A rapid production and market appraisal was undertaken to target important markets, commodities, producers and traders of vegetables (exotic and indigenous) in three regions of Cameroon. For each vegetable, post harvest losses were estimated and gross marketing margins were calculated and then used to estimate daily earnings. The main actors were women of between 17 and 50 years old with an average daily earning of less than 1 000 FCFA (US$1 = 495 FCFA). The typical market woman sold 2.5 different products with a mean daily earning of 525 FCFA per product and a total daily earning of 893 FCFA. By groups, sellers of exotic vegetables, such as tomato and cabbage, earned significantly (p<0.001) more than those of indigenous vegetables. Although earnings from huckleberry were comparable with those from exotic vegetables, its production was still traditional, based on indigenous knowledge or on knowledge borrowed from other staple crops and used little or no external inputs. There were no commercial indigenous vegetable seed producers. The diffusion and effectiveness of the indigenous vegetable seed system depended largely on the quality of the variety to be diffused, kinship relationships, and the existence of a culture for agricultural experimentation. Post harvest systems for all vegetables were rudimentary leading to heavy losses (11% and higher) as most vegetables were sold fresh. No storage facilities were available but opportunities exist in drying vegetables using available low cost solar technology thereby offering a chance to increase the value of the seasonal surplus and earning extra income. Complex and stable trading networks existed for selling vegetables, especially for more commercial crops such as huckleberry. The study indicated that indigenous vegetables can be a viable source of income for rural women and can contribute to poverty alleviation, but post harvest procedures need to be established for the handling and marketing of leafy vegetables.
The influence of late blight infections, caused by Phytophthora infestans, was evaluated on thirteen huckleberry (Solmum scabrum) varieties during the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons in Dschang, Cameroon. A randomised split block design was used. Plants were sprayed four times with Ridomil Plus" (12% metalaxyl + 60% cuprous oxide) at 2.5 kg ha-' on a 21-day schedule while control plots were not sprayed. Late blight intensity was recorded weekly and fresh shoot yields were evaluated six times at 14-day intervals. Fungicide applications significantly reduced late blight intensity and consequently increased huckleberry yields. Cumulative shoot yields varied with the variety and fungicide treatment, from 54.14 to 238.33 t ha-'. Yield losses due to late blight infection were estimated at up to 46%. Economic analyses indicated that fungicide sprays are necessary for a lateblight protection programme in huckleberry. This spray regime based on fungicide application resulted in net profits of US$694 to $8,467 ha-', depending on the variety used and the trial period. The results show that late blight infections if not controlled, decrease huckleberry yields, and consequently net farm incomes. High yielding resistant varieties or foliar applications of Ridomil Plus" may be incorporated in integrated pathogen managemmt schemes against late blight in huckleberries with a view to minimise use of fungicides. + 60% oxyde cuivreux) B 21 jours d'intervalle B la dose de 2.5 kg ha-'. L'intensitC du mildiou a Ct C CvaluC hebdomadairement et les pousses fraiches ont Ct C rCcoltCes six fois h l'intervalle de 14 jours. Des traitements fongicides ont significativement rCduit 17intensitC du mildiou et par consCquent augment6 le rendement en pousses. Le rendement total en pousses fraiches a Ct C variable. De 54, 14 B 238,33 t ha-', selon la variCtt et le traitement fongicide. Des pertes en rendements associkes aux attaques du mildiou ont atteint 46%. Des analyses Cconomiques indiquent que quatre traitements au Ridomil p1us"sont nkcessaires dans un bon programme de protection de la morelle noire contre le mildiou. Ce regime de traitement a poduit dCs augmentations en revenu net de USS 694 B 8.467 ha-', selon la variCtC utilisCe et la pCriode d'essai. Des rCsultats indiquent que le mildiou peut baisser le rendement de la morelle noire et par consequent le bCnCfice net des planteurs de la morelle aoire si les actions appropriCes ne sont pas mentes pour rayer les effets nCfastes de cette maladie. En outre, l'utilisation des variCtCs rtsistantes ou des traitements foliaires au Ridomil plus" peut etre incorporCe dans des programmes de lutte intCgrCe contre le mildiou de la morelle noire.Mots Clks: Gestion intkgree, Phytophthora infestans, Solanum scabrwn, perte de rendement 1 64 D.A. FONTEM et al.
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