Adoption of improved varieties and varietal preferences of cowpea growers in Senegal

This volume follows on from the Rencontres Francophone Légumineuses (RFL) held in March 2024, organized by CIRAD, INRAE, Terres Inovia and Terres Univia, and co-organized by the Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA). This unique event brings together all those involved in development, the supply chains and research into grain and forage legumes. It's an opportunity to exchange views, share knowledge and accelerate innovation around legumes. The RFLs focus on seed, forage and woody legumes, and aim to cover the diversity of production systems, as well as the diversity of uses: food, feed and non-food. Pulses are a major lever for meeting the global challenges of climate change and food and nutritional security. All over the world, they play a strategic role, providing nutritional benefits and ensuring protein and food sovereignty. The many species of pulses also represent a formidable breeding ground for food innovation.

International audience

Inglés. Cowpea is the most widely grown legume in Africa. In Senegal, it accounts for an average of 11% of total legume production. It is an important source of income for women, who are very active in the value chain (production, processing and marketing). Despite its advantages, cowpea yields are very low. This weakness can be explained by abiotic and biotic factors, including producers' limited access to seeds of improved varieties. However, drought-resistant varieties have been developed by the Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA), in collaboration with other partners. In this article, we contribute to the analysis of the adoption of new varieties by studying the preferences of male and female cowpea growers in Senegal's major production zones. The data used come from a survey conducted in 2022, with a sample of 303 producers, 60 % of whom were women, and 383 cowpea fields. The methodology consists mainly of univariate and bivariate statistical analyses. Results show that adoption of improved varieties is low, with only 21 % of growers using them. The improved varieties Mélakh and Yacine are the most present, despite their age. The results also show that the criteria for choosing varieties are not homogeneous: women prefer big seed size, good taste and red color while men focus on yield, big seed size and short cycle.