Utilization and farmers\u2019 knowledge on pigeonpea diversity in Benin, West Africa

Mathieu Anatole Tele Ayenan,Agyemang Danquah,Kwadwo Ofori,Léonard Essehou Ahoton

doi:10.1186/s13002-017-0164-9

Mathieu Anatole Tele Ayenan, Agyemang Danquah + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0164-9

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Abstract

BackgroundUnderstanding factors driving farmers’ uses of crop genetic resources is a key component not only to design appropriate conservation strategies but also to promote sustainable production. However, in Benin, limited information is available on farmers’ knowledge related to pigeonpea uses and conservation. This study aimed at i) identifying and investigating the different uses of pigeonpea in relation with socio-cultural factors, namely age, gender, ethnic group and respondents’ residence, ii) assessing pigeonpea varieties richness at household level and iii) evaluating the extent and distribution of pigeonpea varieties.MethodsThree hundred and two farmers were surveyed using structured questionnaire. Direct observation, field visit and focus group discussion were carried out. Association between number of varieties maintained at household level and socio-cultural variables was tested. Mann-Whitney test was used to assess whether the number of varieties held by households headed by men and women were different. Distribution and extent of diversity was assessed through four cells analysis.ResultsFarmers in Benin mainly grow pigeonpea for its grains for home consumption. Pigeonpea’s stem and leaves are used for medicinal purposes to treat malaria, dizziness, measles, and eye infection. The ethnic group and the locality of residence of farmers influenced on the use of pigeonpea for medicinal purposes (P < 0.01). There was no significant association (P > 0.05) between the number of varieties held by household and the age of the respondent, number of years of experience in pigeonpea cultivation, the size of household, number of family members engaged in agricultural activities and gender. Farmers used criteria including seed colors, seed size, plant height, maturity groups and cooking time to classify their varieties. Varieties with white seed coat color were the most grown while varieties with black, red or mottled seed coat color are being abandoned and deserve to be conserved.ConclusionKnowledge on medicinal uses of pigeonpea is vertically transmitted within community and pigeonpea varieties maintenance at household level does not depend on socio-cultural factors. This study will contribute to raise awareness on the various utilization of pigeonpea. In addition, it provides the basis for designing conservation strategies of pigeonpea genetic resources.

Highlights

Understanding factors driving farmers’ uses of crop genetic resources is a key component to design appropriate conservation strategies and to promote sustainable production
Age, number of years of experience in pigeonpea cultivation, household size, and number of family members engaged in agricultural activities and gender may influence farmers’ variety preferences and seed movements which would drive the number of pigeonpea varieties and the kind of varieties farmers maintain at household level
The important place of pigeonpea in home consumption is due to the fact that it is used to make up a shortage of cowpea, maize and other staple foods during lean season (May–June)

Summary

Introduction

Understanding factors driving farmers’ uses of crop genetic resources is a key component to design appropriate conservation strategies and to promote sustainable production. There is a decline in production and diversity of so-called minor crops, important for food security in marginal areas, and the traditional knowledge associated to their conservation [13] This rapid decline in diversity of neglected crops species and local knowledge systems related to their uses and management hampers agroecosystems resilience, reduces options for adaptation to changing biophysical conditions and limits the potential to develop improved varieties [10, 14, 15]. Understanding factors driving farmers’ uses of crop genetic resources is a key component to design conservation strategies and promote their cultivation and uses [12] notably for the minor or underutilized ones In this perspective, traditional knowledge on uses and conservation of crop diversity has been documented for many crops (eg: [13, 16,17,18,19,20])

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