Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) pod and haulm production in the tropical legume project States, Nigeria

The production of groundnut pod and haulm is one way of addressing the challenge of scarcity of livestock feed as well as improving the incomes of small-scale farmers. This study examines the revenue associated with groundnut pod and haulm production, using data obtained from 253 participating farmers. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that average haulm yield ranged from 551 to 1,364 kg ha-1 while the average pod yield varied from 1,208 to 1,580 kg ha-1. Revenue obtained from sales of haulm and grain was sensitive to price movements and differed significantly across locations and from season to season. The average revenue from haulm was lowest at US $75.8 ha-1 in October to December and highest at US $215.7 ha-1 in July to September. Similarly, the average revenue from the sales of pod was lowest at US $447.6 ha-1 in October to December and highest at US $616.3 ha-1 in July to September. The study concludes that groundnut varieties that combine high haulm and high pod yields are desirable for farmers’ livelihood and should be made readily available.