Pigeon pea production in northern Ghana: farmer perspectives on cropping practices, trait prioritisation, and constraints for guiding breeding programs

Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) is an important crop that improves soil fertility in mixed farming systems. To develop and popularise new varieties that farmers will use, breeders must understand local growing conditions, challenges, and the specific traits farmers value. This study assessed the cropping systems, trait preferences, and production constraints among smallholder pigeon pea farmers in the Northern Ghana. A total of 272 farming households involved in pigeon production were purposively selected from Tolon, Bimbilla, Mion, and Gushegu districts of Northern Ghana for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed with IBM SPSS software (version 22). Results were presented as frequencies/percentages, crosstabulations, Chi-square, and Pearson correlation analyses. Based on a survey of 272 farmers in northern Ghana, the study found that a significant majority (96%) of respondents practiced intercropping, primarily with maize (45.2%). Farmers universally prioritized early maturing varieties (91.91%) and high yield (72.79%), while disease resistance (57.35%) and pest resistance (55.15%) were also highly valued. A key finding was that the trait fit into existing cropping system was a critical, system-specific prerequisite, prioritized by significant proportion of intercroppers but by no sole croppers. The most significant production constraint was the lack of improved varieties (39.7%), followed by low yield (21.3%) and poor seed quality (11.4%). These quantified preferences and constraints provide clear, empirical targets for breeding programs to develop demand-driven pigeon pea varieties that align with local context. These results demonstrate the importance of a participatory breeding approach that incorporates farmers’ experiential knowledge and trait preferences. These findings directly inform a multi-stakeholder strategy: For national breeders and research institutions (e.g., Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), they define a core set of traits-early maturity, high yield, and compatibility with intercropping-for demand-driven variety development. For policymakers and development partners, the results justify investing in participatory breeding and seed multiplication programs to address the critical shortage of improved seeds. For agricultural extension agents (Ministry of Food and Agriculture), the data provide evidence for promoting adopted varieties and advising on optimal intercropping mix. Ultimately, this study provides a clearer roadmap for aligning pigeon pea breeding and dissemination with the specific needs of farmers in northern Ghana to enhance adoption and productivity.