| Summary: | This study was conducted to assess the demand for cowpea varieties among households in Oyo State, Nigeria with implications for food and nutritional security. Primary data were collected from a total of 500 households from ten Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State using multistage sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a censored Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) model. The Poverty Index was used to divide households into two categories – poor households and non-poor households. The study showed that though non-poor households had a higher expenditure on cowpeas, however poor households had more budget shares allocated to cowpeas in the total food expenditure. The study also revealed that cowpea varieties were found to be highly elastic. The result showed that whilst the demand for some cowpea varieties (Oloyin Nla, Oloyin Pelebe, Sokoto Pelebe and Maala) were found to significantly increase with income among non-poor households, the demand for Oloyin Pelebe, Milk and Maala were found to significantly increase with income among poor households. The study recommended that policy makers should pay attention to both pricing-related and income-related policy instruments.
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