Article abstract

Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research

Research Article | Published April 2020 | Volume 8, Issue 4 pp. 64-81.

doi: https://doi.org/10.33495/jacr_v8i4.19.172

 

Farming system and cultivation constraints in African yam Dioscorea dumetorum (Pax, Kunth) production in Benin

 



 

 

Fabienne Adétola Adigoun1

Hubert Adoukonou-Sagbadja1*

David Montcho1, 2

Fiacre Zavinon A1

Hounnankpon Yedomonhan3

Micheline Agassounon-Tchibozo1

 

Email Author

 

1. Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Molecular Breeding (LaREGAME), Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Abomey-Calavi. BP 1947 Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic.

2. Management School of Pant and Seed Production (EGPVS), National Agricultural University, Kétou, Benin Republic.

3. Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Abomey-Calavi. BP 1947 Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic.


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Citation: Adigoun FA, Adoukonou-Sagbadja H, Montcho D, Zavinon F, Yedomonhan H, Agassounon-Tchibozo M (2020). Farming system and cultivation constraints in African yam Dioscorea dumetorum (Pax, Kunth) production in Benin. J. Agric. Crop Res. 8(4):64-81.

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 Abstract 


Dioscorea dumetorum is one of the important cultivated yams that significantly contribute to food security and poverty alleviation in Benin. However, the potential of this tuber crop is under-exploited and its production completely neglected by research and development policies. The objective of this study was then to document the indigenous knowledge related to its traditional farming system, agronomic practices and constraints that limit its production in Benin. Therefore, an ethnobotanical survey was conducted in seventy-eight (78) villages covering the major production areas in the country. The results revealed that D. dumetorum cultivation was mainly traditional and dominated by male, adults and old farmers while the participation of youth and women was found minimal. According to farmers, this yam was a less-demanding crop, requiring no specific input. Four main cropping systems practiced by farmers were identified. These were crop-association (50.53% of respondents), monoculture (20.47%), crop-rotation (18.86%) and home gardens planting (10.14%). Besides, seven approaches (use of basket, garret, straw hut, bag, shade, hole and pile) were practiced for postharvest storage of tubers. Finally, diverse range of constraints, including the susceptibility of tubers to termites and rodents in storage or in late harvesting, the frequent occurrence of drought during sprouting time, tubers’ hardening in storage making them unsuitable for pounding, the presence of roots on tubers, were reported to impede D. dumetorum production. The important ethnobotanical data recorded here are useful for breeding programs but also in defining appropriate strategies for conservation and valorization of D. dumetorum in Benin.

Keywords  Benin    constraints    D. dumetorum   production system   storage    yam 

 

 

Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

 

 

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