Diversity in agricultural practices among smallholder plantain-based farms across the Guineo-Gongolean zone of Benin Republic

Abstract

Understanding diversity in agricultural practices of plantain (\textit{Musa} AAB) cultivation is crucial for recommendations to increase yield and food security. Whereas in Benin, the diversity of agricultural practices among smallholder plantain-based farms in banana production areas is tittle characterised and information on the subject is less available and little disseminated. The purpose of this study was to identify existing diversity in plantain cultivation among smallholder farms. The study was carried out in five municipalities (Adja-Ouèrè, Athiémé, Tori-Bossito, Ouinhi and Zè) in the Benin Republic. Data were collected from 432 farmers through interviews targeting characteristics that evidenced differences in agricultural practices. The majority of farmers (96 %) grew native varieties while the remaining used imported ones. Suckers were supplied from their own plantations (36 %) or from neighbours for free (60 %) or purchase from fellow farmers (4 %). Intercropping was practiced by 66 % of the farmers with plantain-taro being the dominant practice (26 %). De-leafing, de-suckering and staking practices were respectively applied by 7 %, 6 % and 62 % of the respondents. Watering during dry weather was not a common practice in the study areas, while manure and/or mineral fertiliser was applied by 19 % of the farmers. Almost half of the respondents (45.8 %) were aware of the physical changes and damages on plantain tree, but did not relate those changes to the symptoms of pests and diseases. Strategies for controlling those pests and diseases were applied by only 4 % of the respondents, and entailed application of synthetic pesticides or following local practices such as spreading ash. The poor rate of good agricultural practices by the surveyed farmers is an indicator that justifies the low productivity in plantain based systems in Benin. This also makes it possible to design strategies including production of healthy planting materials and the scaling of agroforestry based on fast growing species in order to proper address pest constraints in plantain production.