A call for a systemic approach to the development of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in Senegal.

Cowpea offers significant potential for sustainable West African agriculture. However to effectively promote a wider adoption on farms, it is crucial to understand the environmental, social, and economic factors that shape current farming systems. In Senegal, surveys reveal a stark contrast between the Sahelian Zone (SZ) and the Sudan-Sahelian Zone (SSZ). In the most water-constraint SZ, cowpea is a cash crop supported by public funding for synthetic inputs and improved varieties. Conversely, in the less water-constrained SSZ, cowpea is grown sparsely with millet, primarily for household and animal consumption, using minimal inputs. In both zones, farmers are more likely to cultivate cowpea on fields located further away from their homes. In SSZ, availability of high agricultural area and labor shortages also encourage its cultivation. SZ farmers value cowpea's positive effects on intercropped plants less than SSZ farmers. In both zones, farmers strategically cultivate a range of cowpea varieties to address diverse needs and strengthen their resilience against climate risks. The rapid expansion of cowpea in SZ has been accompanied by a loss of biodiversity and an increase in pest problems. In conclusion, effective cowpea development in Senegal necessitates a balanced approach: recommendations should be tailored to diverse farm strategies, valuing the preservation of agroecosystem biodiversity and ecological services as well as cowpea's commercial growth and income generation