Aim on visit your area to get the information on the various weeds present in the locality.prepare a map showing the area occupied by the weed.ask the local farmers how it has affected the agriculture and document it in tabular form.write down control measures to reduce the same.
Answers
Answer:
Study area
The diagnostic study was carried out in the five agro-ecological zones defined by the
National Agricultural Research Institute of Benin (Anon., 1995). For the different
agro-ecological zones and their characteristics see Table 1. The map in Figure I shows
the location ofthe agro-ecological zones and the villages that were visited during the
diagnostic study.
Table 1. Characteristics ofthe five agro-ecological zones of Benin. Source: Anon. (1995).
Southern Borgou 3 2 900-1300
Southern Atacora
Zone
Northern Borgou 24 600-800
Zone
(%) (mm)
Relative Annual
area rainfall
Agro-ecological
zone
Southern Zone
Transition Zone
Atacora Zone
13
IS
16
IOOO-1400
1000-1200
900-1200
Climate Soil type' Natural Main Land
vegetation crops' holding
Subequatorial, Ferralitic Relics of Maize, cassava, Inheritance,
with two rainy forest cowpea, oil purchased
and two dry palm, vegetables
seasons
Transitional Tropical Arboreous Maize, cashew, Inheritance,
(no clear ferruginous savannah cassava, cotton rented
distinction groundnut, yam
between the
two rainy
seasons)
Soudano- Tropical Arboreous Sorghum, cotton, Inheritance
Guinean ferruginous savannah maize, yam
One rainy
and one dry
season
Soudano- Tropical Shrubby Cotton, maize, Inheritance
Sahelian ferruginous savannah millet, sorghum
One rainy
and one dry
season
Soudanian Tropical Arboreous Sorghum, cowpea Inheritance
One rainy ferruginous savannah maize, millet
and one dry
season
, FAa classification.
'Most important crop first, other crops in alphabetical order.
Demographics and main constraints ofthe villages explored in the five agro-ecological zones of Benin.
Constraints ranked per village in order of importance.
Zone/village Population Fallow Main constraints identified
density' period
(persons km-') (years) Rainfall Soil fertility Weeds Pests' Other]
Southern Zone
Gbagla-Ganfan I03I No fallow 2 4
Dannou, Gangban 202 No fallow 2 }.4
Assrossa, Dame-Wogon II9 4 2 4 3
Otekotan 2°7 5 2 3 4
Some 571 No fallow 2 3 4
Zouzouvou 412 No fallow 2 3 4
Awame 166 No fallow 2 3 4
Adingnigon 225 No fallow 2 3 4
Massi 88 Negligible 4 2,3
Some 21 3 No fallow 2 4
Average 323 No fallow 2 3 4
Transition Zone
Adakplame 57 5-7 2 4 3
Monsourou 39 5-6 2 4
Ouesse 39 5 2 4
Sowe 51 4-5 3 2,4
Average 47 5-6 2 2
Southern Borgou-
Southern Atacora Zone
Sanson 15 6-7 4 2
Baoura 28 IO 3 2 4
Biguina 13 4-5 3 2 4
Average 19 7 3 2 4 4
Northern Borgou Zone
Angaradebou 28 5-IO 4 2
Kantro 34 2 4
Average 31 4-IO 2 4 2
Atacora Zone
Niarosson 25 6 4 2
Pouri 4 8 3 2 3 4
Tassayota 58 6 2 4
Average 44 5 2 2 4
, Population density ofthe districts where the villages are located. Source: Anon. (2003).
, Including insects and rodents.
] Constraints that were only mentioned once (dyke management, equipment, labour, marketing, roaming farm
animals), twice (credit, conservation, post-harvest) or three times (storage).