An effective organic waste recycling through vermicomposting technology for sustainable agriculture in tropics

peer reviewedPurpose The management of household wastes has been a real challenge for the capital city of Cameroon for some years now. In order to adopt ecological and sustainable strategies for better management of organic fraction of solid wastes, the present work was aimed to propose a sustainable alternative for the recycling of household organic waste through a vermicomposting process. Method A vermicomposting of household organic waste was carried out during 46 days, preceded by 23 days of pre-composting. Then, three treatments were established by mixing epigeic earthworms with different proportion of pre-composted waste. Maturation parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C/N ratio, ammonium (N-NH4+ ) and total organic matter (TOM) were monitored about four weeks. The agronomic quality of the vermicompost was also determined at the end. Results During pre-composting, the temperature reached a maximum of 54.3±5.4°C suitable for the elimination of potential pathogen. The pH varied between 9.44 and 8.53 leading towards neutrality at the end of the vermi-composting process. The obtained mean values of C/N ratio and the TOM were respectively 11.04-11.68 and 25.82-27.19% in line with the AFNOR (NFU 44-051) guideline. The obtained vermicompost revealed high levels of nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The phytotoxicity test on lettuce showed germination rates above 50%, revealing the non-toxic nature of the vermicompost produced. Conclusion The vermicompost were rich in nutrients and exhibited the non-phytotoxicity. Thus, vermicomposting can be applied in the context of Cameroon to transform organic waste into organic fertiliser suitable for sustainable agriculture

Current status of strawberry (Fragaria spp.) cultivation and marketing in Cameroon

Background: Strawberries are among the most consumed fruits in the world, offering a multitude of health benefits. Their popularity has contributed to their economic value. However, in Cameroon, there is an insufficiency of strawberry yields, resulting in their importation and high market prices. Consequently, strawberries have become a luxury item, out of reach for the average citizen. This study carries out the inventory of the technique of production and marketing of strawberries in Cameroon. Method: In 2021, a survey of one hundred and one strawberry farmers in three regions: the Center, the West, and the South was conducted. The survey collected information on the socio-demographic characteristics of strawberry farmers, cultivation practices, and production. Additionally, we interviewed supermarkets, pastry chefs, and canvassers to gather data on strawberry marketing practices. Results: Male strawberry farmers (83.17%) outnumbered females (16.83%). The majority of farmers (65.35%) practiced mix cropping, especially with tomatoes, while 34.65% focused on monoculture. Back pain and pests were identified as the major constraints. The educational level and age were found to be influential factors in farmers' proposals for improving yields. On average, 1 kg of strawberries in Cameroon costs 10,000 XAF. The main customers are canvassers, supermarkets, and pastry chefs, who prioritize the size of the fruit when making purchases. Conclusion: The number of strawberry farmers is higher in the West region. It takes up to 1,000,000 XAF to initiate cultivation when the area is as from 1000 m2. The high cost of strawberries is due to their scarcity

Cultivation systems using vegetation cover Improves Sustainable Production and Nutritional Quality of New Rice for Africa in the Tropics

Little is known about the impact of direct sowing under vegetation cover on the production and quality of New Rice for Africa (NERICA) on poor oxisol. In this study, two NERICA varieties (NERICA 3 and NERICA 8) were grown under tropical oxisol soil with very low nutrient contents. Four cultivation systems were used in completely randomized block design, including plowing (control), unplowed soil with dead vegetation cover (DVC), unplowed soil with live vegetation cover (LVC) and unplowed soil with mixed vegetation cover (MVC). DVC significantly improved the exponential growth of NERICAs. NERICA 3 was the more productive (2.16–3.05 t/hm2) compared with NERICA 8 (0.71–1.21 t/hm2). Cultivation systems improved the nutritional quality of NERICAs. The total protein content of NERICA 3 under DVC and MVC was 84.8% and 75.0% higher than control, respectively. The total soluble carbohydrate contents of NERICA 8 under LVC and MVC was 73.2% and 57.3% higher than control, respectively. These results suggested that conservative approach like direct sowing on unplowed soil with vegetation cover systems can improve the nutritional quality of rainfed NERICAs and their sustainable production under poor oxisol soil in sub-Saharan Africa. Keywords: direct sowing, sustainable production, nutritional quality, rice, vegetation cover, yield, protein, soluble carbohydrate conten