INVENTORY OF PHYTOSANITARY CONSTRAINTS AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS ENCOUNTERED IN PAPAYA CULTIVATION IN THE NIAYES AREA (SENEGAL)

Fruit growing faces several obstacles. Phytosanitary constraints are at the top of the list. Papaya growing in the Niayes area is no exception to the rule. This study aims to draw up an inventory of the phytosanitary constraints affecting papaya and the products used for chemical control of this crop in the Niayes area. Fifty (50) farms were visited, and a list was drawn up of the pests encountered, namely insects, arachnids, nematodes, diseases, and the active ingredients most commonly used. The survey showed that mealybugs were the most common insect pests and that red spider mites were the most common arachnid pests. Fungal and viral diseases were predominant, with trunk/collar rot and papaya ringspot virus. Thirty (30) active ingredients were listed for phytosanitary treatments. A total of forty-seven (47) synthetic pesticides were found. Of these, only fifteen (15) appeared on the list of products approved by the Sahelian Pesticides Committee. Carbofuran, which is a prohibited active ingredient, was used by 28% of the growers we met. Mancozeb, Thiofanate methyl, and Zineb, which are among the most widely used fungicides, have been banned in Europe.To our knowledge, this is the first article to deal with the issue in Senegal.