Farmers’ Perceptions and Willingness to Pay for Metarhizium-based Biopesticide to Control Cotton Bollworms in Benin (West Africa)

The study assesses farmers’ perceptions and willingness to pay for a biopesticide developed from Metarhizium anisopliae a fungi. A sample of 400 conventional and organic cotton producers was randomly selected in cotton producing zones in Benin and interviewed for their perceptions on the efficacy of the biopesticide and the likely prices they are willing to pay for the product to control a major pest like Helicoverpa armigera or cotton bollworm causing substantial crop losses. An econometric model (Logit) is used to identify factors highly likely to affect farmer’s willingness to purchase the product. The results show that Helicoverpa armigera or cotton bollworm is perceived by farmers as the most severe pest with losses reaching up to 100%. Farmers attribute the current pest intensity to a number of factors including ineffectiveness of chemical pesticides, delay in access to input mainly fertilizers and the development of refuge host plants for cotton pests. The results also show that most cotton producers and their households members are exposed to chemical insecticides without adequate protection devices during the pest control sprays. Both organic and conventional cotton producers have expressed a significant interest in the use of Metarhizium to control Helicoverpa on cotton. Both types of farmers willing to pay more for any pest control product that would improve cotton product quality for higher cotton price. Three variables influencing farmers’ willing to pay for biopesticides from Metarhizium were efficacy, agro-ecological zone and broad spectrum.Biopesticides, Cotton bollworms, farmers survey, Benin, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Demand and Price Analysis, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, International Relations/Trade, Marketing, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Boiled yam end-user preferences and implications for trait evaluation

Open Access Article; Published online: 06 July 2020This study aimed to establish the quality characteristics of raw and boiled yam by involving stakeholders along the food chain using a methodology that includes a state of knowledge review, focus group discussion and individual interviews, participatory processing diagnosis with processors and consumer testing. Predictive characteristics of yam for producing a high‐ and low‐quality boiled yam were related to morphological or physicochemical characteristics: peeled yam discoloration and mucilage content being negatively appreciated while the ease of peeling, viscous state of cooking water and the ease of breaking yam into pieces positively valued. High‐quality boiled yam should be white or yellowish, sticky to the fingers, nonfibrous, easy to chew, crumbly/friable, with a sweet taste and a good smell. The overall liking of boiled yam is greatly penalised by a too dark colour, hard to the touch, no sweet taste and no friability while eating

Gender and access to cowpea innovations in West Africa: a review of some critical issues

Cowpea provides food and incomes to farm households including women farmers who make and sell snack foods from this nutritious legume in West Africa. Gender roles are important in cowpea value chains. The main constraints reported by women are poor access to cowpea innovations, opportunities, and related capacity building. The overall objective of this paper is to review key constraints and opportunities for an effective inclusion of women in cowpea value chains through access to innovations using a genderdisaggregated database and other information. The study uses a sample of 549 producers including women across Mali, Niger, and Nigeria in West Africa. Cowpea baseline survey results showed that the proportion of men as head of household is slightly higher than women. In northern Nigeria, men would grow cowpea for incomes and then food while women would grow cowpea for home consumption and feed for small ruminants. Feed and grains are provided by dual-purpose cowpea varieties whose adoption is constrained by insect attacks both in the field and in storage, drought, nematodes, and the lack of effective seed supply systems. In Nigeria there were no significance differences between men and women for access to inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides, but access to seeds and agricultural equipment for women was limited because men have to finish plowing their land before helping women . In Mali, women use storage technologies, particularly solar drying because they often do not have access to storage insecticides. In all the countries most of the women farmers do not have control over their productive assets and on-farm incomes. Women farmers reported the need for credit to purchase seeds in all the countries and contribute mostly to farming activities like threshing, variety choice storage, and marketing in Mali and Niger

Gender analysis in grain maize value chain in Northern and Central Benin

Open Access JournalMaize is one of the most important food crops in the world and, together with rice and wheat, provides at least 30% of the food calories to more than 4.5 billion people in 94 developing countries. (Bekele Shiferawet al, 2011). It is produced across Benin and mainly women and young people are involved in the maize grain value chain. Study aim to carry out a gender analysis in the maize grain value chain in northern and central Benin. Specifically it analyze the division of labor according to gender in the grain maize value chain, identify the factors that influence access to and control of resources and measure the distribution of profits from the commercialization activities. Data have been collected at random in a stratified method including 90 producers, 33 processors and 33 corn traders. The Harvard analytic framework of Harward, the descriptive statistic and the binominal logitpatterens have been used for the analysis In terms of resource accessibility, the results showed that men have more access and control the resources in both areas than women with limited access to credit, training, land and information in the chain. Moreover, the logistic regression results noted that socio-economic factors such as level of education, accessibility to credits and equipment positively affect the control of resources by women

Contribution of Inland Valleys Intensification to Sustainable Rice/vegetable Value Chain Development in Benin and Mali: Constraints, opportunities and profitable cropping systems

Intensifying inland valley systems will require the promotion of high value commodity chain system involving rice and vegetable with increased productivity and low per unit cost of production and natural resources. The objective aim to identify the current production systems assesses their constraints and analyzes the profitability of best bet rice and vegetable cropping systems under different levels of input use and access to market. A total of 235 producers selected in Benin and Mali according to input use and access to product market. The value chain approach used to analyze the performance associated with productivity. The results show that four main chain stakeholders operate in the inland valley: producers, processors, trader and consumers. This study specifically focuses on producers and major constraints reported by this group are attacks of the insects and birds, the poor access to products markets and the unavailability of key inputs (seeds, pesticides, small equipment,) in both countries. Other constraints are high costs of transport, post-harvest losses and poor conservation of fresh vegetables and tubers. The most profitable systems in the inland valley are the ones based on rice and vegetable (Gboma: Solanum sp) using improved seeds, follow-up of the system containing rice and `'gboma'' using improved varieties of rice like NERICA associated with chemical fertilizers and herbicides. Rice associated with improved varieties of potato and mineral fertilizers is more profitable in Mali. Rice as sole crop is not profitable in both countries. Women are more involved in the sole cropping of rice in Mali

Contribution of traditional food products (Oil palm) to food security and income of rural communities in Southern Benin

Traditional food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa are changing mainly because of globalized food market integration. There is a knowledge gap about the potential value of traditional foods and diets for health. A dynamics of imported new food products substituting to traditional foods rich in vitamins and micronutrients is reported in various studies. However there is opportunity to valorize traditional food products. In Benin a study has been undertaken on palm oil a traditional food product and substantial source of incomes for farmers for its contribution to local economy. The objective is to analyze a performing value chain of palm oil to increase incomes of actors involved in Benin. A total of 60 producers, 30 processors, 30 sellers and 120 consumers selected according to some criteria. Value chain approach is used to identify the actors, the type of governance of the chain and the performance indicators. Results show that actors are diversified. Research and extension services and NGOs are support agents. Oil palm sellers yield the highest net margin among actors. Good quality nuts and oil are determinant in the demand from consumers. Contracts between sellers and customers and between sellers and processors are informal and market guide the governance of the palm oil value chain. Gender relations show that men, women and youth are key actors of the chain. Women are involved in the processing and sales. The study recommends a better access to product market and the need to increase the value added at each segment of the chain

Participatory cowpea development for poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods in west Africa: case of PRONAF (Projet Niebe pour l'Afrique)- a multipartners, regional, and collaborative project

Cowpea has the potential to make a significant contribution to food and nutritional security and poverty reduction in West and Central Africa. Constraints to be addressed include poor access to inputs including seeds, pest control, and product markets for widespread distribution of improved varieties, and integrated pest management technologies to reduce crop losses and improve product quality. The collaborative project between IITA and IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) over a decade has enhanced cowpea production and grain quality through PRONAF, a technologically strong and effective participatory research development and capacity building with NARES and IFAD-funded development projects. PRONAF has made a substantial contribution to developing and disseminating sustainable, improved cowpea innovations in West and Central Africa. Target countries include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. In addition to innovations, capacity building through FFF (Farmer field fora), short courses for training project staff, degree-related training, and exchange of knowledge and information on cowpea value chains have made an important contribution. Several new varieties were released in all PRONAF countries. Good market opportunities have enhanced the willingness of farmers to buy seeds and other inputs. Adoption rates of botanical extracts were 30-40% in Benin and Ghana. Results showed that the transmission of cowpeas' botanical extracts from the current adopters to the potential adopters was influenced by factors including gender. Improved cowpea storage techniques such as the use of solar drying, hermetic drums, and double/triple bagging developed by Bean-Cowpea CRSP have been widely diffused to farmers through NGOs and national extension agents (60% in target countries). Adoption and impact assessment studies of production systems have identified competitive combinations of technologies. In target countries the adoption of cowpea innovations led to an increase in cowpea yield by 20% and incomes by 15%. Increased cowpea production and incomes improve access to food , health, and education. More efforts are needed for capacity building of stakeholders and farmers' empowerment for a wider diffusion of cowpea innovations and substantial impact on welfare target groups

Developing pheromone traps and lures for Maruca vitrata in Benin, West Africa

In previous work successful trapping of the legume podborer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was accomplished using a synthetic pheromone blend consisting of (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal, (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienol, and (E)-10-hexadecenal in a 100 : 5 : 5 ratio. In the present work, experiments were conducted in cowpea fields in Benin to compare different trap designs, and other aspects of the lures. A water-trap made from a plastic jerry-can was found to be superior to commercial funnel- and sticky-trap designs, and 120 cm was the optimum height for captures. Generally, lures consisted of polyethylene vials containing 0.1 mg of pheromone. Results showed that shielding the lures from the adverse effects of sunlight with aluminium foil did not increase trap catches of M. vitrata. The degree of isomeric purity of the (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal and (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienol blend components, in the range 73–99%, had no significant effect on captures, while lures of 80% isomeric purity showed no loss of effectiveness for up to 4 weeks. Similar results were observed with lures from a commercial source containing 0.46 mg of pheromone in the blend ratio 100 : 11 : 6 and 95% isomeric purity. Residue analysis showed that vial lures exposed for 2 weeks in the field still contained 73% of the initial amount of (E,E)-10,12-hexadecadienal, compared to rubber septa dispensers, which only retained 22%. Females comprised 11–50% of total catches, confirming earlier, unexpected results for synthetic lures. The observations that effective traps can be made from locally available plastic containers, and that pheromone blend composition and purity are not critical, should reduce costs and improve the feasibility of traps as practical monitoring tools for M. vitrata