Socio-economic constraints to legume adoption among smallholders
Keywords:
Adoption, Legumes, Markets, Policy, Aisk, Smallholders, Socioeconomic constraints, Sustainable development goalsAbstract
Legumes play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture due to their ability to improve soil fertility, enhance dietary protein intake, and support environmentally sound farming systems. Despite these advantages, adoption of legume crops among smallholder farmers remains limited across many developing regions. This review synthesizes existing literature to examine the socio-economic constraints that shape smallholders’ decisions to adopt or avoid legume cultivation. The evidence shows that low and unstable returns, high yield variability, limited access to credit and insurance, and weak market assurance significantly reduce the economic attractiveness of legumes. Institutional factors such as inconsistent procurement, cereal-focused subsidy regimes, and fragmented extension services further discourage adoption. Market-related challenges, including thin local markets, high price volatility, poor storage facilities, and limited processing infrastructure, amplify production risks. Social and behavioural dimensions, including risk aversion, gendered labour roles, and traditional crop preferences, also play a critical role in shaping adoption outcomes. The review highlights that the adoption gap is not primarily due to a lack of awareness or technical feasibility, but rather a result of misaligned economic incentives and institutional support systems. Strengthening market linkages, improving risk management mechanisms, and integrating legumes into broader agricultural planning and policy frameworks are essential for enhancing sustainable legume adoption among smallholders.
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