Articles

Socio-economic aspects of the intensive growing of the Cowpeas ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Kano, northern Nigeria

Authors
  • Patrick Van Damme (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Ghent University)
  • Wim Sampers (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Ghent University)
  • Frans Pauwels (Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Ghent University)

Abstract

The costs and benefits of single crop cowpea and cowpea grown in, a traditional mixed cropping system are calculated for the Kano area, in northern Nigeria. If all the technical requirements are met, single crop cowpea is more profitable, on a financial return per unit land basis, than the traditional crop mixture. A one year effort to try and familiarize traditional farmers with a new variety and new production methods is clearly not enough and may even demotivate a number of farmers when the yields, and financial returns, are low. To ensure that the improved technologies are adopted, it will be necessary to provide a credit programme enabling farmers to purchase the improved inputs, and a marketing structure that guarantees fixed and stable market prices throughout the year.

KEYWORDS: Vigna unguiculata, cowpea, northern Nigeria, financial analysis, marketing 

How to Cite:

Van Damme, P., Sampers, W. & Pauwels, F., (1986) “Socio-economic aspects of the intensive growing of the Cowpeas ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Kano, northern Nigeria”, Afrika Focus 2(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/af.v2i2.6616

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Published on
28 Jul 1986
Peer Reviewed
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