 chosen districts. Questionnaires and interviews were used for data collection. The IBM SPSS software, version 22, was employed to analyze the data using descriptive statistics, specifically frequencies, percentages and crosstabulations. Results The study’s results indicated that a majority (58.5%) of the cowpea farmers practice intercropping, whereas a minority (41.5%) practice sole cropping. The farmers intercropped cowpea with maize, millet, sorghum and yam. Farmers preferred cowpea varieties with the following traits: high yield, drought tolerance, early maturing, pest resistance, improve soil fertility, high price, high demand, better taste, less cooking time, storage quality, palatability and fast growing. Farmers indicated that susceptibility to storage pests, high pest incidence, late maturity, difficulty in harvesting, high input cost, small grain size, low yield, high disease incidence, poor colour, lack of improved variety, and drought are some constraints that hinder cowpea production. Conclusion Results indicate a need for behavioural change communication to assist cowpea farmers to adopt improved and appropriate cropping systems. Farmers should be involved in cowpea technology development in order to understand their preferences and constraints to enable subsequent adoption of such technologies. The results from this study call for an interdisciplinary committee to plan and breed cowpea varieties that meet the needs of the farmers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-023-00159-1Cowpea breedingEarly maturingFood securityNorthern GhanaSustainable agricultureLess cooking time |
| spellingShingle | Benjamin Karikari Margaret Delle Maale Ebenezer Anning Daniel Brain Akakpo Afishata Mohammed Abujaja Isaac Kwahene Addai Cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints in the upper west region of Ghana: farmers' consultation and implications for breeding CABI Agriculture and Bioscience Cowpea breeding Early maturing Food security Northern Ghana Sustainable agriculture Less cooking time |
| title | Cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints in the upper west region of Ghana: farmers' consultation and implications for breeding |
| title_full | Cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints in the upper west region of Ghana: farmers' consultation and implications for breeding |
| title_fullStr | Cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints in the upper west region of Ghana: farmers' consultation and implications for breeding |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints in the upper west region of Ghana: farmers' consultation and implications for breeding |
| title_short | Cowpea cropping systems, traits preference and production constraints in the upper west region of Ghana: farmers' consultation and implications for breeding |
| title_sort | cowpea cropping systems traits preference and production constraints in the upper west region of ghana farmers consultation and implications for breeding |
| topic | Cowpea breeding Early maturing Food security Northern Ghana Sustainable agriculture Less cooking time |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-023-00159-1 |
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