Adoption of improved varieties and varietal preferences of cowpea growers in Senegal.

Cowpea is the most widely grown legume in Africa. In Senegal, it accounts for an average of 11% of total legume production. It is an important source of income for women, who are very active in the value chain (production, processing and marketing). Despite its advantages, cowpea yields are very low. This weakness can be explained by abiotic and biotic factors, including producers' limited access to seeds of improved varieties. However, drought-resistant varieties have been developed by the Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles (ISRA), in collaboration with other partners. In this article, we contribute to the analysis of the adoption of new varieties by studying the preferences of male and female cowpea growers in Senegal's major production zones. The data used come from a survey conducted in 2022, with a sample of 303 producers, 60 % of whom were women, and 383 cowpea fields. The methodology consists mainly of univariate and bivariate statistical analyses. Results show that adoption of improved varieties is low, with only 21 % of growers using them. The improved varieties Mélakh and Yacine are the most present, despite their age. The results also show that the criteria for choosing varieties are not homogeneous: women prefer big seed size, good taste and red color while men focus on yield, big seed size and short cycle.