CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER RESOURCES IN BENIN

It is likely that climate change in the coming decades, even very few, will produce more important impacts on thesocio-economic systems than in the past, due to the growth in world population and the increasing sophistication of technology and development issues (Issa, 1995). According to UNESCO (2006), climate change will be responsible for 20% of the worsening water scarcity in the world. This looming water crisis will be induced by changes in the parameters that determine the water cycle (Totin, 2005). The study is based on analysis of a baseline from which the main meteorological parameters (rainfall, flow, etc.) are projected to 2025 time horizon. It corresponds to the horizon of the prospective study for 2025 in Benin. From these basic parameters, the main elements to characterize water resources (such as infiltration, the volume of water available water bodies, etc.) were determined for each time horizon. Research carried out in different regions of the Benin on climate issues, surface and ground water (Gbatcho 1992; Boko, 1998; Boukari, 1998 Linsoussi, 2000; Sadji, 2004; Amoussou, 2003 and 2005; Totin, 2003 and 2005; Tossa, 2005; Vissin et al., 2006 ; Vissin, 2001 and 2007 ; Alassane and Boukari, 2007; Idiéti, 2009 ; Totin, 2009) attest ruptures occurred in hydro-climatic chronicles during the 1970s and indicate a downward trend in superficial water resource two to four folds greater than that of rainfall in key watersheds. Similarly, the aquifers record deficit on refill aquifers (Boukari, 1998; Totin, 2005) and a variation of hydro-chemical caracteristics (Alassane, 2004). If this climate and hydrological trend continues, hydrological drought will lead to a considerable reduction of water resources and a potential shortage. Similarly, the water quality will be affected in various ways. Very wet weather events would induce an increased transfer of pollutants to the water bodies as opposed to dryness that would accentuate deterioration especially of the bacteriological quality of water resources. Facing to the quantitative and qualitative degradation of both surface and groundwater should develop strategies to increase the potential availability of the resource. To this end, it is important above all to protect areas of groundwater recharge, stabilize stream banks and water bodies. Improving the quality of water resources in a changing climate context implies that people are aware of the risks of shortage and of agricultural good practices (no use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides), management of solid and liquid waste. The water law must be adapted to the context of climate change and vulnerability of the water resource

Impacts De La Production Du Coton Conventionnel Sur La Qualite Des Eaux Dans Le Bassin Versant De L’alibori Au Benin

La filière du coton conventionnel est l’une des filières prioritaires du secteur agricole béninois. Cette activité, bien qu’étant l’une des activités agricoles piliers du développement économique béninois, n’est pas sans impacts négatifs sur l’environnement. En effet, les pratiques actuelles des cotonculteurs dans le bassin versant de l’Alibori liées à une mauvaise utilisation des intrants (engrais et pesticides) à des fins agricoles sont sources de dégradation de la qualité des eaux et par conséquence de l’état de santé des populations. La présente recherche analyse des impacts de la production du coton conventionnel sur la qualité des eaux dans le bassin versant de l’Alibori. Les échantillons d’eau ont été prélevés et analysés en saison sèche (décembre 2016) et en saison pluvieuse (août 2017) au niveau de seize (16) sites en eaux de surface, six (6) sites en eaux de puits/forages. Les impacts ont été analysés par la matrice de Léopold et al. (1971) croisée avec le guide, adapté par l'Agence Béninoise pour l'Environnement (ABE, 1998). Ces différentes méthodes utilisées ont été appuyées par les enquêtes socio-économiques sur le terrain. Les résultats montrent la présence des métaux lourds (cadmium et plomb) dans toutes les eaux des puits et de surface en saison pluvieuse (cadmium et le plomb). Ceci s’explique par les apports des produits chimiques par le ruissellement superficiel vers la nappe phréatique et des eaux de surface. Par exemple le cadmium a atteint 60 μg/L alors que la norme est de 5 μg/L. Selon les résultats d’enquêtes auprès des cotonculteurs, ces métaux lourds absorbés provoquent chez l’homme desmaladies comme les maux de ventre selon 16,67 %, les maux des yeux pour 0,34 %, la diarrhée par 11,90 %, les problèmes de respiration aux dires de 5,78 %, la toux pour 3,40 %, le rhume selon 2,72 %, les infections selon 2,72 %, le paludisme selon 14,29 % et les maux de tête par 42,18 %. The conventional cotton sector is one of the priority sectors of Benin's agricultural sector. This activity, although one of the agricultural activities that are pillars of Benin's economic development, is not without negative impacts on the environment. Indeed, the current practices of cotton growers in the Alibori watershed, linked to the poor use of inputs (fertilisers and pesticides) for agricultural purposes, are a source of degradation of water quality and consequently of the state of health of the populations. This research analyses the impacts of conventional cotton production on water quality in the Alibori catchment area.Water samples were taken and analysed during the dry season (December 2016) and the rainy season (August 2017) at sixteen (16) surface water sites and six (6) well water/borehole sites. The impacts were analysed using the matrix of Léopold et al (1971) crossed with the guide, adapted by the Benin Environment Agency (ABE, 1998). These different methods were supported by socio-economic field surveys. The results show the presence of heavy metals (cadmiumand lead) in all well and surface water during the rainy season. This is due to chemical inputs from surface runoff to groundwater and surface water. For example, cadmium has reached 60 μg/L while the standard is 5 μg/L. According to the results of surveys of cotton growers, these absorbed heavy metals cause illnesses in humans such as stomach aches (16.67 per cent), eye aches (0.34 per cent), diarrhoea (11.90 per cent), breathing problems (5.78 per cent), coughs (3.40 per cent), colds (2.72 per cent), infections (2.72 per cent), malaria (14.29 per cent) and headaches (42.18 per cent)

Peuplement Spontané Et Accès À L’éducation Primaire Dans La Commune De Bantè Au Centre Du Bénin

Achieving universal primary education is the second Millennium Development Goals that Benin missed in 2015 with a national rate of 74 percent. The reasons for this failure are varied with notable spatial specificities. The present research aims to contribute to the analysis of the specific causes of this failure in the Bantè Commune. The data used relate to the number of children enrolled in schools, the number of schools, and the number of settlements (villages, hamlets, and manned farms) on several dates in the Commune. In addition, information was collected from selected households in several localities. Individual interviews and groups as well as direct field observations were the collection techniques used. The tools and parameters of the descriptive statistics and the cartographic approach made it possible to process the data collected. The results show a disparity in the spatial distribution of primary schools compared to inhabited places. The result shows a geographical inaccessibility of schools for the children of many hamlets and farms. This situation is mainly inherent to a spontaneous settlement dynamics which characterizes the Commune. This concern, therefore, deserves consideration if access to primary education is a global challenge that is again relaunched by 2030. This is usually done within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals

Impact des Décharges Sauvages des Déchets Solides sur les Sols à Cotonou

La mauvaise gestion des déchets solides ménagers demeure un problème environnemental majeur pour la ville de Cotonou. De mauvaises pratiques, notamment la mise en décharge sauvage, sont très courantes. L’objectif de cette recherche est de mettre en évidence l’impact qu’ont les décharges sauvages des déchets solides sur les sols à Cotonou. Pour y parvenir, une évaluation des sols de trois décharges non contrôlées a été effectuée par dosage d’éléments traces métalliques (cadmium, cuivre et plomb) dans 8 échantillons composites de sol prélevés dans les horizons de 10 cm, 40 cm et 1 m. L’analyse des échantillons a révélé que les sols sont contaminés par le cadmium (1,040 - 6,520 mg/kg), le cuivre (402,390 - 904 mg/kg), le plomb (20 - 1774,50 mg/kg). Les paramètres chimiques déterminés (matière organique et pH) varient entre 7,30 % et 71,70 % pour la matière organique, 6,600 et 6,810 pour le pH. La caractérisation des déchets solides ménagers a été également effectuée afin de connaître la composition des déchets. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les déchets sont riches en déchets putrescibles (31,6 %), éléments fins (33,8 %). Les déchets plastiques (7 %) y sont également importants. On y trouve aussi des déchets ménagers spéciaux (piles, accumulateurs de téléphones portables, médicaments, tubes et ampoules fluorescentes, chargeurs de portable, jouets électriques, vernis à ongles, produits d’hygiène, 1,2 %). The poor management of solid household waste remains a major environmental problem for the city of Cotonou. Bad practices, including landfilling wild are very common. The aim of this research is to highlight the impact of the uncontrolled landfilling of solid waste on soils in Cotonou city. To achieve this objective, a soil assessment of three landfill sites was carried out by assaying metallic trace elements (cadmium, copper and lead) in 8 composite soil samples collected from 10 cm, 40 cm and 1m horizons. Analysis of the samples revealed that the soils are contaminated with cadmium 1.040 – 6.520 mg/kg), copper (402.390 – 904 mg/kg), lead (20 – 1774.50 mg/kg). The chemical parameters determined (organic matter and pH) vary between 7.30 % and 71.70 % for organic matter, 6.600 and 6.810 for pH. The characterization of household solid waste was also carried out to determine the composition of the waste. The results obtained show that the waste is rich in putrescible elements (31.6 %) and fine elements (33.8 %). Plastic waste (7 %) is also important. There is also special household waste (batteries, mobile phone batteries, medicines, fluorescent tubes and light bulbs, mobile phone chargers, electric toys, nail polish, hygiene products, 1.2 %)

Typology and status of cattle farms using artificial insemination in Burkina Faso

The aim of the study was to assess the challenges and prospects of cattle artificial insemination (AI) in Burkina Faso. Data were collected from 50 farms in the peri-urban area of Bobo-Dioulasso. The results show that AI is used by 40.4% of the respondents and 42.1% of them use both strategies (natural and induced estrus) of AI improvement to optimize their chance of success. These producers are gradually moving towards AI over natural estrus which they describe as better. The average cost of AI with state AI services was XOF 12 500 for natural estrus and XOF 17 500 for induced estrus, and about XOF 30 000 to 50 000 with private AI providers. The success rate of AI was 32.5%. The use of AI had a significant positive effect on milk production. Producers stated that AI was a good method of improving cattle production. Three groups of producers emerged based on their level of AI practice. Several constraints limit AI adoption. It is important to reconsider the opinions of farmers who are the first to be concerned in the implementation of the new innovation strategies of animal production, in order to achieve the goals of food and nutritional self-sufficiency. Keywords: Artificial insemination, Biotechnology, Cattle, Rate of adoption, Typolog

Traditional Adaptation Strategies to Hydrosystem Degradation for Sustainable Management of the Aheme Lake in Benin (West Africa)

The water system like the lake Aheme are abundant in halieutic species (fish, crabs, shrimps…) exploited by resident populations. Over exploitation and high degradation of ecosystems of the lake Aheme induce inexorably fish productivity reduction. Halieutic production reduction generates a subsequent fall of incomes of the households depending primarily on the fishery activities. The fall of halieutic production involves today significant migratory movements of the fishermen and socioeconomic problem. Thus, adaptation strategies are developed for sustainable management of the lake Aheme. These strategies consist in holding as sacred a part of the lake with the divinity Avlekete, fishing holes creation and mangrove restoration. Sacred lake park called ‘’Avlekete-tin’’ is the most important traditional strategy. These endogenous methods of ecological conservation constitute actually effective strategies of productivity and fishing development on the Aheme lake

LES FACTEURS NATURELS ET LE FORÇAGE ANTHROPIQUE DES INONDATIONS EN ZONE SAHELIENNE DANS LE BASSIN DU NIGER AU BENIN (AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST).

Il est constaté que de 1954 à 1984 ; la courbe des hauteurs est en dessous de celle des débits et il n’y avait pas d’inondations. Par contre, à partir de 1985 jusqu’à 2013, la courbe des hauteurs est au-dessus de celle des débits et des inondations ont été enregistrées dans cette période. On  conclut que sur les 60 ans, on a assisté à une baisse des débits du fleuve  et à une augmentation des hauteurs d’eau correspondantes.Les inondations que l’on enregistre ces dernières années dans les communes Malanville et de Karimama s’expliquent  par la combinaison de plusieurs facteurs naturels et anthropiques dans le bassin du Niger et dans les Communes de Malanville et de Karimama.La croissance démographique a provoqué une extension des terres cultivées, à la dénudation des berges avec pour corollaire une forte érosion et un comblement du fond du lit principal du fleuve.Les conséquences de la réduction de la durée de la saison pluvieuse, sans une réduction significative des totaux pluviométriques ont été amplifiées par un forçage anthropique.Mots clés : Sahel, inondations, sécheresse, agriculture, Bénin, Afrique

Physico- Chemical characteristics of compost (Cotonou, Benin, West Africa)

This work was led the town of Cotonou in Benin and particularly on the vegetable garden site of Hou\ue9yiho. It involved the valorization of the waste of this site by proceeding the aerobic composting of the biodegradable fraction of municipal solid waste collected in the markets. This consists among other rotten fruits of various plant debris and garbage obtained by initial sorting. After three months of biological decomposition, 48,531.78 kg of biodegradable waste was composted with a yield of 40,443.33 kg of fresh compost or approximately 83.33% compost. The moisture content of the biodegradable fraction is 65%. The physico-chemical characteristics of compost produced are as follow: 12.7594 \ub1 0.1006 mg / kg of heavy metals, the C / N ratio is 13% and the rate of total phosphorus is 0.34% and 61.18 meq/100 g of Dry Weight exchangeable bases. The humus of our compost has a high capacity of cationic exchange (CCE) and fixed mineral nutrient ions such as K+ and Ca2+ and phosphate in order to make them available for plant growth and development and proving the poverty of the soil of this site and their increased need of organic amendment