Perception of Agroecological Practices Among Smallholder Farmers: Opportunities, Influencing Factors, and Barriers in Senegal

Saboury Ndiaye (), Landing Diedhiou, Mamadou Ndiaye, Jean-Pierre Sarthou, Philomene Agueno Sambou, Mame Dior Pouye, Dibor Diouf, Mamadou Ndao and Thierno Abdoucadry Diallo
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Saboury Ndiaye: Laboratoire d’Agroforesterie et d’Ecologie, Département d’Agroforesterie, Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor (UASZ), Ziguinchor BP 523, Senegal
Landing Diedhiou: Laboratoire d’Agroforesterie et d’Ecologie, Département d’Agroforesterie, Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor (UASZ), Ziguinchor BP 523, Senegal
Mamadou Ndiaye: Institut Supérieur de Formation Agricole et Rurale, Université Alioune Diop de Bambey (UADB), Bambey BP 21400, Senegal
Jean-Pierre Sarthou: UMR CRBE, AgroToulouse INP, Université de Toulouse, 31326 Toulouse, France
Philomene Agueno Sambou: Laboratoire de Sociologie, d’Anthropologie et de Psychologie, Département de Sociologie, Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Dakar BP 5005, Senegal
Mame Dior Pouye: Laboratoire d’Agroforesterie et d’Ecologie, Département d’Agroforesterie, Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor (UASZ), Ziguinchor BP 523, Senegal
Dibor Diouf: Laboratoire d’Agroforesterie et d’Ecologie, Département d’Agroforesterie, Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor (UASZ), Ziguinchor BP 523, Senegal
Mamadou Ndao: Laboratoire d’Agroforesterie et d’Ecologie, Département d’Agroforesterie, Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor (UASZ), Ziguinchor BP 523, Senegal
Thierno Abdoucadry Diallo: Laboratoire d’Agroforesterie et d’Ecologie, Département d’Agroforesterie, Université Assane Seck de Ziguinchor (UASZ), Ziguinchor BP 523, Senegal

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: Market gardening plays a central role in food security and improving household income in Ziguinchor, Senegal. Faced with growing environmental and socio-economic challenges, agroecology emerges as a sustainable pathway for strengthening this agro-economic activity. This study evaluates the adoption of agroecological practices by urban and peri-urban market gardeners, identifying influencing factors and constraints. A survey of 300 farmers was conducted in Ziguinchor, and data were analyzed using Excel. Relative Importance Index (RII), Weighted Average Index (WAI), and Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) ranked the most used practices, influencing factors, and adoption barriers. Results show that 79.67% of respondents were women, mostly over 45, with secondary education. Most of market gardeners consider this activity main source of income, and have been doing so for more than 10 years. Common agroecological practices include: removing weeds and diseased plants, organic fertilization, watering, crop rotation, and recommended fertilizer application, with relative importance indices of 0.75, 0.75, 0.72, 0.73, and 0.62, respectively. Key constraints include the lack of labor (PCI = 789), lack of information and training (PCI = 597), high cost of improved seeds (PCI = 549), and limited access to organic fertilizer (PCI = 538). Reinforcing extension services, capacity building, and both technical and financial support is essential to promote agroecological practices.

Keywords: agroecological practices; adoption; obstacles; enabling factors; market gardeners (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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