Assessment of Vegetable Agrosystem of Kodéni in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso: Balancing Pest Pressure and Smallholder Phytosanitary Practices

Abstract

Vegetable growing plays an economic, social, and ecological role in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. However, large-scale urbanization, ongoing ecosystem degradation, and intense pest pressure are undermining the productivity and profitability of vegetable growing in Bobo-Dioulasso. Given this situation, an assessment of smallholder farming practices is necessary to enhance the sustainability of the agrosystem vegetables of Kodéni in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso. Accordingly, a survey of smallholder practices was conducted among 30 farms at the site. Soil samples were collected to determine the soil’s sanitary and physicochemical quality. The results revealed that vegetable farmers practiced intercropping and crop rotation on small plots (1,235 m² ± 684.84 m²). The pests identified were caterpillars, mites, and snails. The soil health analysis revealed a high prevalence of soil-borne fungal pathogens, with major species including Fusarium oxysporum (100%), Fusarium solani (48.7%), Fusarium equiseti (41.2%), and Colletotrichum dematium (37.3%). The physicochemical analysis of the soil showed a high level of fertility (pH = 6.83 ± 0.52; organic matter = 1.38 ± 0.47) compared to the general level of soil fertility in Burkina Faso. In response to pest pressure, vegetable farmers applied a variety of pesticide products, 33.33% of which are not registered for vegetable cultivation, and half of these pesticides are classified as highly hazardous. Producers also used excessive doses of chemicals, with a phytosanitary treatment frequency (IFT) reaching 34, 30,14, and 13 (doses/ha) for tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, and lettuce, respectively. For the sustainable management of the Kodéni vegetable-growing area, it would be necessary to provide guidance to producers on the responsible use of pesticides and to initiate a new focus on agroecology.