Importance and practices of Egusi crops (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin and Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. cv. ' Aklamkpa ') in sociolinguistic areas in Benin.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	Importance and practices of Egusi crops (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin and Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. cv. ' Aklamkpa ') in sociolinguistic areas in Benin.
Alternate Title:	Importance et culture de Egusi (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai, Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin et Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. cv ' Aklamkpa ') dans les régions sociolinguistiques du Bénin.
Authors:	Gbenato Achigan-Dako, Enoch¹ dachigan@gmail.com, Fagbemissi, Rose¹, Avohou, Hermane Tonankpon¹, Vodouhe, Raymond Sognon², Coulibaly, Ousmane³, Ahanchede, Adam¹
Source:	Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement. 2008, Vol. 12 Issue 4, p393-403. 11p. 1 Black and White Photograph, 1 Chart, 4 Graphs, 1 Map.
Subject Terms:	Farmers, Cropping systems, Agriculture, Crops, Culture, Sociolinguistics
Geographic Terms:	West Africa, Benin
Abstract (English):	African traditional vegetables are perceived as potentially useful for income generation and food security insurance. However, Egusi crops (Citrullus lanatus subsp. mucosospermus, Cucumeropsis mannii and Lagenaria siceraria cv. ' Aklamkpa ') have been overlooked for relatively long time by research and development organizations while they persist in the farming systems of many regions in West Africa. This paper pinpoints the social importance of Egusi crops and their place in the cropping systems in sociolinguistic groups in Benin. In 2005, a countrywide household survey in Benin on farming systems and cropping practices of Egusi crops across five major sociolinguistic groups show that Egusi is ranked among the top ten crops. This ranking is gender-specific but is not age-specific. Farmers allocated on average 0.74 ha for Egusi production with a significant difference across communities. In the Mahi-fon community in central Benin for instance farm size could reach 5 ha. The most cultivated species is C. lanatus subsp. mucosospermus. However, in the Adja community the farmers' preference is for L. siceraria cv. ' Aklamkpa '. Egusi species are cultivated in plain field or in home gardens, either in monoculture or in association with other crops. C. mannii is mostly intercropped and plays a social and culinary role in Nagot-Yoruba community. Although Egusi is not a specific woman crop, women carry out the post-harvest activities for value adding. Utilizations of Egusi crops are different from one sociolinguistic group to another and could represent a plinth on which a sustainable valuation of Egusi crops could be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (French):	Les légumes traditionnels africains sont considérés comme potentiellement utiles pour contribuer á la sécurité alimentaire et á la génération de revenu au niveau des communautés locales. Cependant, Egusi (Citrullus lanatus subsp. mucosospermus, Cucumeropsis mannii et Lagenaria siceraria cv. ' Aklamkpa') a rarement fait l'objet de recherche et de promotion alors que sa culture persiste dans les systèmes de production de plusieurs pays de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Cette étude met l'accent sur le róle social des cultures de Egusi et leur importance dans le système de production des groupes sociolinguistiques au Bénin. En 2005, une investigation des systèmes de production et de culture de cinq régions socioculturelles prédominantes indique que la culture de Egusi est classée parmi les dix premières spéculations, selon la perception des ménages interrogés. Le rang attribué aux cultures de Egusi est relatif au genre mais pas á l'âge. Les agriculteurs allouent en moyenne 0,74 ha pour la production de Egusi, avec une différence significative d'une région sociolinguistique á une autre. Dans la communauté Mahi-Fon du centre Bénin, par exemple, nous avons observé des champs de production de Egusi allant jusqu'á 5 ha. L'espèce la plus cultivée est C. lanatus subsp. mucosospermus. Cependant, dans la communauté Adja du sud Bénin, la préférence des agriculteurs est pour L. siceraria cv. ' Aklamkpa '. Egusi se cultive au champ et en jardin de case, soit en association ou en monoculture. C. mannii est généralement cultivée en association et joue un róle social très important dans les communautés Nagot-Yoruba. Bien que Egusi ne soit pas une culture réservée aux femmes, ces dernières réalisent la plupart des activités post-récolte. Les utilisations associées á la culture de Egusi varient d'un groupe sociolinguistique á un autre et constituent une base essentielle de promotion de la culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
	Copyright of Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement is the property of Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database:	GreenFILE

Description
Abstract:	African traditional vegetables are perceived as potentially useful for income generation and food security insurance. However, Egusi crops (Citrullus lanatus subsp. mucosospermus, Cucumeropsis mannii and Lagenaria siceraria cv. ' Aklamkpa ') have been overlooked for relatively long time by research and development organizations while they persist in the farming systems of many regions in West Africa. This paper pinpoints the social importance of Egusi crops and their place in the cropping systems in sociolinguistic groups in Benin. In 2005, a countrywide household survey in Benin on farming systems and cropping practices of Egusi crops across five major sociolinguistic groups show that Egusi is ranked among the top ten crops. This ranking is gender-specific but is not age-specific. Farmers allocated on average 0.74 ha for Egusi production with a significant difference across communities. In the Mahi-fon community in central Benin for instance farm size could reach 5 ha. The most cultivated species is C. lanatus subsp. mucosospermus. However, in the Adja community the farmers' preference is for L. siceraria cv. ' Aklamkpa '. Egusi species are cultivated in plain field or in home gardens, either in monoculture or in association with other crops. C. mannii is mostly intercropped and plays a social and culinary role in Nagot-Yoruba community. Although Egusi is not a specific woman crop, women carry out the post-harvest activities for value adding. Utilizations of Egusi crops are different from one sociolinguistic group to another and could represent a plinth on which a sustainable valuation of Egusi crops could be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	13706233