scholarly journals Farmers’ production constraints, perceptions and preferences of cowpeas in Buhera district, Zimbabwe

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (06) ◽  
pp. 16832-16857
Author(s):  
Gabriel Vusanimuzi Nkomo ◽  
◽  
MM Sedibe ◽  
MA Mofokeng' ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Women Farmers ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Cowpea Varieties

Many smallholder farmers face crop production constraints, especially under rapidly changing climatic conditions. A survey was carried out to assess farmers’ production constraints, traits, and preferred cowpea varieties. A semi-structured questionnaire was used in a survey of Buhera District, Zimbabwe, in March and April of 2018. Women farmers dominated the survey as they were 52% of the surveyed population, while men occupied 48% of the total population. Eighty-three percent of farmers cited the shortage, unavailability, and cost of fertiliser. Sixteen per cent of farmers acknowledged that they do not have access to quality seeds, and 1% cited labour as the major constraint in cowpea production. Cowpea yield varied from 100 to 500 kg/ha. However, 48% of farmers harvested 200 kg/ha.As for abiotic factors, farmers ranked heat (86%), drought (10%), and soil fertility (4%) as the most important abiotic factors.Ninety-one percent of farmers ranked rust as the most destructive disease, while 2% ranked storage rot, 1% ranked anthracnose, and 1% ranked downy mildew. Eighty-one percent of farmers cited aphids as the main pests, while 3% ranked thrips, 3% ranked legume borers, and 2% ranked pod borers as other pests.Fifty-two percent of farmers preferred varieties that are resistant to diseases such as rust, whereas 48% were not concerned about diseases.As for qualitative traits, 50% of farmers had no specific colour preference, 32% preferred white colour, 14% preferred brown colour, 3% preferred red colour, and 1% preferred tan colour. For quantitative traits, such as grain size, pod size, plant height, and head size, the preferences of farmers varied. Ninety-nine percent of the farmers interviewed preferred cowpea varieties that are bred for drought tolerance, as Buhera District is frequented by intermittent droughts. Farmers’ experience in growing cowpeas ranged from 5 to 30 years. The top ranked accessions were CBC1, IT 18, and Chibundi Chitsvuku,while the least ranked was Kangorongondo. Identified constraints to cowpea farming included lack of education,insect pests, diseases, drought, weeds, harvesting difficulties and a lack of agriculture extension advice. The survey showed that there is a need to breed for biotic factors such as pests and diseases and abiotic factors such as drought and moisture stress.

scholarly journals Appraisal of cowpea cropping systems and farmers’ perceptions of production constraints and preferences in the dry savannah areas of Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saba Baba Mohammed ◽  
Daniel Kwadjo Dzidzienyo ◽  
Muhammad Lawan Umar ◽  
Mohammad Faguji Ishiyaku ◽  
Pangirayi Bernard Tongoona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Density ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Crop Failure ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Cowpea Varieties ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Sole Cropping

Abstract Background Low plant density and wide intra-plant spacing in traditional cowpea cropping systems are among the factors responsible for low yield on farmers’ fields. Sole cropping and improved intercropping systems have been advocated in the last few years to increase yield in the dry savannah areas of Nigeria. This study investigated the level of adoption of high yielding cowpea cropping systems including factors that influenced their use and farmers’ perceived production constraints and preferences. A total of 420 farmers across 36 villages of northern Nigeria were interviewed, and data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics to appraise farmers predominant cowpea cropping systems and factors that determine the use of sole versus intercropping were identified with the aid of binary logit regression. Furthermore, pairwise comparison ranking was deployed to understand farmers’ view of cowpea production constraints and preferred traits. Results The results revealed that, many of the farmers (42%) still grow cowpeas in the traditional intercropping and a good number (25%) cultivate the crop as a sole crop, while 23% had fields of cowpeas in both sole and intercropping systems. Farmers reported the incidence of high insect pests, limited access to land, desire to have multiple benefits, and assurance in the event of crop failure as reasons for preference for intercropping over sole planting. The pairwise comparison ranking of constraints and preferences revealed insect pests, Striga, drought and poor access to fertilizers as major constraints to increased productivity. Many farmers indicated high yield as the most preferred trait. Conclusions Findings indicate a need for increased education and training of cowpea farmers on the importance of growing cowpeas in sole cropping and or improved intercropping systems. Genetic improvement efforts should focus on developing cowpea varieties that address farmers production constraints and reflect the diversity of consumers’ preferences for the crop. Hence, breeding for resistance to insect pests and high yield is recommended as an important priority of cowpea breeding programmes in the region.

scholarly journals Elevated CO2 and Temperature Resetting the Expression of Resistance, Pest Incidence, Geographical Distribution and Physiology in Insect-pests of Grain Legumes: A Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.L. Jat ◽  
P. Pagaria ◽  
A.S. Jat ◽  
H.D. Choudhary ◽  
T. Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Elevated Co2 ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Nutritional Content ◽  
High Co2 ◽  
Elevated Co2 And Temperature

The most important factor that affects the crop production in terms of nutritional content of foliar plants is the global climate change. Herbivore’s growth, development, survival and geographical distribution all are determined by elevated CO2 and temperature. The interactions between herbivores and plants have changed due to increasing level of CO2 and temperature. The effect of high CO2 and temperature on grain legume plant which change in to plant physiology (e.g., nutritional content, foliage biomass) and how it change in herbivory metabolism rate and food consumption rate. Plant injury is determined by two factors viz. resistance and tolerance and both are influenced by greater CO2 and temperature. Legumes are an important source of food and feed in the form of proteins and also improve the soil environment. The repercussions of the abiotic factors mentioned above needs discussion among the scientific community. We may able to limit the negative repercussions of stated factors in future breeding projects by harnessing the practical favourable impacts and by including such influences of elevated CO2 and temperature on pulses productivity. The extensive research is necessary to overcome the negative effects of high CO2 and temperature on insect-plant interaction.

Potential and realities of enhancing rapeseed- and grain legume-based protein production in a northern climate

2012 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 303-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. PELTONEN-SAINIO ◽  
A. HANNUKKALA ◽  
E. HUUSELA-VEISTOLA ◽  
L. VOUTILA ◽  
J. NIEMI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soybean Meal ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Grain Legumes ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Grain Legume ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Realistic Potential ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Self Sufficiency

SUMMARYCrop-based protein self-sufficiency in Finland is low. Cereals dominate the field cropping systems in areas that are also favourable for legumes and rapeseed. The present paper estimated the realistic potential for expanding protein crop production taking account of climatic conditions and constraints, crop rotation requirements, field sizes, soil types and likelihood for compacted soils in different regions. The potential for current expansion was estimated by considering climate change scenarios for 2025 and 2055. By using actual regional mean yields for the 2000s, without expecting any yield increase during the expansion period (due to higher risks of pests and diseases), potential production volumes were estimated. Since rapeseed, unlike grain legumes, is a not a true minor crop, its expansion potential is currently limited. Thus, most potential is from the introduction of legumes into cropping systems. The current 100000 ha of protein crops could be doubled, and areas under cultivation could reach 350000 and 390000 ha as a result of climate warming by 2025 and 2055, respectively. Such increases result mainly from the longer growing seasons projected for the northern cropping regions of Finland. Self-sufficiency in rapeseed could soon increase from 0·25 to 0·32, and then to 0·50 and 0·60 by 2025 and 2055, respectively. If legume production expands according to its potential, it could replace 0·50–0·60 of currently imported soybean meal, and by 2025 it could replace it completely. Replacement of soybean meal is suitable for ruminants, but it presents some problems for pig production, and is particularly challenging for poultry.

scholarly journals Constraints to Vegetable Production Resulting from Pest and Diseases Induced by Climate Change and Globalization: A Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mutondwa M. Phophi ◽  
Paramu L. Mafongoya
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Exotic Pests

Vegetable production worldwide is constrained by pests and diseases which effects are exacerbated by climate change and variability. Greenhouse gas emissions are also increasing due to poor agricultural practices and other human activities. This will continue to have a negative impact on the prevalence of insect pests and diseases. This review focuses on the climatic factors that impact on insect pests and diseases of vegetable crops. High atmospheric temperatures and elevated carbon dioxide increases pest development, survival of pests and distribution of pest to new areas. The distribution of insect pests and diseases are not due to climate changes only but are also a result of globalisation and poor biosecurity measures at country borders. There is limited information on the distribution of pests and diseases due to globalisation in African countries. New exotic pests will continue to be introduced to countries if biosecurity measures are not improved. Future research must focus on how to manage emerging pests and diseases influenced by high temperatures and carbon dioxide and other climatic conditions which influence pest severity under smallholder farmers in the southern African regions.

Management practices and other factors contributing to the decline in persistence of grazed lucerne in temperate Australia: a review

1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 713 ◽  
Author(s):  
GM Lodge
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Rest Period ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Grazing Effects ◽  
Carbohydrate Levels

The literature relevant to the grazing management of lucerne in temperate Australia is reviewed with emphasis on the factors likely to affect its persistence. Knowledge of lucerne physiology is used to question the validity of the traditional methods of managing grazed stands, which rely mainly on using 10% flowering as a guide to root carbohydrate levels. From these data several alternative management guidelines are proposed that may lead to increased persistence; however, for long-term persistence, there is little doubt that lucerne needs to be grazed leniently and at a late stage of maturity. Several grazing experiments indicate that grazing periods of 16-20 days should have no effect on persistence, provided that the rest period between successive grazings is 35 days or longer. Data from other countries and Australian data from a limited number of experiments also indicate that grazing in either autumn or winter may substantially reduce production and could affect persistence. Three grazing studies in New South Wales were used to highlight critical differences in experimental design which make comparisons among experiments difficult. Standardised sowing rates and grazing management, and statistical procedures which account for the genotype x management x environment interaction, are suggested to improve the extrapolation of results from experiments to other environments. Persistence of different lucerne types under grazing, particularly those recently imported from the U.S.A. or bred in Australia, is considered. While it has been proposed that grazing effects may be related to crown structure, interactions with other factors which affect persistence may also occur. If grazing can be considered to be stressful to a lucerne plant then it could interact with other stresses, caused by moisture deficit, excessive moisture, insect pests and disease, to reduce persistence. Additionally, considerable variation in varietal resistance to some pests and diseases has been recorded in haycut stands, and so there may also be cultivar x grazing effects. All of these factors could combine to affect the persistence of a particular cultivar under grazing. Patterns of lucerne decline were either continuous or step-like. Continuous decline was associated with prolonged grazing, grazing and moisture stress, grazing under waterlogged conditions, or grazing in situations where the incidence of disease was likely to be high. To understand the reasons why plants fail to persist, measurements need to be made frequently and a1 regular intervals, and the moisture and disease status of the site needs to be accurately monitored. The adequacy of different methods of measuring stand persistence is also questioned. The implications for graziers, researchers and lucerne breeders are discussed.

scholarly journals Potential Use of Beneficial Microorganisms for Soil Amelioration, Phytopathogen Biocontrol, and Sustainable Crop Production in Smallholder Agroecosystems

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Koskey ◽  
Simon Wambui Mburu ◽  
Richard Awino ◽  
Ezekiel Mugendi Njeru ◽  
John M. Maingi
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Research Strategies ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Beneficial Microorganisms ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting

Smallholder agroecosystems play a key role in the world's food security providing more than 50% of the food produced globally. These unique agroecosystems face a myriad of challenges and remain largely unsupported, yet they are thought to be a critical resource for feeding the projected increasing human population in the coming years. The new challenge to increase food production through agricultural intensification in shrinking per capita arable lands, dwindling world economies, and unpredictable climate change, has led to over-dependence on agrochemical inputs that are often costly and hazardous to both human and animal health and the environment. To ensure healthy crop production approaches, the search for alternative ecofriendly strategies that best fit to the smallholder systems have been proposed. The most common and widely accepted solution that has gained a lot of interest among researchers and smallholder farmers is the use of biological agents; mainly plant growth promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) that provide essential agroecosystem services within a holistic vision of enhancing farm productivity and environmental protection. PGPMs play critical roles in agroecological cycles fundamental for soil nutrient amelioration, crop nutrient improvement, plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, biocontrol of pests and diseases, and water uptake. This review explores different research strategies involving the use of beneficial microorganisms, within the unique context of smallholder agroecosystems, to promote sustainable maintenance of plant and soil health and enhance agroecosystem resilience against unpredictable climatic perturbations.

scholarly journals Production Constraints and Improvement Strategies of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) Genotypes for Drought Tolerance

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Gabriel V. Nkomo ◽  
Moosa M. Sedibe ◽  
Maletsema A. Mofokeng
Keyword(s):  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Vigna Unguiculata ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Production Constraints ◽  
Worldwide Production ◽  
Improvement Strategies ◽  
Sub Saharan

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. L) is an important leguminous crop largely grown by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa for food security and animal feed. The objective of this study was to review the production constraints and improvement strategies of cowpea genotypes for drought tolerance. Data were analysed through use of literature review from various sources. In sub-Saharan Africa, cowpeas are produced mainly from West Africa, which accounts for 60% of worldwide production. A lot of pests and diseases affect cowpeas, and this often results in total crop loss. Through continuous improvement, many new cultivars are continually being identified and genetically characterised, and it is thus necessary to evaluate these new lines under different environments. There is a need for multidisciplinary collaborations among breeders and other relevant stakeholders such as farmer and extension workers because the improved cultivars must be according to the farmers preferred traits. Due to declining rainfall pattern in sub-Saharan Africa, there is an urgent requirement for cowpea breeding programmes that focus on developing varieties with short maturity, drought, pest, and disease tolerance. The present review discusses the constraints and improvement strategies of cowpea varieties for drought tolerance.

scholarly journals Pests and diseases in a changing climate a major challenge for Finnish crop production

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. HAKALA ◽  
A.O. HANNUKKALA ◽  
E. HUUSELA-VEISTOLA
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Production Potential ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Hordeum Vulgare L ◽  
Brassica Napus L ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Pests And Diseases

A longer growing season and higher accumulated effective temperature sum (ETS) will improve crop production potential in Finland. The production potential of new or at present underutilised crops (e.g. maize (Zea mays L.), oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)) will improve and it will be possible to grow more productive varieties of the currently grown crops (spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oats (Avena sativa L.)). Also cultivation of autumn sown crops could increase if winters become milder and shorter, promoting overwintering success. Climatic conditions may on the other hand become restrictive in many ways. For example, early season droughts could intensify because of higher temperatures and consequent higher evaporation rates. Current low winter temperatures and short growing season help restrict the development and spread of pests and pathogens, but this could change in the future. Longer growing seasons, warmer autumns and milder winters may initiate new problems with higher occurrences of weeds, pests and pathogens, including new types of viruses and virus vectors. Anoxia of overwintering crops caused by ice encasement, and physical damage caused by freezing and melting of water over the fields may also increase. In this study we identify the most likely changes in crop species and varieties in Finland and the pest and pathogen species that are most likely to create production problems as a result of climate change during this century.;

scholarly journals Farmers’ Perspective on Insect Pests that Affect Vegetables in Protected Structures with Emphasis to Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) in Lesotho

2021 ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
M. M. Sebitia ◽  
M. Sekoli ◽  
P. V. Masupha
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Aphis Gossypii ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Tuta Absoluta ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Swiss Chard ◽  
Chemical Pesticides

Protected farming is one of the innovations used by farmers to control pests and climatic conditions and therefore improve yield of vegetables. However, these structures also provide an ideal environment for biotic factors such as insect pests and diseases. In this study, a survey of 60 farmers was conducted to determine the types of vegetables cultivated under protected structures, insect pests and management practices employed by farmers using structured questionnaires. Data was analysed through descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results showed that most farmers grew tomato, cabbage, swiss chard, rape and peppers. Farmers considered insect pests as the major constraint to vegetable production. The most important insect pests found infesting farmers’ vegetables were aphids (Aphis gossypii), tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta), bagrada bug (Bagrada hilaris) and cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon). To manage these pests, farmers relied heavily on chemical pesticides which are dangerous to them and to the environment. It is therefore important to develop an integrated pest management plan that farmers can use to reduce use of pesticides.

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