Abstract
Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp] is an important food security crop in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, cowpea production in some parts of this region is constrained byStriga gesnerioides(Willd.) Vatke infestation resulting in yield losses. This study assessed the farmers and agricultural extension officers (AEOs) perception ofS. gesnerioidesparasitism on cowpea in the Upper East Region of Ghana. In all, 200 respondents—179 cowpea farmers and 21 AEOs—in five cowpea growing districts were randomly sampled to answer closed- and opened-ended questions coupled with visit to cowpea farms. Majority of the farmer respondents were males between the ages of 21 and 60 with very little or no formal education. Almost all of the respondents could identify the parasitic weed,S. gesnerioides,but they lacked adequate knowledge of the parasitic effects on the host, cowpea plant.S. gesnerioidesinfestation was widespread and devastating in almost all the fields surveyed. Its effects on the host plants (cowpea) included stunted growth, leaf senescence, chlorosis, death of the crop, and reduced yield. Different management strategies employed by the farmers to contain the spread of the parasite include weeding (90%), application of manure (5.5%), and crop rotation and fallowing (4.0%). Both farmers and extension officers had very little knowledge on existence ofS. gesnerioidesresistant cowpea genotypes for cultivation. Farmers expressed the desire to cultivateStriga-resistant cowpea varieties when made accessible, since it is the most reliable and environmentally friendly method of controlling the parasitic weed.
Highlights
Cowpeas [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is one of the most important grain legume crops mostly grown in the tropics and has tolerance to high temperatures and drought
Its root system has high ability of associating with the different species of Rhizobia bacteria in the soil to fix atmospheric nitrogen. It fixes about 70–240 N kg ha−1 of atmospheric nitrogen per year and residue of fixed N deposit of 60-70 N kg ha−1 can be left to the soils for the successive crop [4]
The Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana lies between longitude 1015W and 005E and stretches from latitude 10030∘N to 1108∘N
Summary
Cowpeas [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] is one of the most important grain legume crops mostly grown in the tropics and has tolerance to high temperatures and drought. Cowpea is important in human dietary need, especially for resourcepoor families, as a source of quality protein for human and animal nutrition. Cowpea grains contain 23.4% protein, 1.8% fat, and 60.3% carbohydrates and it is a rich source of calcium and iron [2, 3]. Its root system has high ability of associating with the different species of Rhizobia bacteria in the soil to fix atmospheric nitrogen. It fixes about 70–240 N kg ha−1 of atmospheric nitrogen per year and residue of fixed N deposit of 60-70 N kg ha−1 can be left to the soils for the successive crop [4]. Cowpea is a source of income for many rural household families in Ghana who are dependent on agricultural employment through cultivation of the crop, processing, and sales of cowpea products though in relatively small quantities [5]
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