European Scientific Journal, ESJ

Prévalence et facteurs déterminants de l'usage des pesticides interdits en agriculture maraîchère à Kinshasa : cas des sites de Kimwenza et Ndjili Cecomaf

René Kasende Disashi — 2026-04-06

L’agriculture maraîchère, cruciale pour la sécurité alimentaire de Kinshasa, est confrontée à un enjeu majeur de santé publique et environnemental : l’usage incontrôlé de pesticides, dont des produits non homologués. Cette étude visait à analyser les facteurs et les risques sanitaires associés à ces pratiques chez les agriculteurs des zones périurbaines de Kimwenza et Ndjili Cecomaf. Une approche méthodologique mixte a été mobilisée, combinant un questionnaire administré à 68 maraîchers et des entretiens. Les résultats révèlent une dépendance alarmante aux circuits informels d’approvisionnement. La comparaison entre les produits recensés et la liste officielle des pesticides interdits en République Démocratique du Congo révèle une faille réglementaire majeure : l’utilisation quasi généralisée (92,9 %) de l’Endosulfan (Thiodan), ainsi que d’autres insecticides comme Sniper, Dd-Force, Banko Plus, Thiame et Lava tous formellement interdits tant au niveau national qu’international. Un profond écart est constaté entre la connaissance des risques et l’adoption de mesures de protection. Alors qu’une large majorité (94,3 %) des maraîchers déclare connaître les dangers, seulement 9,6 % utilisent un équipement de protection complet. Les principaux facteurs explicatifs identifiés sont l’accessibilité économique des produits interdits sur les marchés locaux, un déficit massif de formation et une pression parasitaire perçue qui induit des fréquences de traitement élevées. En conclusion, cette étude souligne l’urgence d’interventions intégrées et pragmatiques. Celles-ci devraient combiner un contrôle renforcé des circuits informels, des campagnes de sensibilisation visant à transformer les connaissances en comportements sûrs, et un soutien accru aux alternatives agroécologiques pour favoriser une agriculture maraîchère durable à Kinshasa.

Market gardening, which is crucial to food security in Kinshasa, faces a major public health and environmental challenge: the uncontrolled use of pesticides, including unregistered products. This study aimed to analyze the factors and health risks associated with these practices among farmers in the peri-urban areas of Kimwenza and Ndjili Cecomaf. A mixed methodological approach was used, combining a questionnaire administered to 68 market gardeners and interviews. The results reveal an alarming dependence on informal supply chains. A comparison between the products identified and the official list of pesticides banned in the Democratic Republic of Congo reveals a major regulatory loophole: the widespread use (92.9%) of Endosulfan (Thiodan), as well as other insecticides such as Sniper, Dd-Force, Banko Plus, Thiame, and Lava, all of which are formally banned both nationally and internationally. There is a significant gap between awareness of the risks and the adoption of protective measures. While a large majority (94.3%) of market gardeners report being aware of the dangers, only 9.6% use full protective equipment. The main explanatory factors identified are the affordability of prohibited products on local markets, a massive training deficit, and perceived pest pressure, which leads to high treatment frequencies. In conclusion, this study highlights the urgent need for integrated and pragmatic interventions. These should combine strengthened control of informal channels, awareness campaigns aimed at transforming knowledge into safe behaviors, and increased support for agroecological alternatives to promote sustainable market gardening in Kinshasa.

Local Perceptions of the Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Typha domingensis (Pers.) in the Sahelian Agro-Systems of Niger

Adamou Moumouni Bourahima — 2026-04-06

The uncontrolled proliferation of Typha domingensis in the wetlands of Niger poses a major challenge. It disrupts the habits of local communities by altering their way of life and causes damage to their environment. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of contributing to providing some answers regarding the real impact of this species on the life of communities and on the environment on the one hand, and on the other hand, of clearly determining the opportunities it offers. It covered two sites more than 1000 km apart along the country's Sahelian agro-ecological zone and 392 vegetable and/or rice farmers out of a total of 1009 producers. The methodological approach adopted was based on individual surveys combined with village general assemblies and interviews with agents from state technical services. The results show that Typha domingensis was first observed in the 1970s in southeastern Niger (Zinder region), while in the west of the country, it only appeared in the 1980s. The majority of respondents (73.2%) attributed its appearance to natural causes, while others (26%) favored supernatural ones. The remaining 0.8% believed it was introduced by humans. All respondents agree that the presence of Typha domingensis has significant negative impacts on agricultural production, fishing, and livestock farming. In addition to these drawbacks, the results also show that Typha domingensis is used in "construction and housing development" (88.1%), "human and animal food" (78.81%), "crafts" (7.3%), and "health" (0.3%). Regarding control techniques used to contain and/or eradicate Typha domingensis from wetland ecosystems, weed cutting remains the primary method. Although utilizing Typha as a source of biomass or biomaterials for construction or crafts is not in itself a method of species control, it can nevertheless contribute to its management by reducing the cost of certain operations and generating additional income.

Influence of Applied Nitrogen on Soil Water, Soil Nitrate (NO3-) Concentration and Crop Yields in a Potato Field in the Saïs Plain

Chaimae Nessah — 2026-04-06

Nitrate (NO₃⁻) leaching is a growing global environmental concern, particularly in intensively cultivated regions. The Saïss Plain, a major agricultural area in Morocco, has experienced increased nonpoint-source pollution due to excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer use. A field experiment was conducted at the Douyet experimental station to assess the short-term effects of different N application rates on soil water content (SWC), soil nitrate (NO₃–N) dynamics, and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber yield within the 0–100 cm soil profile under irrigated conditions during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications and six N fertilizer rates (0, 90, 135, 180, 225, and 275 kg N ha⁻¹). Soil samples were collected from five depth intervals (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80, and 80–100 cm). Nitrogen rates did not significantly affect SWC at any soil depth in either season. However, soil water dynamics were strongly influenced by irrigation, particularly in the 0–20 cm layer, where SWC decreased before irrigation and increased significantly afterward. In 2021, only slight temporal variations in soil NO₃–N concentrations were observed among N treatments. In contrast, in 2022, NO₃–N distribution across the 0–100 cm profile showed notable month-to-month variability, with higher nitrate levels occurring at specific crop growth stages depending on N rates. Nitrogen application rates significantly influenced potato tuber yield. These results suggest that optimizing N supply to match crop demand, adopting split N applications, and improving irrigation management (e.g., drip irrigation and uniform water distribution) can enhance potato productivity while reducing nitrate accumulation and potential leaching risks.