Prevalence De La Maladie Du Deperissement De L’ananas (Wilt) Et Perception Des Producteurs Au Benin

Pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merril], cultivated in Benin for it economical importance is affected by Pineapple mealybug wilt, a viral disease. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the determining factors of its prevalence and farmers knowledge on the disease. To achieve these, a total number of 180 farmers, distributed in five communes of southern Benin have been interviewed in 2014 and 2015. In order to identify factors that influence the disease distribution, generalized linear models with the binomial and multinomial distribution family were used to explain the effect of the variables (field and plant levels) and disease severity, respectively. Only factors ‘commune’ 'and' year ' had a significant effect on the incidence at field level (69% in 2014 and 78% in 2015) while three predictors (township, year and variety) explained the severity of the disease and the interaction year -township was significant. Farmers perceive the disease and attribute five causes responsible for its expression. They use height methods to manage the disease. These findings constitute a qualitative as well as quantitative information to build on in designing methods of controlling the disease in order to boost the productivity of pineapple in Benin

Farmers’perceptions on the pineapple mealybug [Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae)] and control methods in Benin

Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the perceptions of farmers on the pineapple mealybug, the different control methods adopted against the pest and the socio-cultural factors that influence these perceptions.Methodology and Results: A survey was conducted among 180 pineapple producers using a semistructured questionnaire in five main pineapple production areas in Benin. Binomial regression and Factorial  Correspondence Analysis (FCA) were performed to determine the  sociocultural factors that influence farmers’ knowledge on the pineapple mealybug. Fifty eight percent of farmers perceived mealybug as pineapple insect pest while 22.22% reported the insect as the MWP disease vector. Experience in Pineapple production and participation in training determined the knowledge of farmers on the mealybug as important pineapple insect pest and as MWP disease vectors. Only trained farmers used to apply control methods.Conclusions and application of findings: This study shows that it is the trained producers who have a better knowledge of the mealybug and adopt some control methods. It is therefore an emergency that training seminars be organized for a large number of producers followed by supervision in sight of making them qualified to better control the proliferation of mealybug and limit the spread of wilt disease.Key words: Farmers ‘perceptions, pineapple mealybug, control methods, Beni