Analysis of pre- and post-harvest practices of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Benin

Cowpea is an important leguminous crop in Benin. Practices such as farming and storage conditions may influence the production yield and the grain quality. In this study, pre- and post-harvest practices ofcowpea were analysed in relation to the quality of the grains. A survey on cowpea farming activities was conducted in the four agro-ecological zones of Benin. Three localities producing cowpea were selected in eachagro-ecological zone. Information was obtained through individual interview and focus group discussions. Cowpea was mainly cultivated either as a monocrop or intercropped with maize and groundnuts in the fouragro-ecological zones. Cowpea infestation by insects on farm and in storage was a major problem mentioned by farmers. To prevent insects’ infestation in storage, cowpeas were thoroughly sundried at harvest andadequately sorted prior to storage. Such post-harvest practices could limit cowpea grains quality deterioration. Cowpeas were mainly stored in bags for about 3 months. About 23 cowpea based foods were identified. Majorcowpea foods were ata (akara), moin-moin and adowe. Common processing operations included sorting, washing, dehulling of cowpeas, boiling and frying. These processing operations as practiced by processors are generally recognized as a good practice in food preparation

Relation eau de ruissellement et eau des sources et forages artésiens dans la région Zagnanado-Zogbodomey au Bénin : Approche couplée (pollution microbiologique – télédétection)

La région Zagnanado-Zogbodomey constituée de grandes dépressions et de vallée a été retenue pour mieux comprendre l’influence des eaux de ruissellement sur la qualité des eaux souterraines des aquifères continus du Bassin sédimentaire côtier. A partir d’analyses microbiologiques portant sur des échantillons d’eau prélevés à la fois au niveau des sources et forages artésiens, la signature microbienne de chaque système hydrique a été établie. Les sources et forages artésiens sont plus affectés pendant la saison pluvieuse que la saison sèche, par la présence de germes bactériologiques. La présence de coliformes totaux et de coliformes fécaux dans l’eau des échantillons révèle que la contamination provient de la surface. Pour caractériser le seuil topographique qui représente une zone de recharge probable pour les eaux souterraines de la région, une étude des fractures à partir des linéaments observables sur un Modèle Numérique d’Altitude (MNA) détaillé de la région a été effectuée. En appui à la bactériologie, le traitement d’images satellitaires a permis de ressortir le réseau des fractures de notre zone d’étude située sur les formations du Bassin sédimentaire côtier. Les fractures étant en contact avec le réseau hydrographique, celles-ci pourraient jouer un rôle de drain pour les aquifères de la zone d’étude.Mots clés: Linéaments, infiltration, eau de ruissellement, eau souterraine

Analyse des besoins en equipements et materiels de post recoltes des filieres des poles de developpement agricole du Benin

L’agriculture béninoise est caractérisée par une faible utilisation de matériels agricoles performants. En vue d’améliorer la mécanisation des  opérations agricoles, de réduire les pertes post récoltes et d’aider les petits agriculteurs à améliorer leur valeur ajoutée, une étude d’identification  des besoins en matériels de post récolte des petits producteurs a été réalisée au Bénin. La collecte des données a été faite avec les outils suivants :  l’observation, l’interview semi-structurée, la classification préférentielle et l’arbre à problèmes. Les graphiques et la régression logistique sont les  outils d’analyse des données utilisés. Les résultats ont révélé une variation significative des rangs attribués aux produits de transformations  contribuant à l’alimentation et au revenu, suivant les villages, les spéculations et les pôles de développement agricole. Le fromage de soja, l’akassa,  le kluiklui et le gari sont les produits de transformation contribuant à la fois au revenu et à l’alimentation des ménages. Le gari est le premier  produit qui contribue le plus au revenu dans la moitié des villages d’étude. Les opérations de post-récolte constituant des goulots d’étranglement et  donc les besoins en équipements varient significativement d’une spéculation à l’autre.   English title: Analysis of the post-harvest equipment / materials needs of the Agricultural Development Hubs sectors in Benin Beninese agriculture was characterized by a low use of efficient agricultural equipment. In order to improve the agricultural operations  mechanization, reduce post-harvest losses and help small farmers to improve their added value, a study was carried out in Benin to identify the  small farmers post-harvest equipment needs. Data was collected using the following tools: observation, semi-structured interview, preferential  classification and problem tree. Graphs and logistic regression are the data analysis tools used. The results revealed a significant variation in the  ranks attributed to the processed products contributing to food and income, depending on the villages, crops and agricultural development hubs.  Soy cheese, akassa, kluiklui and gari are the processed products contributing both to household income and food. Gari is the first processed  product that contributes the most to income in half of the study villages. The post-harvest operations constituting bottlenecks and therefore the  requirements for equipment vary significantly from one speculation to another.&nbsp

Influence de la fertilisation minérale sur la qualité physico-chimique et organoleptique du jus d’ananas transformé de Cayenne lisse au Bénin

L’objectif de l’étude est d’analyser l’influence de la fertilisation N, P et K sur les caractéristiques physico-chimique et organoleptique du jus Cayenne lisse produit au Bénin. Un essai en plan factoriel NPK complet a été installé à Soyo, un village de la commune d’Allada du Département de l’Atlantique en République du Bénin. Les traitements NPK appliqués en unités fertilisantes exprimées en g/plant et randomisés dans quatre blocs ont été les suivants : T1: 6,7-1,6-9,3 ; T2 : 2,7-2,7-2,7 ; T3: 10,7- 0,5-2,7 ;T5: 10,7- 2,7-16 ; T6: 2,7- 2,7-16 ; T7: 2,7- 2,7-16 ; T8: 10,7-2,7-2,7 ; T9:2,7-0,5-2,7 ;T10: 10,7- 0,5-16. Le degré Brix du jus a été déterminé au réfractomètre et le pH au pH-mètre. Une évaluation des caractéristiques sensorielles telles que le goût sucré, le goût acide et l’arôme du jus d’ananas fabriqué a été effectuée par un panel de dégustateurs sélectionnés et entraînés. Une analyse en composantes principales, suivie d’une classification numérique a été réalisée sur les caractéristiques sensorielles et physico-chimiques des fruits. Les traitements T1, T3, T5 et T6 ont permis d’obtenir des jus de qualité organoleptique appréciable.Mots clés : Intensification, Rendement, Jus, Evaluation sensorielle, Fumure, Allada

Assessment of pesticides residues in fish (Tilapia guineensis) in the Couffo River in Djidja (Benin)

In Benin, the main cash crop is the cotton of which the level of production is largely insufficient to satisfy the national and International market. The main food crops (corn, cassava, yam, bean, rice, etc.) permit to cover the food needed globally, but remain again extensively on this side of the potentialities offered by the ecological conditions of the country. In the process to increase the agricultural production, the herbicides, insecticides and the fertilizers are used now in higher quantity that in the past. The aim of this work was to assess the level of contamination of fish (Tilapia guineensis) in the Couffo River in Djidja (Benin) by the pesticides. Nine (09) samples of fish (Tilapia guineensis) have been collected in nine (09) points along the Couffo River. The analysis of these fish has been done by gas chromatography after extraction and purification. In fish, the detected concentrations in average ranged between 0.123 µg/kg and 0.191 µg/kg for the glyphosate, from 0.095 to 0.128 µg/kg for the profenofos, between 0.112 and 0.125 µg/kg for the acetamiprid and 0.127 and 0.139 µg/kg. To assess the risk to public health, pesticides intake by fish consumption was estimated and compared with Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) values reported by the Codex Alimentarius. This comparison showed that fish consumption does not pose a risk for public health

Yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus) tuber processing in Benin: production and evaluation of the quality of yam bean-gari and yam bean-fortified gari

Yam bean (Pachyrhyzus erosus) tubers were processed singly and mixed with cassava into different types of gari (100% yam bean gari, 75% yam bean gari, 50% yam bean gari and 25% yam bean gari) following the traditional gari processing method. Conventional gari from cassava was processed following the same approach and used as control. Physical characteristics, proximate composition and sensory quality of the garis obtained were assessed. Results showed that low and medium (25% and 50%) yam bean fortified gari processing yielded better than 75% and 100% yam bean gari processing. Low and medium yam bean gari were the closest to conventional gari regarding the brown index (18.0 and 18.3 respectively), had good swelling capacity (≥ 3) and had higher relative bulk density (0.57 and 0.53 respectively). The proteins content of the processed yam bean garis increased with increasing incorporation rate of yam bean but, similarly, the crude fibres content increased going beyond the recommended level of 2% maximum. The processed garis were used to cook èba which were submitted to panellists’ appreciation. Panellists scored better low and medium yam bean fortified garis and the resulting èba. Combining the results, the highest suggested incorporation rate was 50% yam bean tubers. © 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Legume tuber-root crop, quality, physical characteristics, chemical composition, sensory evaluation

Temporal variations in air pollution at two roundabouts in the city of Cotonou, Benin

Background: Air pollution has caused health and environmental problems around the world. In this study we analysed the temporal evolution of air pollution in Cotonou regarding the standards of Benin and of World Health Organization (WHO). Methods: Solar-powered electrochemical sensors (CO: carbon monoxide, SO2: sulphur dioxide, and O3/NO2: ozone/nitrogen dioxide) and photoionization detectors (for NMVOC: nonmethane volatile organic compounds) were permanently installed and monitored from June 2019 to March 2020 at Akpakpa PK3 (A) and Vèdokô Cica-Toyota (B) roundabouts. Results: CO and SO2 concentrations at both roundabouts were significantly higher on weekends than on weekdays. The concentrations of NMVOC and O3 / NO2 on Sunday differed considerably from the other days of the week at A and B, respectively. There was a positive linear correlation between the concentrations of CO and SO2, O3 / NO2 and SO2, and CO O3 / NO2 to B, and only between CO and O3 / NO2, in A. At the two sites, the average of SO2 concentrations (in μg/m3) were higher than the WHO standard (500) for an exposure of 10 minutes (2258 A and 2143 B) and the Benin standard (1300) for 1 hour exposure (2181 in A and 2092 in B). Conclusion: Air pollution varies in hours and days in Cotonou. Standards are respected, except for SO2. Particular attention should be paid to the concentrations and the possible sources of gas. More sophisticated monitoring system should be put in place

Impacts of agricultural mechanization: Evidence from four African countries

Agricultural mechanization is on the rise in Africa. A widespread replacement of manual labor will change the face of African agriculture. Despite this potentially transformative role, only few studies have looked at the potential effects of mechanization empirically, mostly focusing on yields and labor alone. This is the first paper that explores agronomic, environmental and socioeconomic effects together, thereby revealing linkages and trade- offs, some of which have been hitherto unknown. Data were collected using a novel data collection method called “Participatory Impact Diagrams” in four countries: Benin, Kenya, Nigeria and Mali. In 130 gendered focus group discussions, 1,330 respondents from 87 villages shared positive and negative effects experienced due to agricultural mechanization and were able to develop their own theory of change. This is the first study that gives a voice to the rural population on mechanization and allows them to identify causal impact chains. Regarding agronomic and environmental aspects, respondents perceived mechanization as a way to reduce labor shortages, improve timeliness and enhance land preparation, leading to higher yields. However, it is also associated with the cutting of farm trees as well as farmland expansion, and, subsequently, deforestation and a decline in firewood availability. Respondents also experienced that (plough-based) mechanization can have detrimental effects on soil fertility and cause erosion, which was associated with yield drops and risks in the long-term. Regarding socioeconomic effects, mechanization was reported to increase incomes, reduce drudgery and free up time for other farm and off- farm activities. However, mechanization was also linked with social tensions and conflicts, for example, related to land issues, which can pitch farmers against pastoralists. Tensions and conflicts also play out across gender. Some effects remain ambiguous. For example, depending on local factors, mechanization reportedly increases or decreases employment. Further research and policy efforts are needed to ensure that mechanization contributes to an African agricultural transformation that is sustainable from a social, economic and environmental perspective

Valuation of rice postharvest losses in Sub-Saharan Africa and its mitigation strategies

Data on rice harvest and postharvest loss in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) is scanty making it difficult for stakeholders to appreciate the loss and set priority areas for loss reduction along the value chain. To address this problem, a protocol was developed and validated for postharvest loss (PHL) quantification in SSA. Quantitative losses at each segment were determined by field measurements. Interactive effect of origin of rice (domestic versus imported) and type of processing (white versus parboiled milled) on rice price in 33 markets in Africa was used to estimate qualitative loss for both white and parboiled milled rice. Total PHL for rice in SSA in 2018 is estimated at about US$ 10.24 billion, representing 47.63% of the expected total production. The highest loss recorded was quantitative loss before and during harvesting, followed by qualitative loss along the entire value chain, quantitative loss during milling, parboiling, threshing in that order, with the lowest being quantitative loss during drying. Priority areas to be targeted for PHL reduction in SSA and some loss mitigation tools and technologies piloted or suitable for SSA are proposed