The influence of market access on grain legume adoption and intensity in African small-holder households

Context
Grain legumes have been promoted to support nutrition, soil quality and income growth. However, uptake is generally low across African smallholders and a number of studies have identified lack of market access for legumes as a main constraint.
Objective
The study employs a cross-sectional dataset of 20,218 smallholder households across 10 African countries to explore the level of legume intensity and the characteristics and determinants of adoptionl
Methods
An indicator of grain legume intensity is derived on individual plot areas. To accommodate both the high amounts of non-adoption and the differences in the distribution of intensity observed by country we employ a zero-inflated beta regression.
Results and Conclusions
There is little diversity in grain legume species planted, though Kenya has the most diversity in legumes grown. Mean legume cultivation intensity ranges from 8% of total cropping area to over 25% in Zambia and Ethiopia. The influence of market access for legumes is a strong and significant predictor of intensity. Conversely, we find the presence of markets for cash crops reduces the incentive to adopt legumes.
Significance
Development strategies should combine household-level interventions with broader market-oriented approaches, as improving legume market access is essential for scaling legume production and enhancing food security, income diversification, and ecological resilience across the region. By analysing a large sample of households across diverse agro-ecological zones, we provide generalizable evidence that complements localized studies. Estimating the decision to both cultivate and intensify legumes within the same model reveals a duality that emphasizes the need for targeted interventions to strengthen legume markets.