Lablab purpureus: Analysis of landraces cultivation and distribution, farming systems, and some climatic trends in production areas in Tanzania

Abstract Lablab is a multifunctional crop that is underutilized in Africa. This study was performed to assess Lablab landraces cultivation and distribution, farming systems, and some climatic trends in Lablab production areas in Tanzania. A socio-economic survey was engaged to locate the main production areas using Global Positioning System, while participatory research tools were used to assess farming systems, practices, and challenges perceived in Lablab production. Some weather data were collected to establish climatic trends in Lablab production areas. The study revealed a wide cultivation and distribution of Lablab landraces in five agro-ecological zones with some variations. These variations were influenced by market demand for Lablab in Kenya and its role in subsistence farming. Lablab was mainly produced for conservation agriculture and enhanced soil fertility (27.9%), marketing (22.1%), livestock feeding (21.5%), food during drought conditions (15.4%), traditional purposes (7.4%), regular consumption (3.8%), and other minor uses (1.8%) varied significantly across the zones (χ 2 = 37.639, p = 0.038). The farming systems included intercropping (59.0%), mono-cropping (31.0%), home based gardening (5.0%), crop rotation (3.0%), and relaying cropping (2.0%) with no significant difference across the zones (χ 2 = 15.049, p = 0.314). A wide range of farmers’ practices were noted in Lablab production zone-wise. Unavailability of improved varieties and poor market channels were the farmers’ key challenges in Lablab production. It was further noticed that Lablab was mainly produced in areas with dry conditions. Finally, it was suggested that effort should be enhanced to improve genetic resource conservation, value addition, and market channels to other countries while developing improved varieties in terms of high yielding and drought tolerance.