Madagascar black eyed beans is an export commodities.

The Madagascar black eyed beans gains high rate as export products is Madagascar. This bean named as “lojy fotsy” becomes particuliar to this african island. Better known as cowpea, lojy is an annual tropical herbaceous legume. It belongs to the species Vigna unguiculata.

The Madagascar Black eyed beans knows its price constantly increasing. In 2011, the kilo for the first quality revolves around 1800 Ariary. Today, this price could go up to more than 2500 Ariary per kilo. Known that 1 dollar equivalents now 3000 ariary for currency rate. For the second quality, its price went from 1400 to 2000 Ariary in the same period. A study carried out by the Prosperer program shows that this industry has a high potential.

The regions that grow Madagascar black eyed beans.

One finds the Madagascar black eyed beans in the northwest of Madagascar. The production area lies between the regions of Sofia (Port-Bergé and Mampikony districts)

Farmers mostly grow black eyed beans in Boeny. And others in Betsiboka (far north), in the areas of baiboho. The baiboho characterizes of the great alluvial plains of the west coast. They have a loamy texture (flying character), a massive and porous structure in the wet parts of Madagascar. 

Madagascar black eyed beans

The Madagascar black eyed beans grown in this country sign their group name as hybrid. Fertile F1 generation. The main features are erect feet of about one meter. Also two blooms giving large grains. The farmers of black eyed beans have in common all being oriented towards cash crops. In fact, the majority of them had previously grown cotton, tobacco, or corn. However, they can be separated into three groups. The first distinction is made in mechanization. A minority of Madagascar Black eyed beans farmers  own tractors or agricultural implements. And the vast majority (about 98% of producers) practice manual farming with animal traction. 

The second dichotomy takes place among the group of non-mechanized farmers. Cultivated areas are a discriminating criterion between these two groups. Because of the investment costs necessary to access to land and the establishment of culture. Small manual producers grow no more than 3 ha of Madagascar black eyed beans, per year. While large manual producers can grow up to 50 ha.

The Madagascar black eyed beans is usually the main activity of manual farmers.

Small producers tend to develop complementary economic activities (fishing, handicrafts, sales, etc.) for the financing of culture and the home. Whereas the large manual producers generally specialize in the black eyes and do not practice any more, other types of crops. In addition, small producers fails to control the technical route than the other two producer groups.