Table 3 Summary of farmers’ view on different cowpea cropping systems during the focus group discussion sessions across three States in the dry savannah areas of Nigeria in 2017
Locationa | Comments on cowpea cropping systems | |
|---|---|---|
Sole | Intercropping | |
Albasu | Common here due to project demonstrations | Used for a late-maturing variety |
Birnin Gwari | It is associated with high insect problems. Often not used due to limited access to land | This system provides assurance against crop failure and weather conditions |
Bunkure | Good for market-oriented growers, since it gives higher yield and returns | Provides more food for families. Cowpea benefits from maize’s residual fertilizers |
Dandume | No adequate land for sole cropping | Intercropping is more preferred |
Danja | Few farmers here plant cowpea in sole cropping. Phosphate fertilizers like SSP are not used by many due to non-availability. Fertilizers, in addition, lead to high vegetative growth of cowpea | Intercropping is the most prominent among farmers here due to the ease of management of the system |
Giwa | It yields more but demands a lot of attention | It is easier to manage and provides other benefits |
Kaita | It is difficult to manage due to the need to spray a lot of insecticides, and where there is no means, the field gets destroyed by insects | Planted with sorghum, millet, or groundnut on some farms. Intercropping guarantee dual benefits |
Kajuru | This is more suitable and often used for early maturing varieties | It is popularly for late-maturing varieties, thereby do not require much pest controls |
Makarfi | Not too popular here | Cowpea is grown mainly here with groundnut, sesame, and maize |
Matazu | Needs phosphate-based fertilizers such as SSP | Planted with millet, maize, and groundnut |
Minjibir | It is high yielding and requires a lot of resources such as insecticides to manage | Requires less investment and grains become mature during the harmattan season, making it easier to manage |
Tsanyawa | Good for early maturing varieties, gives more yield for sale and consumption. It needs more fertilizers than intercropping | Late-maturing varieties are planted, more popular due to limited land. Improved varieties do not grow well in intercrop while farmers prefer intercrop |