Banla, E M and Dzidzienyo, D K and Beatrice, I E and Offei, S K and Tongoona, P and Desmae, H (2018) Groundnut production constraints and farmers’ trait preferences: a pre-breeding study in Togo. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (TSI), 14 (1). pp. 1-14. ISSN 1746-4269
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Abstract
Background Groundnut is an important legume crop in Togo. However, groundnut yield has been steadily decreasing for decades as a result of lack of organized breeding program to address production constraints. Though, low yielding varieties and late leaf spot have been often reported as the most important constraints, there is no documented evidence. Identifying and documenting the major production constraints is a prerequisite for establishing a good breeding program with clearly defined priority objectives and breeding strategies. Thus, the objectives of this study were to identify groundnut production constraints and assess farmers’ preferred traits. Methods A participatory rural appraisal approach was used to collect data on agronomic practices, farmers’ preferences, and possible threats to production through individual and group interviews. Three regions and three villages per region were selected based on the representativeness of groundnut production systems. In each village, 20 farmers were randomly selected and interviewed; thus, a total of 180 farmers were interviewed. Content analysis was carried out for qualitative data and for quantitative data generated within and across regions, comparative descriptive statistics were carried out. Differences in perception and preferences were assessed using chi-square tests. Results The study has revealed that, though there were some variation across the regions, traits pertaining to yield such as pod yield (66.66%) and pod size (12.12%) were the most important. Leaf spot diseases, rosette and peanut bud necrosis (37.77%) and insects such as pod sucking bug and bruchid (27.77%) were considered to be the most important constraints limiting groundnut production. Among diseases, farmers in all the three regions indicated that late leaf spot is of economic importance which they associated to various causes such as maturity, drought, or insects. No gender differences were observed for the perception of constraints and groundnut traits preferences. Land size is significantly influenced by age and gender. Besides, farmers have pointed the lack of improved varieties and the unavailability of groundnut seeds highlighting the necessity of a sustainable groundnut seed system linked with a strong breeding program. Conclusion This study has enabled understanding of the farming practices, constraints, and farmers preferred characteristics, thus providing the basis for a participatory breeding program in Togo which should consider that farmers perceive low yielding varieties and diseases as major constraints to production.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Research Program : West & Central Africa |
| CRP: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Groundnut, Participatory rural appraisal, Survey, Breeding, Varieties, Late leaf spot |
| Subjects: | Others > Plant Breeding Mandate crops > Groundnut Others > African Agriculture |
| Depositing User: | Mr Ramesh K |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Dec 2018 09:49 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jan 2019 10:37 |
| URI: | http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/10990 |
| Official URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13002-018-0275-y |
| Projects: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Funders: | WAAP-Togo and a scholarship from the Germany Academic Exchange Service (WACCI/DAAD) at WACCI (University of Ghana) |
| Acknowledgement: | Acknowledgements The authors thank all the farmers and the National agricultural extension agents (ICAT) who participated in this research, as well as the National Agricultural Research Institute (ITRA-CRASS) who offered logistical assistance. Funding This study was co-funded by WAAP-Togo and a scholarship from the Germany Academic Exchange Service (WACCI/DAAD) at WACCI (University of Ghana). |
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