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Cirad

Mango cultivation in Benin

Vayssières J.F., Sinzogan A.A.C., Adandonon A., Coulibaly O., Bokonon Ganta A.. 2012. In : (Eds.) Sudha G Valavi, K Rajmohan, JN Govil, KV Peter and George Thottappilly. Mango vol. 2: cultivation in different countries. Houston : Studium Press LLC, p. 260-279.

The mango tree is rustic and voluminous; it provides both a food staple and protection. In northern-central Benin, as in other similar agro-ecological zones in neighboring countries, the mango serves as a fruit crop and as a subsistence crop for family farms. As it ripens at the end of the dry season and at the start of the rainy season, the mango is a fundamental source of nutrition for rural populations living in the Soudano-Sahelian regions of West Africa: it is rich in potassium, alphacarotene, vitamin C and calcium. Increased production and marketing of undamaged mangoes are important in reducing poverty, particularly in northern-central Benin (Soudanian areas). According to our survey on location of mango production in Benin, about 75% of mango orchards are concentrated in the Borgou district (Soudanian area). In Benin, and more generally in Sub-Saharan Africa, over 90% of mango production is ensured by small family farms with low financial investment capacity. In Benin we can find three fibrous poly-embryonic types of "mangots" and 29 grafted mono-embryonic mango cultivars. The most abundant mango cultivars (grafted) are Gouverneur, Zill, Eldon, Ifac 3, Springfels, Dabshar, Ruby, Kent, Palmer, Smith, Keitt, Brooks. In 1994, an estimation assessed the area devoted to mango trees in Benin at 1191 ha, total production being 10,166 t, and average yield per ha being 8.5 t. Assessments reveal that Beninese mango producers are confronted with three main connected problems namely (i) deterioration of fruit quality due to fruit flies, (ii) saturation of the national market leading to wastage and lower prices and (iii) lack of post-harvest promotion. More than 60% of mango orchards belong to the "Gatherer production system" in Borgou district. Mango-infesting fruit flies as Ceratitis cosyra and Bactrocera invadens (Diptera Tephritidae) became the target pests in Benin as in other West African countries. About the fruit fly issue, IITACIRAD has developed a Regional Frui

Mots-clés : mangifera indica; pratique culturale; protection des plantes; technologie alimentaire; bénin

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