Cultivation practices and phytosanitary problem of cassava in the department of tivaouane, senegal

Abstract

Cassava plays an important role as a subsistence and cash crop in rural areas. Despite its importance, its production in Senegal remains low compared to other African countries. Nowadays, it is confronted with numerous constraints. It is in this context that a study was carried out on the cassava production system in the Thiès "cassava granary" region, with the objective of identifying, through cultivation practices, the phytosanitary problems encountered by farmers. It was conducted in eight communes located in the department of Tivaouane, some of which are located in the Niayes agro-ecological zone and others in the central-northern groundnut basin. Surveys were conducted among the largest cassava producers in these communes. Our study indicates that the cultivation of cassava is conducted in the rainy season with the same practices over time. Of the five varieties listed by the President of the Interprofession Manioc du Sénégal, only four are grown in the areas surveyed. The Terrasse (43%) and Kombo (36%) varieties are grown more by our respondents in the Niayes area. Soya (75%) and Wallet "Parydiey" (20% of our sample) dominate in the central-northern groundnut basin. The study also revealed that cassava farmers face constraints related to crop diseases and pests, which consequently have a strong impact on their harvest and income.