Groundnut is an important legume crop in Togo. However, groundnut yield has been steadily decreasing for decades as a result of lack of organized breeding program to address production constraints. Though, low yielding varieties and late leaf spot have been often reported as the most important constraints, there is no documented evidence. Identifying and documenting the major production constraints is a prerequisite for establishing a good breeding program with clearly defined priority objectives and breeding strategies. Thus, the objectives of this study were to identify groundnut production constraints and assess farmers’ preferred traits. A participatory rural appraisal approach was used to collect data on agronomic practices, farmers’ preferences, and possible threats to production through individual and group interviews. Three regions and three villages per region were selected based on the representativeness of groundnut production systems. In each village, 20 farmers were randomly selected and interviewed; thus, a total of 180 farmers were interviewed. Content analysis was carried out for qualitative data and for quantitative data generated within and across regions, comparative descriptive statistics were carried out. Differences in perception and preferences were assessed using chi-square tests. The study has revealed that, though there were some variation across the regions, traits pertaining to yield such as pod yield (66.66%) and pod size (12.12%) were the most important. Leaf spot diseases, rosette and peanut bud necrosis (37.77%) and insects such as pod sucking bug and bruchid (27.77%) were considered to be the most important constraints limiting groundnut production. Among diseases, farmers in all the three regions indicated that late leaf spot is of economic importance which they associated to various causes such as maturity, drought, or insects. No gender differences were observed for the perception of constraints and groundnut traits preferences. Land size is significantly influenced by age and gender. Besides, farmers have pointed the lack of improved varieties and the unavailability of groundnut seeds highlighting the necessity of a sustainable groundnut seed system linked with a strong breeding program. This study has enabled understanding of the farming practices, constraints, and farmers preferred characteristics, thus providing the basis for a participatory breeding program in Togo which should consider that farmers perceive low yielding varieties and diseases as major constraints to production.

Background: French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation plays a growing role in vegetable farming systems in Togo by contributing to both household food security and income generation. However, limited information exists on production systems, constraints, and farmers' varietal preferences, particularly across contrasting agroecological zones.Methods: This study was conducted in two major French bean-producing districts in Togo, Danyi and Assoli, to assess cropping practices, input use, production constraints, consumption patterns, and farmers' preferred bean traits. A purposive sampling approach was used to select farmers across villages. Data were collected from 166 farmers through structured interviews and focus group discussions. Content analysis was used to quantify the frequency of constraints and trait preferences via relative frequency (RF) and the score of relative importance (SRI). Thematic analysis was applied to identify and interpret patterns and underlying themes in the farmers' narratives. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests (Excel), and Pearson's correlation were also used.Results: Significant differences were observed between districts in terms of labor use, cropping practices, and input access. French bean production is primarily market oriented, with over 80% of the harvest sold. The informal seed system dominated, with 54% of the farmers using their own farm-saved seeds and 41% purchasing from local markets. The key production constraints included diseases (RF = 45.06; SRI = 183), insect pests (RF = 45.68; SRI = 158.5), and erratic rainfall (RF = 14.20; SRI = 49), along with limited access to quality seeds, labor shortages, and market challenges. The preferred traits of farmers are high pod yield, long pods, disease, insect and drought tolerant varieties, and staggered harvesting, reflecting both market demands and production and harvest of fleshy, tender and green French bean pods.Conclusions: Improving French bean production in Togo requires a multifaceted strategy, including the development and dissemination of improved, market-preferred, and environment-specific French bean varieties. Strengthening local seed systems, enhancing extension services, farmer organization support, and promotion of fair and transparent market systems will improve French bean production. All these initiatives are essential for boosting productivity, household income, and food security among smallholder farmers in Togo.

Beans of the Phaseolus genus are among the neglected and underutilized species, exposing them to a high risk of genetic erosion and extinction. This study aimed to identify production areas and producers, document cultural practices, analyze production constraints, explore suitable solutions, and assess the effects of climate change on Phaseolus cultivation. The methodology employed was based on the snowball sampling technique, implemented after a preliminary identification of villages and potential producers, conducted in collaboration with agents from the Institut de Conseil et d’Appui Technique (ICAT) in Togo. Data were collected through surveys of producers. The results indicate that the surveyed producers, with an average age of 45.87 ± 0.43 years, have accumulated 13.96 ± 0.47 years of experience in bean cultivation. Women predominantly manage production on average arable areas of 5.96 ± 0.44 hectares, of which 3.67 ± 0.17 hectares are actively cultivated. Beans are often grown in intercropping systems under trees, primarily dry trees (521) or under palms (Elaeis guineensis). Most producers (41.36%) began cultivation using seeds received as donations, while seeds for the following planting season are mainly derived from previous harvests (97.35% of producers). The results also reveal that corn (citation frequency: 98.9%; Smith index: 0.7418), cassava (70.1%; 0.4150), and cowpea (66.4%; 0.3514) are most frequently associated with Phaseolus spp.. Sowing periods vary by region but generally occur in May and July (61.47%), with harvesting between January and February (65.42%), depending on the varieties cultivated for an average cycle length of more than 210 days (69.80% of producers). The main constraints identified include pest infestations, notably field caterpillars (185 producers), storage pests (130 producers), and bean weevils (Acanthoscelides obtectus) during storage (69 producers), as well as a lack of trees for staking plants.

The Kersting’s groundnut is an underutilized but essential legume for food and nutritional security in West Africa, particularly in Togo. Despite its importance, its production remains limited due to multiple constraints, including climatic, agronomic, and socio-economic factors. This study aims to identify agricultural practices, production constraints, and the impacts of climate change on this crop to propose suitable solutions. To achieve this, a participatory survey was conducted with 238 producers in 135 villages of the five agro-ecological regions of Togo (Savanes, Kara, Centrale, Plateaux, and Maritime). Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires, supplemented by field observations and interviews with key stakeholders. Data analysis helped to understand the cultivation system, rank constraints by region, and assess the climatic impacts and varietal preferences of the producers. The results show that the main constraints include difficult harvesting (43% of producers), irregular rainfall (21.7%), and pests (20%). Climate change has led to a general decline in yields (70% of respondents) and a shift in cultivation periods. Producers favor drought-resistant varieties that do not require chemical fertilizers and offer good yields. Furthermore, gender roles significantly influence agricultural practices, with women primarily involved in daily production activities and men playing a key role in strategic decisions, such as plot selection. These findings highlight the importance of promoting improved seeds suited to local conditions, strengthening producers' capacities, and integrating sustainable farming practices to enhance the resilience of this crop in the face of climatic and socio-economic challenges.

Soybean is a major legume crop in Togo. However, there is no scientific basis for guiding planting density recommendations to enhance yield. This study evaluated six soybean varieties across multiple planting densities in two major soybean-growing areas of Togo over two years. Data were collected on morphological traits and yield and were subjected to variance analysis, heritability estimate and mean comparison using R software version 4.4.1. Heritability was high (>0.8) for most traits except for number of branches per plant (0.54) and pod weight per plant (0.50). The local check variety (TGX1910) consistently outperformed introduced lines at all planting densities, except for hundred-seed weight. Plant height increased with density, whereas branch number, pods per plant, and grains per plant decreased, reflecting soybean’s self-regulation. Grain yield ranged from 1.17 t/ha at 200,000 plants/ha to 3.83 t/ha at 333,000 plants/ha. Despite reduced individual plant productivity at higher densities, plot yield increased up to an optimal density of ~333,000 plants/ha, before declining at the highest density of 450,000 plants/ha. Wider row spacing (60 cm) slightly enhanced yield compared to narrower spacing (40 cm). These results demonstrate that optimal planting density maximizes population-level yield, and planting soybean at 333,000 plants/ha with 60 cm row spacing is recommended for Togo.