Evaluation of grain legumes cultivation by farmers

Within the framework of a European project called GL-Pro (European extension network for the development of grain legume production in the EU), 111 farmers in Switzerland, above all in Canton Fribourg, answered a questionnaire. The main objective is to identify the prospects and problems in grain legume (GL) cultivation in different areas in Europe. Despite the poor economical conditions, the beneficial effect of GL on soil fertility and the economical profitability of these crops at crops rotation scale are the major reasons for the Swiss producers to grow GL. Main causes for not growing GL are also described by the farmers; several of them should be solved by enhancing GL competitiveness.