ISSN 2456-2653
Contact us
Social Science and Humanities Journal
ISSN 2456-2653
Submit Paper
server-injected
ArticlesOpen Access

Market gardening operations in the Solomougou irrigated area (Côte d’Ivoire): adoption of agroecological practices and perception of innovations

,
DOI: 10.18535/sshj.v9i09.2045· Pages: 9107-9123· Vol. 9, No. 09, (2025)· Published: September 25, 2025
PDF
Views: 414 PDF downloads: 227

Abstract

Context: The adoption of innovative agricultural practices is promoted as a way to improve the living conditions of rural communities. Objective: This study assesses the contribution and understanding of agroecological practices on market garden farms in the Solomougou irrigated area in the Korhogo department. Methods: A quantitative approach was implemented on a sample of 203 female producers surveyed in 10 villages, and a qualitative approach through three focus groups was used to understand the perceptions of users of the area. A binary logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of the adoption of agroecological practices.

 

Results: The female producers, mostly aged 31 to 50, have a low level of education (75.37%), and 79.31% have more than 10 years of experience. Yields are higher for farms undergoing ecological transition (4.41 T/ha) than those using conventional practices (3.8 T/ha) for the combined production of eggplant, pepper and okra. The adoption of agroecological practices is significantly influenced by the size of the workforce, the level of education, and the farming system used. While some recognize its environmental benefits and its propensity for resilience, concerns remain regarding the often unpredictable yields and increased workload.

 

Conclusion: Ultimately, the irrigated area brings greater productivity to female producers undergoing agroecological transition. While the exploitation of this new production environment has strengthened women's empowerment, it has also increased their social responsibilities through increased workload, thus hindering their overall emancipation.

 

Keywords

AgroecologyMarket gardeningIrrigationAdoptionPerceptionKorhogoIvory Coast

References

  1. Akchaya K., Parasuraman P., Pandian K., Vijayakumar S., Thirukumaran K., Mustaffa M. R. A. F., Rajpoot S. K.  Choudhary A. K. (2025). Améliorer l’efficacité de l’utilisation des ressources, la fertilité des sols, la sécurité alimentaire, les services écosystémiques et la résilience climatique grâce à la culture intercalaire de légumineuses : une revue. Front. Sustain. Food Syst., http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1527256DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  2. Altieri A. M.  Nicholls C. I. (2005). Agroecology and the Search for a Truly Sustainable Agriculture, 1st edition. United Nations Environment Programme, 291 pages. http://www.agroeco.org/doc/agroecology-engl-PNUMA.pdfGoogle Scholar ↗
  3. ARAA (2025). Étude de capitalisation transversale du Programme Agro écologie en Afrique de l'Ouest (PAE). Rapports thématiques, 111 p. [2025] Etude de capitalisation transversale du PAE - Rapports thématiques FR.pdfGoogle Scholar ↗
  4. Ballé S. G. R, Ahoure A. A & Ouattara A. (2018). Socio economic characterization and sustainability of artisanal fishing in Grand-Lahou lagoon (Côte d’Ivoire). The Social Sciences, 13 (11) : 1516-1526. Socio Economic Characterization and Sustainability of Artisanal Fishing in Grand Lahou Lagoon (Cote d’Ivoire)Google Scholar ↗
  5. Ballé S. G. R. (2019). Dynamique de la pêche artisanale en lagune de grand-Lahou (Côte d’Ivoire) : Effort de pêche, aspects socio-économiques et durabilité, « Thèse » en Sciences et Gestion de l’Environnement, Université Nangui Abrogoua (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire), 191pages.Google Scholar ↗
  6. Ghali M., Jaballah, M. B., Arfa N. B.  Sigwalt A. (2022). Analysis of factors that influence adoption of agroecological practices in viticulture. Review of Agricultural, Food and Environment Studies, 103 :179-209Google Scholar ↗
  7. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s41130-022-00171-5.pdfDOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  8. Carr E. R.  Thompson M. C. (2014). Gender and climate change adaptation in agrarian settings: Current thinking, new directions, and research frontiers. Geography Compass, 8(3): 182–197.Google Scholar ↗
  9. https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12121DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  10. Chalico T. A.  Riegelhaupt E. M. (2002). Guide pour les enquêtes sur la demande, l'offre et l'approvisionnement en combustibles ligneux: Programme de partenariat Commission Européenne FAO (2000-2002). FAO, Rome, 80 pages.Google Scholar ↗
  11. https://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y3779E/Y3779E00.HTMGoogle Scholar ↗
  12. Coulibaly A., motelica H. M.  Hien E. (2019). Determinants of Agroecological Practices Adoption in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone. Journal of Environmental Protection, 2019, 10, 900-918. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2019.107053DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  13. D'Souza G.  Ikerd J. (2015). Small farms and sustainable development: Is small more sustainable? Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 28(1):73-83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1074070800009470DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  14. Darnhofer I., Schneeberger J.  Penker P. (2010). Exploring the diversity of farmers' adaptation strategies to climate change: an analytical framework and an application to Austrian organic farmers. Agricultural Systems, 103 (2) : 82-91.Google Scholar ↗
  15. https://doi.org/10.1051/agro/2009053DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  16. Dhehibi S. (2017). Droits de propriété et adoption de l'agro écologie dans la zone cotonnière du Bénin : étude de cas de la commune de Kandi. Mémoire Master 2, CIHEAM Montpellier, 81 pages. Droits de propriété et adoption de l'agroécologie ... Catalogue en ligneGoogle Scholar ↗
  17. Doss C., Meinzen-Dick R., Quisumbing A.  Theis S. (2018). Women in agriculture: Four myths. Global Food Security, 16:69–74.Google Scholar ↗
  18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gfs.2017.10.001DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  19. Francis H. M., Stevenson R. J., Chambers J. R., Gupta D., Newey B.  Lim C. K. (2019). A brief diet intervention can reduce symptoms of depression in young adults–A randomised controlled trial. PLoS ONE, 14(10) : 721-799.Google Scholar ↗
  20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222768DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  21. Hosmer D. W., Lemeshow S.  Sturdivant R. X. (2013). Applied Logistic Regression. Wiley, New Jersey528 pages.Google Scholar ↗
  22. Hosmer, D.W., Lemeshow, S. et Sturdivant, R.X. (2013) Régression logistique appliquée. 3e édition, Wiley. - Références - Publication de recherche scientifiqueGoogle Scholar ↗
  23. Kassie M., Tekalign L.  Solomon S. (2015). Agricultural technology adoption and impact on household food security: a synthesis of evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Food Security, 7 :589-601.Google Scholar ↗
  24. https://ideas.repec.org/s/ags/iaae15.htmlGoogle Scholar ↗
  25. Kouadio K., Kouamé N. J.,  N'Guessan A. (2017). Etude de la productivité rizicole dans les systèmes irrigués de la Côte d'Ivoire. Agronomie Africaine, 29(3) : 215-227.Google Scholar ↗
  26. Kpadenou C C., Tama C., Dado T. B.  Yabi J. A. (2019). Déterminants socio-économiques de l’adoption des pratiques agro écologiques en production maraîchère dans la vallée du Niger au Bénin. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci., 13 (7): 3103-3118.Google Scholar ↗
  27. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v10i2.27DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  28. Lemeilleur S.  Sermage J. (2020). Building a knowledge commons: Evidence from the participatory guarantee system for an agroecological label in Morocco. International Journal of the commons, 14(1): 465-480.Google Scholar ↗
  29. https://agritrop.cirad.fr/596679/1/Lemeilleur%20et%20Sermage%202020%20IJC.pdfGoogle Scholar ↗
  30. Maré T. F., Zahonogo P.  Savadogo K. (2023). L’éducation des agriculteurs et l’adoption d’une agriculture durable et sans pesticides chimiques: données probantes du Burkina Faso rural, Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, 15(2) : 404-425.Google Scholar ↗
  31. https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-04-2023-0077DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  32. Marenya P.  Barrett C. B. (2007). Household-level analysis of the adoption of improved maize varieties in Central Kenya. Food Policy, 32, 515-536.Google Scholar ↗
  33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2006.10.002DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  34. Moore G. C.  Benbasat I. (1991). Development of an Instrument to Measure the Perceptions of Adopting an Information Technology Innovation, Information Systems Research, Volume 2, pp. 192-222.Google Scholar ↗
  35. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers%3Freferenceid%3D1691926&ved=2ahUKEwjijpGF7PSOAxVvWkEAHXg8H58QFnoECAkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2VrYtcL_s1tUT9GDowNXUxGoogle Scholar ↗
  36. Ngome E., Jager T.  Waal J. (2011). Adoption of conservation agriculture in Western Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 15 (6) : 3676-3683.Google Scholar ↗
  37. Nikiema P. M. E. (2022). Evaluation de méthodes d’échantillonnage spatialisées avec l’outil AquaCrop pour l’estimation des rendements du blé d’hiver en Belgique : Cas de la Région limoneuse. Mémoire de master, Liège Université Sciences, 74 pages.Google Scholar ↗
  38. http://hdl.handle.net/2268.2/15867Google Scholar ↗
  39. Ouédraogo S., Benmarhnia T., Bonnet E., Somé P. A., Barro A. S., Kafando Y.  Koné B. (2018). Evaluation of effectiveness of a community-based intervention for control of dengue virus vector, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 24(10), 1859-1867. http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2410.180069DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  40. Oula P. Q., Martin T., Fondio L., Koné D., Djézou W. B.  Parrot L. (2021). Les déterminants de l’usage inadapté des produits phytophamarceutiques en maraichage de contre saison en Côte d’Ivoire. In : 14ème Journées de recherches en sciences scociales. INRAE, SFER, CIRAD. Clermond-Ferrand, France.: SFER, 1-15.Google Scholar ↗
  41. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://agritrop.cirad.fr/599645/&ved=2ahUKEwjY3e-R59-PAxXhXUEAHVsdDT4QFnoECCcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3Jcdn_vVxUkFnBo5tLIwYyGoogle Scholar ↗
  42. Pretty J.  Bharucha, Z. P. (2015). Integrated pest management for sustainable intensification of agriculture in Asia and Africa. Insects, 6(1) :152-182. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects6010152DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  43. Pretty J., Noble A. D., Bossio D., Dixon J., Hine R. E., Penning de Vries F. W  Morison J. (2006). Resource-conserving agriculture increases yields in developing countries. Environmental Science & Technology, 40(4):1114-1119. DOI: 10.1021/es051670dDOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  44. Prosperi P., Leclère M., Leadley P., Smith P.  Salles J. M. (2020). Factors influencing the adoption of sustainable farming practices: a review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 40 (4) : 32.Google Scholar ↗
  45. Rogers E. (1995). Diffusion of innovation, Free Press, New York, 4th edition, 447p.Google Scholar ↗
  46. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://teddykw2.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/everett-m-rogers-diffusion-of innovations.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwijneL07vSOAxVtQkEAHRPYOdIQFnoECAkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3NYB0CAj1BlGacLxjbfccfGoogle Scholar ↗
  47. Rogers E. M. (2003). Diffusion of Innovations (5th ed.). Free Press, New York, 576 pages. Rogers, M.E. (2003) Diffusion des innovations. 5e édition, Free Pass, New York. - Références - Publication de recherche scientifiqueGoogle Scholar ↗
  48. Rosset P. M.  Martínez T. M. E. (2012). Rural social movements and agroecology: context, theory, and process. Ecology and Society, 17(3), 17-32.Google Scholar ↗
  49. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-05000-170317DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  50. Sinyangwe S., Mkandawire R., Mwamakamba S.  Madzivhandila T. P. (2023). Opportunities and Challenges for the Promotion of Transitions to Agroecological Practices for Sustainable Food Production in Sub-Sahara Africa. Review paper, 29 p.Google Scholar ↗
  51. http://dx.doi.org/10.20944/preprints202305.0009.v1DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  52. Soro G. C. L. (2024). Insertion professionnelle des jeunes en milieu rural : enjeux et perspectives (cas de la région du Poro au Nord de la Côte D'ivoire). Mémoire de Master, MIFAR, 50 pages. SORO_MIFAR_2025.pdfGoogle Scholar ↗
  53. Sultan B., Lalou R., Kergoat L., Gastineau B.  Vischel T. (2021). Changements climatiques et agriculture : impacts et adaptation en afrique de l'ouest. In : Cohen M. et Giusti C. (Eds) : Milieux extrêmes et critiques face au changement climatique : climats, territoires, environnement. Sorbonne Université Presses, Paris. pp 139-154.Google Scholar ↗
  54. Changements climatiques et agriculture : impacts et adaptation en Afrique de l'OuestGoogle Scholar ↗
  55. Tapsoba P. K., Augustin K. N., Aoudji L., Kaboré M., Kestemont M., Legay C.  Enoch G. A. (2020). Contexte sociotechnique et transition agroécologique pour les petites exploitations agricoles au Bénin et au Burkina Faso. Agronomy, 10 (9) :1447.Google Scholar ↗
  56. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://agris.fao.org/search/en/providers/122535/records/65de56370f3e94b9e5cdb754&ved=2ahUKEwit6IKQ7t-PAxW1VEEAHW63KjIQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3o-zXVxu7W2YWec6JHiLKFGoogle Scholar ↗
  57. Trabelsi M. (2017). Comment mesurer la performance agro écologique d’une exploitation agricole pour l’accompagner dans son processus de transition ? Thèse pour obtenir le grade de docteur, 373 pages. Comment mesurer la performance agroécologique d'une exploitation agricole pour l'accompagner dans son processus de transition? | Theses.frGoogle Scholar ↗
  58. Tlili W. (2015). L'emploi de la main d'œuvre féminine salariale agricole et son effet sur la production agricole et sur la vie de la femme rurale dans la région de Sidi Bouzid. Mémoire Master, CIHEAM Montpellier, 64 pGoogle Scholar ↗
  59. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/ress_doc/opac_css/index.php%3Flvl%3Dnotice_display%26id%3D36173&ved=2ahUKEwj7ud7J9N-PAxXDQkEAHfhnC4UQFnoECBoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0FZtg14pi9bW0q80rKkJMqGoogle Scholar ↗
  60. Traore A. J. F. (2022). Analyse socioéconomique de la chaine de valeur des cultures maraichères dans la zone de Korhogo. Mémoire Master Professionnel, Institut de Gestion Agropastorale (IGA), Université Peleforo GON COULIBALY (Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire), Korhogo, 69 p. https://agritrop.cirad.fr/604171/1/Traoré%20-%202022%20-%20Analyse%20socioéconomique%20de%20la%20chaîne%20de%20valeur%20des%20cultures%20maraîchères%20dans%20la%20zone%20de%20Korhogo.pdfGoogle Scholar ↗
  61. UN Women (2021). Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot, 35p. Progress-on-the-Sustainable-Development-Goals-The-gender-snapshot-2021-fr.pdfGoogle Scholar ↗
  62. Verhofstadt B.  Maertens M. (2014). Can agricultural cooperatives improve food security? Evidence from Senegal. Food Policy, 44 :102-111Google Scholar ↗
  63. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/164803/&ved=2ahUKEwjt6_KQ9t-PAxWIQEEAHdueFWgQFnoECCwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0ou_Y1D7nzchhCZxP3Cp1oGoogle Scholar ↗
  64. Vodounou, G. (2025). L'Agroécologie au cœur du développement durable en Afrique Subsaharienne.Google Scholar ↗
  65. Site : L’Agroécologie au cœur du développement durable en Afrique SubsaharienneGoogle Scholar ↗
  66. Wezel A., Herren B. G., Bezner Kerr R., Barrios E., Gonçalves A. L. R.  Sinclair F. (2020). Agroecological principles and elements and their implications for transitioning to sustainable food systems. Agronomy for Sustainable Development.Google Scholar ↗
  67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-020-00646-zDOI ↗Google Scholar ↗
  68. Wibowo D., Rahman A.  Saleh B. (2017). The role of government subsidies in promoting sustainable agriculture: A case study of organic farming in Indonesia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 149 :844-852Google Scholar ↗
Author details
Dr Ségbé Guy Romaric BALLE
Peleforo GON COULIBALY University of Korhogo / Côte d’Ivoire
✉ Corresponding Author
👤 View Profile →
Dr Guy Eric Anicet Quassy Kouakou
Peleforo GON COULIBALY University of Korhogo / Côte d’Ivoire
👤 View Profile →