Ayenan, M.A.T. and Ofori, K. and Ahoton, L.E. and Danquah, A.
(2017)
Pigeonpea [(Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.)]
production system, farmers’ preferred traits
and implications for variety development
and introduction in Benin.
Agricultural Food Security, 6 (1).
pp. 1-11.
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Abstract
Background: The success of crop varieties introduction is tightly linked to the uses, biophysical conditions, the cropping
systems in which the crop is integrated and farmers’ and consumers’ preferences. In Benin, however, pigeonpea
production systems including the cropping systems, marketing, utilizations and preferences have received little
attention. This study aimed at analyzing farmers’ practices and constraints related to pigeonpea production as well as
identifying farmers’ preferred traits in pigeonpea.
Methods: The study was conducted in three pigeonpea-growing agroecological zones in Benin. Participatory rural
appraisal tools including individual interview (n = 302) and group discussion were used to collect information on production
system, constraints and preferred traits. Fisher’s exact test was used to assess the relationship between crop
associated with pigeonpea and the growing areas. Based on preferred traits, villages were clustered using UPGMA.
Results: Pigeonpea is predominantly grown by men. Approximately 98% of the pigeonpea growers associated
pigeonpea with other crops, while 2% of them grew the crop in pure stand. Pigeonpea grown in association with
maize (48.7%) was the most encountered cropping system. The type of crops associated with pigeonpea depended
on the growing area (P < 0.001), and a high diversity in crops combination was observed in the Department of Couffo.
Lack of improved varieties, low productivity and lack of quality seed were major factors constraining pigeonpea
production. The pigeonpea seed system was essentially informal with self-saved seed (79%), purchase from fellow
farmers or from local markets (12%) and gift/exchange (9%) as seeds sources. Farmers’ preferences traits varied across
pigeonpea-growing area, but overall, high yielding, early maturing, and resistance to pod borers were the main
reported preferred traits.
Conclusion: Our results confirm the importance of pigeonpea both in the cropping systems and in contributing
to ensure food security in the growing areas in Benin. Farmers’ varietal preferences were identified. This information
is important for designing appropriate strategies for sustainable pigeonpea production. Insight gained into farmers’
preferred traits in pigeonpea varieties will also help in the choice of varieties or advanced breeding materials to be
integrated into participatory varietal selection programs in order to improve productivity of the crop in Benin.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Cropping systems, Farmers’ preferences, Production constraints, Seed system |
| Author Affiliation: |
Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 44, Legon, Ghana |
| Subjects: |
Plant Production |
| Divisions: |
Pigeonpea |
| Depositing User: |
Mr T L Gautham
|
| Date Deposited: |
24 Sep 2018 04:47 |
| Last Modified: |
24 Sep 2018 04:47 |
| URI: |
http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/15605 |
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