Toxicité Pour L’abeille Apis Mellifera Adansonii De Trois Herbicides Utilisés En Agriculture Au Bénin

Obtaining high outputs in agriculture requires the use of pesticides to control pests. However, protection of pollinators, precisely bees is very important. The objective of this study was to study the impact on the bee Apis mellifera adansonii of three herbicides usually used in the crop protection in Benin. Ten doses of each herbicide were used and varied from 0.0036.103 (10 ppm) to 1.8.103 nanogram (ng) per bee (5000 ppm) for Roundup, 0.0041.103 (10 ppm) to 2.05.103 nanogram (ng) per bee (5000 ppm) for Glycel and from 0.004.103 (10 ppm) to 2.103 nanogram (ng) per bee (5000 ppm) for Alligator. Each treatment included three replications consisting of 25 bees. Before the treatment, bees were anaesthetized with ether. Observations were made at 2 h, 10 h, 18h, 24h, 36 h and 48 h after the test. Results have shown that 48 hours after, the doses higher or equal to 0.36.103 ng/ab (1000 ppm) of Roundup induced mortality rate higher than 85 %. After 24 hours, the highest mortality rate of Glycel (45.2 ± 1.6 %) was induced by the dose of 1.23.103 ng/ab (3000 ppm). The dose of Alligator of 2.103 ng/ab (5000 ppm) caused the rates respective of mortality of 65.5 ± 2.4 % and 85 % at 24 h and 48 hours after the test. It is necessary to promote sustainable plant protection practices in relation with the use of herbicides to avoid negative impact on bees’ population

Déterminants Et Contraintes De La Pratique De L’apiculture Dans Les Communes De Djidja Et Zogbodomey Au Sud Du Bénin (Afrique De l’Ouest)

Beekeeping is a very interesting activity having a positive impact on agricultural production and rural incomes. This study conducted in both municipalities of Djidja and Zogbodomey, in southern Benin, aimed at analyzing the determinants and constraints of beekeeping activities. For this purpose, a sample of 110 beekeepers randomly selected was investigated. Data about socio-economic and demographic characteristics of households as well as the difficulties in beekeeping were collected through individual interviews and focus groups. The statistical analysis done with R software version 3.1.2 have shown that beekeeping in the study area was influenced by three important socio-economic factors such asthe municipality of the producer, , literacy level and the producer belonging to a village agricultural association. The studies also revealed that the development of beekeeping faced many problems such as: the lack of financial resources, the low level of knowledge in beekeeping techniques, the lack of extension services, the high level of parasitism and other forms of constraints as theft, bush fire. Taking into account these results will allow to pay more attention on farmers’ and beekeepers situation what will be a means of alleviating of rural poverty

The effect of feeding restriction with cassava flour on carcass composition of broilers

In order to promote poultry farming in resource-limited rural areas, the effects of feeding restriction with cassava flour on the carcass composition of broilers was studied. After three weeks on a restrictive diet (step 1), the broilers were re-fed during four weeks according to their physiological needs (step 2). In total, 75 four-weeks old chicks were randomly divided into three lots of 25 subjects. Lot I (control) is fed without cassava flour. The lots II and III are fed with diets containing respectively 10 and 30 % of cassava flour, with energetic and protein density of 85 and 70 % of the control. Eight broilers of each lot have been randomly selected and slaughtered at the end of each step. At the end of the restrictive step, the carcass yields and the weights of the digestive tracts are 67.1, 66.3, and 64.7 % and 178.5, 170.0, and 113.3 g respectively for the lots I, II, and III with a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between lot I and III and then between lots II and III. After 4 weeks of re-feeding, the lots I, II, and III had respectively 69.9, 73.2, and 67.7 % of carcass yield as well as digestive tract weights of 178.3, 180.8, and 156.0 g. The carcass yield had been entirely made up (p ≥ 0.05) to the broilers previously submitted on a restrictive diet. However, the weight of the empty cold carcass was not fully compensated (p ≤ 0.05)

Evolution de la diversité des cultivars de fonio pratiqués dans la commune de Boukoumbé au Nord-Ouest du Bénin

Afin de comparer la diversité actuelle des écotypes de fonio à celle cultivée dix (10) ans plus tôt au Bénin, une enquête a été menée en 2013 dans la commune de Boukoumbé. Dans chacun des vingt (20) villages prospectés, un focus groupe d’une douzaine de producteurs a été à chaque fois enquêté. Cinq (5) à dix (10) producteurs sont ensuite entretenus individuellement à l’aide d’un questionnaire semi-structuré pour recueillir des informations sur les cultivars, leurs noms locaux, leurs principales caractéristiques, et la gestion des semences. Les résultats ont confirmé la diversité des appellations et ont permis de recenser cinq (5) cultivars différenciés par la précocité, la couleur des racèmes, les tailles de graines et de plantes. Les semences, transmises surtout de génération en génération, sont prélevées à 99% sur les récoltes précédentes. Près de 95% des enquêtés cultivent une seule variété à la fois. La plus forte diversité a été rencontrée chez les "Ditamaris" des villages de Boukoumbé-centre et Natta. "Iporapia" et "Takotapuaka" sont cultivés par toutes les ethnies. La diversité décrite dix (10) ans plus tôt dans la zone a été maintenue. Toutefois, les variétés de précocités extrêmes sont de moins en moins cultivées, et donc menacées de disparition.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Espèce négligée, accession de fonio, Digitalia spp., conservation in situ, amélioration variétale, BéninEnglish Title: Evolution of the diversity of fonio cultivars practiced in the commune of Boukoumbe in North-West of BeninEnglish AbstractTo compare the current diversity of landraces of millet fonio to that cultivated ten (10) years ago in Benin, a survey was conducted in 2013 in the district of Boukoumbé. In each of the twenty (20) villages surveyed a focus group of a dozen producers was investigated every time. Then, five (5) to ten (10) producers are individually interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to collect information on cultivars, their local names, their main characteristics and seed management. The results confirmed the diversity of names and allowed to identify five cultivars differentiated by the earliness, color of racemes, sizes of seeds and plant height. Seeds, especially transmitted from generation to generation, are taken at 99% on the previous harvest. Nearly 95% of respondents grow only one variety at a time. The greatest diversity was encountered among the "Ditamaris" of villages in Boukoumbé center and Natta. "Iporapia" and "Takotapuaka" are cultivated by all ethnic groups. The diversity described ten (10) years earlier in the area has been maintained. However, the extreme precocity varieties are lesser and lesser grown, and therefore at risk of extinction.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Neglected species, accession of fonio, Digitaria spp, in situ conservation, plant breeding, Beni

Pollen Analysis of the Honeys Samples Produced in the Three Phyto-geographical Zones of Benin

The aim of this work was the melissopalynologycal analysis of the honey samples collected both during the dry and rainy seasons of the three phyto-geographical zones of Benin. The analysis was performed by conventional methods on 60 honeys samples. The total of 138 taxa have been identified at family level (31), genus level (20) and to the level species (87). The number of pollens counted varies according to the phyto-geographical zones. Thus, 17091 pollens have been counted in the samples of the Sudanian zone; 13884 in those of the Sudano-Guinean zone and 7960 pollens in those of the Guinean zone. The pollen content of the honey samples reflects the plant species of the three phyto-geographical zones. The most dominant plant taxa were Combretaceaes (26.01%) and Parkia biglobosa (10.67%) in Sudanian zone, Combretaceae (29.52%) in SudanoGuinean zone. In the Guinean zone, the dominant taxa were Zea mays (18.35%) and Terminalia (15.34%). The specific richness varies from 6 to 43 in the Sudanian zone, from 7 to 34 in the Sudano-Guinean zone and from 1 to 28 taxa in the Guinean zone. None of the density of the dominant pollens reached 45%, thus all the analyzed honeys are polyfloral

Physicochemical Characteristics and Microbiological Quality of Honey Produced in Benin

Honey is a very complex biological product. It has great diversity, giving it a multitude of properties, both nutritionally and therapeutically. This study aimed to study the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of honeys collected during the dry and rainy seasons in the different phytogeographical areas of Benin. The study revealed that all honeys had pH, water content, electrical conductivity, ash content, free acidity, total sugars, and reducing sugars, respectively, ranging within 3.65–4.09; 12.07–13.16%; 530.25–698.50 μs/cm; 0.42–0.53%; 35.67–40.52 meq/kg; 60–70%; and 58–70%. Moisture content, total sugars, and reducing sugars varied very significantly (p<0.05 to p<0.001) from one area to another and from one season to another. However, only the production season has a significant influence (p<0.05) on the pH of the honey. With regard to the ash content, free acidity, and electrical conduction, no significant difference (p>0.05) between the zones or between the seasons was observed. The results of the microbiological characterization showed that there is heterogeneity in the microbial load. These results have shown that these honeys meet international standards and their characterization will make it possible to obtain Beninese quality labels

Modélisation simultanée de la perception et de l’adaptation au changement climatique : cas des producteurs de maïs du Nord Bénin (Afrique de l’Ouest)

Au Bénin comme dans la plupart des pays en développement, les producteurs sont de plus en plus confrontés au besoin d’adapter leurs systèmes de cultures aux circonstances changeantes du climat. Cet article a pour objectif d’analyser l’adaptation des producteurs de maïs au changement climatique. Pour ce faire, la perception du changement climatique par les producteurs et les stratégies d’adaptation développées par eux ont été identifiées en vue d’en analyser les facteurs déterminants. L’étude a été conduite dans le Nord Bénin et plus précisément dans les communes de Malanville, Banikoara, Bembéréké et Natitingou. Au total, 336 producteurs de maïs ont été échantillonnés de façon aléatoire et ont ensuite été interviewés. De manière générale, les producteurs de maïs du Nord Bénin perçoivent le changement climatique et s’y adaptent principalement à travers la diversification des cultures et l’ajustement des pratiques culturales et du calendrier agricole. Le modèle Probit de Heckman utilisé a révélé que l’expérience dans l’agriculture et l’appartenance à une organisation étaient positivement et significativement corrélées aussi bien avec la perception du producteur qu’avec sa décision de s’adapter au changement climatique. La pratique d’une activité secondaire, l’accès au crédit et le contact avec une structure de vulgarisation ont des incidences positives et significatives sur la décision d’adaptation du producteur au changement climatique. En revanche, le nombre d’actifs agricoles par ménage et le droit de propriété sur les terres exploitées ne sont pas significativement corrélés avec la décision du producteur de s’adapter au changement climatique

Managing the agricultural calendar as coping mechanism to climate variability: A case study of maize farming in northern Benin, West Africa

Nowadays climate variability and change are amongst the most important threats to sustainable development, with potentially severe consequences on agriculture in developing countries. Among many available coping mechanisms, farmers adjust some of their farming practices. This article aims at exploring observed changes in the agricultural calendar as a response to climate variability in northern Benin. Interviews with local experts (agricultural extension officers and local leaders such as heads of farmer and village organisations) and group discussions with farmers were organised. A household survey was also conducted on 336 maize producers to highlight the factors affecting decisions to adjust the agricultural calendar as a coping mechanism against climate variability. As a general trend, the duration of the cropping season in northern Benin is getting longer with slight differences among and within agro-ecological zones, implying a higher risk of operating under time-inefficient conditions. Farmers receive very limited support from agricultural extension services and therefore design their agricultural calendar on the basis of personal experience. Socio-economic characteristics, maize farming characteristics as well as farm location determine the decision to adjust the agricultural calendar. Consequently, providing farmers with climate related information could ensure a rational and time-efficient management of the agricultural calendar. Moreover, research and extension institutions should help in establishing and popularising clear agricultural calendars while taking into account the driving forces of behaviours towards the adjustment of farming practices as a climate variability response

PERCEPTIONS AND ADAPTATIONS OF BEEKEEPERS AND HONEY HUNTERS TO CLIMATE CHANGE: THE CASE OF THE COMMUNES OFNATITINGOUANDTANGUIETA IN NORTHWEST OF BENIN

The effects of climate change are a major threat to the environment and sustainable development of most sub- Saharan African countries. The perceptions and adaptation strategies of beekeepers and other operators in the honey sector (i.e. honey hunters) to climate change are, however, not adequately explored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perceptions of beekeepers and honey hunters towards climate change and strategies of adaptation in north-west Benin. In that respect, a survey was conducted among 120 beekeepers in the Communes of Tanguiéta and Natitingou, northwest of Benin. Both beekeepers and honey hunters adopted several coping strategies such as: farming of other bee species, changing of beekeeping techniques, amendment of periods of beekeeping operations, displacement of the apiary, reduction or increase in number of hives and prayers. In a last resort, beekeepers that are severely affected by climate change had no other choice than abandoned beekeeping for honey hunting which, unfortunately, increased the pressure on the biodiversity of the bees.Les effets des changements climatiques constituent aujourd’hui une menace majeure pour l’environnement et le développement durable de plusieurs pays de l’Afrique sub-saharienne. Cependant, l’effet perceptions et stratégies d’adaptation que développent les apiculteurs et les opérateurs du miel (ex. chasseurs de miel) face aux changements climatiques ne sont pas suffisamment explorés. L’objectif de la présente étude effectuée dans le Nord Ouest du Bénin visait à analyser les perceptions des apiculteurs et des exploitants du miel sur les changements climatiques à travers leurs stratégies d’adaptation. A cet effet, une enquête a été conduite auprès de 120 exploitants du miel des Communes de Tanguiéta et de Natitingou, au Nord-ouest du Bénin. Il ressort de cette étude qu’aussi bien les apiculteurs que les chasseurs de miel adoptent plusieurs stratégies d’adaptation telles que: l’élevage d’autres espèces d’abeilles, la modification des techniques apicoles, la modification des périodes des opérations apicoles, le déplacement du rucher, la réduction ou l’augmentation du nombre de ruches et les prières. En dernier recours, les apiculteurs les plus atteints par les effets des changements climatiques abandonnent simplement l’apiculture pour la chasse au miel, ce qui accentue la pression sur la diversité des abeilles