Biological Constraints in Huckleberry, Potato and Tomato Production in the Western Region of Cameroon

Abstract

The West Region of Cameroon produces various crops, including potato, tomato and huckleberry, etc. However, significant losses of these crops occur during production and after harvest, thus impacting both their quantity and quality. During pre-harvest stages, plant diseases, pest infestations, and unfavorable weather conditions, potentially reduce the crop yield. This study aims to identify biological constraints in potato, tomato and huckleberry production in the Western highlands of Cameroon, and to discuss current pest management practices employed by local farmers. The survey was carried out from August 2019 to June 2020 among selected households from three divisions (Menoua, Bamboutos and Noun), encompassing four districts each. Cultural techniques, and problems encountered by farmers were gathered using a structured questionnaire. A total of 240 farmers were interviewed through a snowball sampling. Among the participants, 49.583 % (119), 35.41% (89) and 15 % (36) were found cultivating tomatoes, potatoes and huckleberries, respectively. Most of the respondents were above 30 years of age, with farming longevity ranging from 1 to 10 years. Tomato and potato farmers were male-dominated (over 90 % of farmers), whereas the cultivation of huckleberries was controlled by females (over 90 % of producers). Regardless of the type of crop, the majority of farmers were not organized into collective interest groups. Moreover, several diseased plant samples (late blight, plant virosis, Alternaria blight, wilt, rust, and whitefly infections) were recorded. Among the diseases threatening the crops, late blight was the most significant, affecting 30 to 50% of crops depending on the locality. Among the three crops studied, tomato was the most affected by plant diseases, followed by potato, and then huckleberry. Although significant losses are reported during farming of tomato, potato, and huckleberry, the main income of households living in the studied area comes from the cultivation of these Solanaceous crops. Inorganic fertilizers were favored by farmers for their ability to promote rapid plant growth and increased yields compared to organic fertilizers (chicken manure). However, the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, along with the lack of control over agricultural inputs, pose challenges to sustainable farming practices.