An investigation of cowpea production constraints and preferences among small holder farmers in Nigeria

Abstract

The gradual decline in cowpea production in Nigeria, the largest cowpea producing country, has been of concern. Hence, assessment of challenges and constraints to cowpea production among small holder farmers in some cowpea producing states was carried out using 150 randomly selected respondents. These farmers were selected from communities in four cowpea producing states. Structured questionnaire was used to source for information from the sampled respondents and data collected were analysed accordingly. The sampled population comprise of 90% males and 10% females mostly between 20 and 50 years. The farmers had secondary education (54.4%) and were mostly married (97%). Land used by these farmers were mostly inherited (58.98%) and cowpea was mixed cropped with other crops during its growing season. However, drought, pest and diseases both on the field and in storage were the top ranked production constraints reported by the respondent. There was also high preference for drought tolerant, pest and disease resistant, high market acceptability, large seeds and early maturing cowpea varieties. We therefore recommend the introduction and promotion of resistant varieties to cowpea farmers that would foster increased cowpea production.