2023-07-19 22:00:44
Jassids, insect pests, have already devastated 52% of the country’s production, says the CNRA, the largest national agricultural research center in West Africa, to RFI. Worrying thing: the devastating attacks of jassides now extend to food crops, something never seen before, which greatly worries the Ivorian authorities.
Jean-Louis Konan Konan is a worried man. The research director of the National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA) had never seen this in his 25-year career. Nearly 110,000 farmers are affected and more than half of the cotton areas are devastated, even if the cotton situation is under control, according to Jean-Louis Konan Konan. ” Until the end of 2022, we had more than 52% of the national cotton orchard affected. On a forecast of 492,000 hectares of plantations, we have lost nearly 52% of cotton in Côte d’Ivoire. »
In addition to wreaking havoc on cotton crops, the jassides have now spread to Ivorian market gardeners, rendering certain vegetables inedible. Jean-Louis Konan Konan’s teams have observed their spread in the areas of Yamoussoukro, Korogho and even Bouaké. ” In terms of market gardening, eggplants and okra were badly affected. In the central zone and in the central-north zone, production losses are estimated at 20%, which means that these products are very expensive on the market.. »
In one week, their price doubled, from 1,000 CFA francs to 2,000. And the jassides also extend to roselle, kenaf, mango, cashew, shea, soy, yam , peanuts, amaranth or potatoes without causing any damage for the moment.
The risk of a culture unsuitable for consumption
But the worst is yet to come, fears the CNRA. The only solution: two approved insecticides to be applied to the seeds and not to the plants. “ The first thing is awareness. Producers should know that the danger is there. And that they must respect the instructions of the research by treating all the seedlings, the seeds that they are going to use. Two: you must avoid growing your market gardening or in association near cotton plantations. Third, do not routinely use cotton chemicals on vegetable crops that are mature or in the flowering stage.. »
Because otherwise, food crops and market gardening would be unfit for consumption. Issues: food security and agricultural employment in Côte d’Ivoire. ” If we do nothing, there is a risk of destruction of food crops, market gardening. And that, food security directly depends on it. If we go to 50, to 70% of attacks as we have seen on cotton, but it is food security that is very threatened. »
This is why the CNRA is sounding the general mobilization once morest the Jassids in Côte d’Ivoire.
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