Factors affecting smallholder'oil palm production in the Wester Highlands of Cameroon. - (:unkn) unknown
A disease survey was carried out in three oil palm producing villages in the North West Province 01Cameroon in 2002. Observations were also made on all the palm trees producing rotten bunches or lacing any other disturbance. Field measurement and observations were essentially focused on climatic conditions, planting materials used, the vegetative development 01 palms, the cultural practices, the yield parameters and the sanitary status. Climatic conditions, cultural practices and the planting material were found to be limiting factors same as the type 01 seedlings used. The vegetative and yield parameter values 01 the palms were low compared to those reported for the existing improved tenera. The low yield and bunch failure were due to the quality 01 planting material. The planting material was essentially made 01 seedlings picked under natural palms or improved tenera. So it was found that 52 per cent 01 the plants were tenera while 22 per cent were pisifera and 26 per cent dura. The planting density was high (160-200). Vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.s. elaeidis was the most significant fungal disease observed in most 01 the fields, with an average incidence 01 about 30 per cent. It was also responsible for bunch failure in dura and tenera palms whereas bunch abortion on pisifera palms is a natural phenomenon. A brief economic analysis showed that smallholder's loss was about US
A disease survey was carried out in three oil palm producing villages in the North West Province 01Cameroon in 2002. Observations were also made on all the palm trees producing rotten bunches or lacing any other disturbance. Field measurement and observations were essentially focused on climatic conditions, planting materials used, the vegetative development 01 palms, the cultural practices, the yield parameters and the sanitary status. Climatic conditions, cultural practices and the planting material were found to be limiting factors same as the type 01 seedlings used. The vegetative and yield parameter values 01 the palms were low compared to those reported for the existing improved tenera. The low yield and bunch failure were due to the quality 01 planting material. The planting material was essentially made 01 seedlings picked under natural palms or improved tenera. So it was found that 52 per cent 01 the plants were tenera while 22 per cent were pisifera and 26 per cent dura. The planting density was high (160-200). Vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.s. elaeidis was the most significant fungal disease observed in most 01 the fields, with an average incidence 01 about 30 per cent. It was also responsible for bunch failure in dura and tenera palms whereas bunch abortion on pisifera palms is a natural phenomenon. A brief economic analysis showed that smallholder's loss was about US
Keywords: Clima.; Enfermedades de las plantas.; Explotación en pequeña escala; Marchitez vascular; Palma de aceite