Assessing Farmers’ Knowledge on the Role of Cowpea in Improving Soil Fertility in Cropping Systems in Southern Cameroon

A study was carried out to identify farmers’ preferred cowpea traits and assess their knowledge on the role of grain legume in improving soil fertility in cropping systems in the humid forest zone (HFZ) of Cameroon. This study was conducted at five sites (Asso'oseng, Nkoemnvone, Nkolfoulou, Nkoemetou II and Nkometou III) in the HFZ of Cameroon, between December 2012 and March 2013. A two stage stratified sampling procedure was applied. In the first stage, each study site formed a sampling stratum. In each site, two focus groups were constructed. The groups included both women and men of various ages. Focus group discussions with 6 -10 farmers per group were carried out during periods when the farmers are less busy in their farms (December and January). In the second stage semi-structured questionnaires were administered (January – March 2013) after the focus group discussion (FGD) to a total of 165 farmers. A total of 44 respondents were interviewed in Asso'oseng, 35 in Nkoemvone, 17 in Nkolfoulou II, 38 in Nkometou II, and 31 in Nkometou III making a total of 165 respondents. Demographic questions included personal details such as gender, age, level of education, position in the house hold, and household size.

The results indicated that the age of the respondents ranged from 18 to 70 years with the majority falling between 36-45 years, representing 58% of the respondents. Seventy six percent of the respondents were females. Generally the farmers grew four varieties of cowpea: brown, black, speckled and white. White was the dominant (75%) and preferred variety. They also grew and preferred mostly the erect and early maturing cowpea type (94%). Cowpea was mostly intercropped (69%) with cereals and other crops while a minor proportion of the farmers practised sole cropping (29%) and rotation or shifting cultivation (2%). The farmers identified poor soils as the main cowpea production constraints. On average, less that 30% of the respondents were aware of the role legumes play in soil fertility restoration except in Nkometou III where 50% of the farmers surveyed did have some knowledge. To 90% of the farmers, root nodules represented organs that harbor disease agents, which they referred to as soil “cysts”.

From the study, it can be concluded that farmers in the humid forest zone of Cameroon are aware of the soil fertility decline on their farms. Respondents lack knowledge on importance of legumes in cropping system and grow and prefer white coated cowpea with erect growth habit. The farmers are however, ready to cultivate grain legumes for soil fertility restoration purpose if this could be demonstrated on-farm.