Diversité biologique et caractérisation de l’activité de maraîchage sur le site de Grand-Popo au Sud Bénin

Le maraichage revet une importante source alimentaire et constitue l’une des activites les plus generatrices de revenus au Benin. La presente etude a pour objectif de contribuer a la securite alimentaire a travers une meilleure connaissance des cultures maraicheres de meme que les difficultes liees a leur production. Les donnees ont ete collectees a travers des enquetes individuelles aupres de trente-deux (32) maraichers installes sur le site maraicher de Grand-Popo. Au total, neuf (9) especes maraicheres ont ete recensees aupres des maraichers provenant de diverses origines. Parmi ces differentes especes l’oignon constitue la principale culture, ensuite viennent la tomate, la grande morelle, la carotte, la laitue, la betterave, le concombre, l’aubergine et le piment. Les especes recensees se repartissent en quatre especes de legumes-fruits (44,45% des especes), en deux especes de legumes-feuilles (22,22%) et legumes-racines (22,22%) et en une espece de legume-bulbe (11,11%). La plupart des exploitations sont confrontees a dix contraintes parmi lesquelles les plus importantes sont les attaques des insectes (46,08% de reponses), les maladies fongiques (25,35% de reponses) et les nematodes (13,08% de reponses). Quatorze (14) pesticides chimiques dont les insecticides (56,25% de reponses), des fongicides (21% de reponses), des nematicides (17,50% de reponses) et des acaricides (5,25% de reponses) ont ete repertories. Pour une meilleure connaissance des activites de maraichages au Benin, il est necessaire d’etendre l’etude sur tous les sites maraichers en vue de disposer d’une base complete de donnees sur les especes cultivees en maraichage Mots cles : Culture maraichere, diversite, contrainte, pratiques agricoles, Benin. English Title: Biological diversity and characterization of market gardening activity at the Grand-Popo site in southern Benin Market gardening is an important food source and one of the most income-generating activities in Benin. The present study aims to contribute to food security through a better knowledge of market gardening as well as the difficulties related to their production. The data were collected through individual surveys of thirtytwo (32) market gardeners installed on the Grand-Popo market garden site. A total of nine (9) vegetable species have been identified with market gardeners from various origins. Among these different species, onion is the main crop, followed by tomato, nightshade, carrot, lettuce, beet, cucumber, eggplant and pepper. The species listed fall into four species of fruiting vegetables (44.45% of the species), two species of leafy vegetables (22.22%), root vegetables (22.22%) and one species of bulb vegetable (11.11%). Most farms face ten constraints among which the most important are insect attacks (46.08% of responses), fungal diseases (25.35% of responses) and nematodes (13.08% of responses). Fourteen (14) chemical pesticides including insecticides (56.25% response), fungicides (21% response), nematicides (17.50% response) and acaricides (5.25% response) have been listed. For a better knowledge of market gardening activities in Benin, it will be necessary to extend the study to all market gardening sites in order to have a complete database of species cultivated in market gardening.  Keywords : Vegetable species, diversity, constraint, agricultural practices, Benin.