Economic viability of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) in the Cerrado region

Abstract

The cowpea crop has a high protein content and is a pulse crop, with greater consumption in countries of the African continent and Asia. It is cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions. It is a crop that is cultivated both rainfed and irrigated, with different technological levels in Brazil. The study with the economic viability of this crop in the Cerrado region is important to facilitate the management of rural producers. Thus, the objective of this study was to economically evaluate rainfed cowpea in the second crop in a cerrado region, in succession to soybean. The study was conducted in the field, on a farm located in the municipality of Rio Verde, southwest region of the state of Goiás, being conducted for three harvests (2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018) with soybean alternation in the first harvest, all via no-tillage. The economic result in the three harvests proved to be viable only in the first harvest (2015/2016) and unfeasible in the others, due to low productivity, seasonality of market prices and high production cost. The low productivity and the commercialization price were low compared to the costs and efforts applied compared to the opportunity cost of other crops. The economic viability of cowpea is directly related to the price paid for the bean, which results in great price variability. As well as, the study of cowpea cultivars more adapted to the region.