On-Farm Evaluation on Yield and Economic Performance of Cereal-Cowpea Intercropping to Support the Smallholder Farming System in the Soudano-Sahelian Zone of Mali

Sogoba, B and Traoré, B and Safia, A and Samaké, O B and Dembélé, G and Diallo, S and Kaboré, R and Benié, G B and Zougmoré, R B and Goïta, K (2020) On-Farm Evaluation on Yield and Economic Performance of Cereal-Cowpea Intercropping to Support the Smallholder Farming System in the Soudano-Sahelian Zone of Mali. Agriculture (TSI), 10 (6). pp. 1-15. ISSN 2077-0472

PDF - Published Version Download (2MB)

Abstract

Cereal-cowpea intercropping has become an integral part of the farming system in Mali. Still, information is lacking regarding integrated benefits of the whole system, including valuing of the biomass for facing the constraints of animal feedings. We used farmers’ learning networks to evaluate performance of intercropping systems of millet-cowpea and sorghum-cowpea in southern Mali. Our results showed that under intercropping, the grain yield obtained with the wilibali (short maturing duration) variety was significantly higher than the yield obtained with the sangaranka (long maturing duration) variety whether with millet (36%) or sorghum (48%), corresponding, respectively, to an economic gain of XOF (West African CFA franc) 125 282/ha and XOF 142 640/ha. While for biomass, the yield obtained with the sangaranka variety was significantly higher by 50% and 60% to that of wilibali with an economic gain of XOF 286 526/ha (with millet) and XOF 278 516/ha (with sorghum). Total gain obtained with the millet-cowpea system was significantly greater than that obtained with the sorghum-cowpea system by 14%, and this stands irrespective of the type of cowpea variety. Farmers prefer the grain for satisfying immediate food needs instead of economic gains. These results represent an indication for farmer’s decision-making regarding cowpea varieties selection especially for addressing household food security issues or feeding animals.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : West & Central Africa
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Intercropping, Cropping systems, Sub-Saharan Africa, Millet and sorghum, Diversification
Subjects:	Others > Smallholder Farmers Others > Cowpea Others > Mali
Depositing User:	Mr Arun S
Date Deposited:	10 Mar 2021 08:17
Last Modified:	10 Mar 2021 08:17
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11731
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture10060214
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	McKnight foundation
Acknowledgement:	We acknowledge and thank the McKnight foundation for supporting the farmer’s knowledge project in Mali and giving us the opportunity to conduct this research. Support from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSEC) of Canada is fully acknowledged. The authors also acknowledge the support of the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) Program of the CGIAR. Thanks also to the three reviewers for their detailed comments that helped us to improve the manuscript.
Links:	Google Scholar

View Statistics

Actions (login required)

View Item