Cette étude propose des voies damélioration de lalimentation de la pintade locale à laide de ressources alimentaires non-conventionnelles au Bénin. La première partie de ce travail fait le point sur lutilisation des ressources alimentaires non-conventionnelles et particulièrement des graines de Mucuna spp. dans lalimentation de la volaille. Elle envisage le contexte de leur utilisation, leurs valeurs nutritionnelles ainsi que les contraintes liées à leur valorisation avant denvisager les effets des diverses techniques de traitement sur la réduction des teneurs en diverses substances toxiques et sur leur composition chimique. La seconde partie porte sur létude des élevages traditionnels et les compare à une forme délevage contrôlé en station. Au Bénin, comme dans la plupart des pays au Sud du Sahara, lélevage traditionnel de la volaille est caractérisé par un système extensif peu productif et divaguant, où les animaux se nourrissent essentiellement sur les parcours. Ils disposent dabris sommaires et exigus et ne bénéficient ni de programmes de prophylaxie sanitaire ni dune alimentation adaptée. Toutefois, certains éleveurs distribuent en supplément des céréales ou dautres ressources non conventionnelles. Dans ces conditions, les performances pondérales des pintades ont été de 1121 ± 100 g à six mois dâge. En milieu contrôlé, cest-à-dire où les animaux étaient logés en permanence, nourris à laide dune provende formulée, séparés par sexe et vermifugés, le poids moyen à âge identique des mâles a été de 1151 ± 108 g contre 1085 ± 74 g pour celui des femelles. Dans les élevages traditionnels, les animaux vermifugés ont présenté une supériorité pondérale (1221 ± 107 g) par rapport au groupe non traité (1007 ± 31 g). Les performances de croissance des oiseaux élevés en milieu contrôlé nont pas été meilleures comparativement aux pintades du milieu rural, bien que les aliments utilisés en milieu contrôlé aient été conformes aux normes de la littérature. Létude des performances de reproduction dans le milieu rural et en milieu contrôlé situe lâge des femelles à la première ponte entre 7 et 9 mois avec un poids moyen de 1220 ± 97 g. Les pontes sont hivernales et les couvées sont réalisées dans 95,5 % des cas par les poules avec un nombre moyen de 14 ± 4 ufs incubés par poule et un taux global déclosion de 70 % pour une durée moyenne dincubation de 26 jours. La chute de la probabilité de survie a été la plus importante durant les 50 premiers jours de vie au cours desquels un taux de mortalité de près de 50 % a été observé. Malgré donc son importance économique, nutritionnelle et sociale, lélevage traditionnel de pintade au Bénin reste peu productif en raison de nombreuses contraintes incluant une forte mortalité juvénile, diverses pathologies, la prédation, le climat, le logement et une alimentation inadéquate. La troisième partie fait linventaire du régime alimentaire des animaux divaguant, par analyse du contenu de jabot. Elle a ainsi permis de préciser la composition de la ration journalière de ces animaux, y compris la complémentation reçue par les éleveurs afin doptimiser la production. Les ingrédients trouvés dans les jabots ont été identifiés et regroupés en six catégories principales à savoir : la supplémentation, les graines des végétaux de parcours, leurs feuilles, les produits animaux, les minéraux et les éléments non identifiés. La quantité et la proportion des suppléments et des graines des végétaux nétaient pas significativement différentes entre les saisons tandis que celles des feuilles de végétaux, des produits animaux et des minéraux étaient plus élevées au cours de la saison des pluies. Les suppléments, en occurrence le maïs et le sorgho, étaient les composants majoritaires au cours des deux saisons. Les graines de végétaux les plus consommés provenaient de Panicum maximum (saison des pluies) et de Rottboellia cochinchinensis (saison sèche). Les teneurs des contenus de jabot en matière organique, extractif non azoté, et en énergie métabolisable étaient plus élevées en saison sèche, par contre les concentrations des minéraux étaient plus élevées en saison pluvieuse. Aucune différence na été notée entre les deux saisons en termes de matière sèche, protéines brutes et en fibres brutes. Lidentification et la quantification des différents composants alimentaires, ainsi que la détermination de la composition chimique et de la valeur alimentaire des aliments ingérés par les pintades au cours de la divagation a mis en évidence des déficits structurels mais également conjoncturels liés aux variations saisonnières de la qualité, de la disponibilité ou de laccessibilité des aliments pendant certaines périodes de lannée. Des corrections adéquates pour améliorer la production de la pintade en milieu villageois ont ainsi pu être proposées. Les graines de mucuna, en raison de leur composition nutritive, ont été proposées comme élément de solution à ce problème. La quatrième étude a été réalisée afin dévaluer leffet de deux traitements de base (chaleur humide et chaleur sèche) sur la teneur des facteurs anti-nutritionnels, la composition chimique et la digestibilité des graines de mucuna. Les traitements thermiques ont amélioré les teneurs en protéines tandis que les taux de fibres brutes ont été réduits. Les teneurs en L-dopa, principal élément toxique de la graine de mucuna, ont augmenté en fonction du taux dincorporation de la graine. Une réduction significative de 52 % du taux de la L-Dopa a été constatée dans les graines bouillies par rapport à celles qui ont été toastées. Le traitement thermique a influencé significativement la digestibilité des nutriments, excepté celle de la matière grasse. Il en a été conclu que les graines de mucuna traitées adéquatement peuvent être utilisées pour nourrir la pintade. La cinquième étude a porté sur lutilisation des graines de mucuna et des feuilles et cossettes de manioc sur les performances de croissance et la qualité de la viande des pintades. Des effets dépressifs sur la croissance des pintades et une réduction drastique de la consommation alimentaire ont été notés dans les groupes recevant des graines de mucuna crues. Le poids moyen de la carcasse ainsi que les différents morceaux de la découpe ont été significativement plus faibles que dans le groupe témoin. Cependant, la production de viande a été similaire entre les groupes témoin et ceux ayant reçu la graine de mucuna bouillie. Une augmentation significative du poids du gésier a été observée dans les lots ayant reçu les aliments contenant le mucuna traité, ainsi quune réduction du poids moyen des foies des animaux recevant des graine de mucuna crues. Lincorporation des graines dans la ration na toutefois pas modifié la qualité de la viande, les valeurs de pH et de capacité de rétention deau ayant été similaires dans les 3 groupes. Les analyses des foies, des reins et des muscles nont pas révélé la présence de L-dopa. Par ailleurs, les performances enregistrées chez des animaux recevant des feuilles et cossettes de manioc ont été significativement plus faibles par rapport à celles observées dans le groupe témoin. Toutefois, aucune différence significative na été observée au niveau du poids des différents morceaux (blancs, ensemble cuisses-pilons, ailes) et du rendement de la carcasse, en fonction du lot. Aussi, la substitution du grain de maïs par les feuilles et les cossettes de manioc a permis de réduire le coût de production de la pintade. Ces ingrédients constituent aussi une opportunité pour réduire la concurrence entre lhomme et la volaille pour la consommation de maïs. En conclusion, cette étude a montré quil est possible dutiliser avec succès certaines ressources non-conventionnelles telles que le mucuna qui constitue une opportunité pour les pays pauvres et qui pourrait contribuer à lamélioration de lautosuffisance alimentaire à partir de ressources locales/This study suggests ways of improvement of local guinea fowl feeding by unconventional resources in Benin. The first part of this work reviews the use of unconventional feed resources, and particularly Mucuna spp. seeds, in poultry diets. This review focuses on the context of their use, their nutritional values as well as the constraints that hamper their upgrading before assessing the effects of various treatments on toxins levels and on chemical composition. The second part of this study concerns the village poultry production systems, when compared to improved poultry production in station. In Benin, as in most of the countries in the South of Sahara, the village poultry production is characterized by an extensive system, in which birds have to scavenge to find most of their feed. They live in cramped houses and dont benefit either from disease prevention programs or from adapted feeding systems. However, farmers provide cereal grains or some unconventional resources. In these conditions, guinea fowl weight at six months was 1121 ± 100 g. In improved rearing, i.e. where animals were bred in houses, received complete diet, were separated by sex and received veterinary care, the mean weights at the same age were 1151±108 g for males versus 1085 ± 74 g for females. In village chickens, birds that received vermifuge treatments were significantly heavier when compared to untreated ones (1221 ± 107 vs 1007 ± 31 g). Growth performances in improved conditions were similar to that obtained with the guinea fowls reared in village, although they received complete diets that were in accordance with guinea fowl requirements. In rural area and in station, the study on reproductive performance indicated the onset of the first laying between 7 and 9 months of age with a mean weight of 1220 ± 97 g. Eggs laying occurred in rainy season, and broods were performed at 95.5 % level by hens, the mean number of eggs brooded by hen being 14 ± 4, with 70% hatching rate for 26 days of incubation duration. The decrease of cumulative survival probability was marked during the first 50 days of live during which a mortality rate of about 50 % was observed. In spite of its economic, nutritional and social importance, guinea fowl productivity in village area in Benin remains weak because of numerous constraints including keet mortality, diseases, predation, climate, housing and low feed supply. The third part of the work studies scavenging guinea fowls crop contents, i.e., ingredients naturally found by the animals on the ground and supplement offered by the farmers. Ingredients found in crops were identified and divided in six main categories including supplemental feed, seeds, green forages, animal materials, minerals and unidentified material. Amounts and proportions of supplemental feed and seeds were not significantly different between seasons, whereas those of green forage, animal materials and mineral matter were higher in rainy season. Supplemental feed, especially maize and sorghum, was the largest component of the crop content in both seasons. The most represented grass seeds were Panicum maximum (rainy season) and Rottboellia cochinchinensis (dry season). Dietary concentrations of organic matter, non-nitrogen extract and metabolisable energy were higher in the dry season, while mineral concentrations were higher in the rainy season. There were no significant differences between the two seasons in dry matter, crude protein or crude fibre. The identification and quantification of various feed ingredients, as well as the determination of chemical composition and nutritive value of ingredients ingested by scavenging guinea fowl allowed highlighting the structural and short-term deficiencies due to seasonal variations of diets quality and availability during the year. Adequate corrections to improve guinea fowl production in village area were so able to be proposed. Mucuna seeds could solve this problem because of its leguminous-type feed value. The fourth study was carried out to evaluate the effects of two basic treatments (cooking and toasting) on anti-nutrients factor contents, chemical composition and digestibility of mucuna seeds. Heat treatments improved proteins content whereas that of crude fibre was reduced. Contents of L-dopa, the main anti-nutritional factor in mucuna seeds, increased according to seed level incorporation. L-dopa content was significantly reduced by 52 % in cooked seeds while toasting had no effect. Heat treatment improved significantly seed nutrients digestibility excepted that of the ether extract. It was concluded that when mucuna seed is adequately treated, it could be used in guinea fowl diet. The fifth study concerned the effects of mucuna seeds and cassava leafs and cossets on guinea fowl growth and meat quality. Crude mucuna seeds had depressive effects on guinea fowl growth and feed intake. Mean carcass and cut-parts weights were significantly lower in control group. However, meat yield was similar between control and cooked seeds groups. The gizzard weights were significantly increased in processed seeds diets groups and liver weight reduction was noticed in birds fed on raw Mucuna seed. Mucuna seed did not alter meat quality as assessed by the pH and water holding capacity measurements. L-Dopa analyses in liver, kidneys and breast muscle did not reveal the presence of any tissue residues. Furthermore, growth performances recorded in birds receiving cassava leaves and cossets were significantly lower when compared to the control group. However, no difference was observed in cut-parts (breasts, thigh-drumsticks, wings) and in carcass yield between groups. So, maize substitution by cassava leaves and cossets allowed reducing feed cost. It can be then suggested that those feeds allow reducing competition for maize consumption between human and poultry. In conclusion, it is possible to successfully use unconventional feed resources such as mucuna seeds which are an opportunity for developing country and could contribute to improve food security with local resources.

Objective: To identify the magnitude of anaemia and deficiencies of Fe (ID) and vitamin A (VAD) and their associated factors among rural women and children. Design: Cross-sectional, comprising a household, health and nutrition survey and determination of Hb, biochemical (serum concentrations of ferritin, retinol, C-reactive protein and alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein) and anthropometric parameters. Multivariate logistic regression examined associations of various factors with anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies. Setting: Kalale district, northern Benin. Subjects: Mother-child pairs (n 767): non-pregnant women of reproductive age (15-49 years) and children 6-59 months old. Results: In women, the overall prevalence of anaemia, ID, Fe-deficiency anaemia (IDA) and VAD was 47.7, 18.3, 11.3 and 17.7%, respectively. A similar pattern for anaemia (82.4 %), ID (23.6%) and IDA (21.2%) was observed among children, while VAD was greater at 33. 6%. Greater risk of anaemia, ID and VAD was found for low maternal education, maternal farming activity, maternal health status, low food diversity, lack of fruits and vegetables consumption, low protein foods consumption, high infection, anthropometric deficits, large family size, poor sanitary conditions and low socio-economic status. Strong differences were also observed by ethnicity, women's group participation and source of information. Finally, age had a significant effect in children, with those aged 6-23 months having the highest risk for anaemia and those aged 12-23 months at risk for ID and IDA. Conclusions: Anaemia, ID and VAD were high among rural women and their children in northern Benin, although ID accounted for a small proportion of anaemia. Multicentre studies in various parts of the country are needed to substantiate the present results, so that appropriate and beneficial strategies for micronutrient supplementation and interventions to improve food diversity and quality can be planned.

Zugl.: Köln, Univ., Diss., 2006

This thesis presents the findings of a small-scale, qualitative study of attitudes toward AIDS and AIDS education campaigns in the village of Sota in central Benin. Through a language ideology framework, this study reviews the overlap and disparity between AIDS discourse and other systems of meaning in Sota, particularly rumors and religious beliefs. The portrait that emerges from this analysis of the social construction of AIDS by multiple discourses suggests that the impact of AIDS education may be limited only in part because the intended recipients fail to understand the information being provided. More importantly, the context and underlying assumptions of educational presentations about HIV/AIDS are not formulated in ways that are compatible with, or directly meaningful to, lived experience.

Zugl.: Berlin, Freie Univ., Diss., 2004

"Mémoire de maitrise"--Université nationale du Bénin, 1991. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [40]-43).

In this thesis I explore human-animal relations amongst the Bebelibe of the Commune of Cobly, in the northwest of the Republic of Benin, West Africa, with a focus on how they relate to their tikedimɔmɔnte (true totem(s), literally “interdict(s)-true”). I start with an historical review of totemism, the debates it generated and how these contributed to the recent ontological turn in anthropology. I then explore the theoretical ideas I use for my analysis, which include “presencing” and the “ontological penumbra” (J. Merz 2017b; J. Merz and S. Merz 2017). Presencing builds on semiotics by explaining how people make meaning present through their engagement in and with the world around them, whilst ontological penumbras are the shadowy spaces of limbo that affect our whole being and that people need to negotiate as part of making sense of their engagement with the world. As part of these theoretical frameworks, I examine the “onton”, as introduced by Johannes Merz (2017b). Ontons are experiential, agentive and relational entities that are the result of presencing processes. Ontons, however, cannot be divided into representations (signifiers) and represented (signified) as signs can. An engagement in the world between different entities in an ontonic and thus nonrepresentational sense necessitates my introducing further notions including shared “ontonity” (instead of shared humanity) and “ontonhood” (rather than personhood). I demonstrate how these theoretical ideas work with reference to human-animal relations primarily amongst the Bebelibe in the Commune of Cobly. In order to do this, I provide an in-depth, “thick description” (Geertz 1973) ethnography that explores how people perceive and relate to animals through hunting, domestication, attitudes to eating meat, animal commodification, reincarnation, shapeshifting and totemism. As part of my analysis I also examine the impact of Christianity on human-animal relations by exploring several incidents involving Christians and their tikedimɔmɔnte.

A la quête de meilleures conditions de vie, les citadins se sont souvent approprié les technologies de l'information et de la communication (TIC). Ces TIC ont atteint aujourd’hui le milieu rural et il est utile de s’intéresser aux transformations structurelles qu’elles apportent en milieu agricole. Cette quête d’information est au centre de la curiosité qui fonde la conduite de cette recherche. L'imaginaire collectif semble considérer le milieu rural comme l'espace du chaos où la pénibilité déconstruit l'ambition du progrès. A l'ère de l'expansion technologique, nous nous interrogeons sur les transformations organisationnelles induites par l'intégration et l'usage des technologies par le citoyen vivant en milieu agricole. Le travail de la terre est certes sa première activité, mais en quoi est-ce que l'exploitation des technologies mobiles manipulables à distance lui facilite l’activité agricole et la relation avec la clientèle ? Les facilités de transformations structurelles attribuées à l'implémentation des technologies en milieu agricole sont-elles effectives ? Si Oui, induisent-elles des améliorations de conditions de vie ? Pour dissiper nos doutes, nous avons revisité les travaux réalisés en sciences de l'information et de la communication, en sciences agronomiques, en télécommunications et en sciences de l’ingénierie. Les constats sont inéluctables et confirment la disparité de vie entre le milieu agricole et celui citadin. Nous n’avons pas pensé le contraire mais nous nous sommes dit que les fossés ne sont pas aussi profonds aujourd’hui que par le passé. L'usage du téléphone mobile est basique au sein des enquêtés de notre milieu d'étude. Nous nous sommes spécifiquement intéressé aux acteurs en charge de la production et de la vente de l'ananas frais. Deux tiers des producteurs d'ananas interrogés par l'enquête de terrain utilisent le téléphone pour annoncer la disponibilité du produit, mais le bouche à oreille reste le moyen le plus utilisé pour la publicité. Lesdits téléphones et autres équipements mobiles n'interviennent donc presque ni pour collecter les informations culturales ni pour le transfert financier. Les technologies de maîtrise d'eau dans les espaces cultivés et les machines agricoles sont encore très peu accessibles. La main-d'œuvre locale est de ce fait fortement sollicitée. Les conditions de travail se révèlent alors assez difficiles en général. L'internet et les réseaux sociaux sont encore un luxe. Malgré la moyenne de cinq personnes à charge, ils s’assurent les trois repas quotidiens. La production d'ananas est faite par la plupart des enquêtés, en complément d'autres activités. / In search of better living conditions, city dwellers almost use information and communication technologies. What about the situation in rural areas? It is an interrogation that has nourished the curiosity that underlies the conduct of this research. The collective imagination most of the time considers the rural environment like a space of chaos, where the penury destroys progress ambitions. In this age of technological expansion, we wonder about the changes brought by the integration and use of technologies in the life of the citizens living in agricultural areas. Farming is indeed their first occupation, but does the use of the mobile handling technologies makes the labour conditions easier? Are the structural transformation facilities attributed to the implementation of agricultural technologies effective? If so, do they induce improvements in living conditions and limit the mass exodus to urban areas, seeking betterment? To alleviate our doubts, we revisited studies existing in information and communication sciences, agronomics and telecommunications. The results are inescapable and confirmed the disparity of lifestyle between agricultural and urban environment. The use of the mobile phone is basic within the surveys of our study environment. We are particularly interested in the actors in charge of the production and sale of fresh pineapples. Two third of pineapple producers interviewed while conducting our field investigations, use the phone to announce the availability of the product, but mouth to mouth remains the most used medium for advertising. Television, telephones and other mobile equipments do not intervene neither in the collection of the agricultutal related informations nor for the financial transfer. The technologies to control water in the fields and agricultural machinery are still very inaccessible. As a result, the local labor force is heavily involved. Working conditions are generally rather difficult. Internet and social networks are still a luxury. Despite the average of five dependents, they make three daily meals. Pineapple production is made by most of the concerned, in addition to other activities.

Please read the abstract on Chapter 5. / Thesis (PhD (Microbiology and Plant Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

In Benin, women in general and rural women in particular are central to the development and sustenance of the household, community, and society at large. Yet, often, they lack the agency, as a result of limited education, life skills, and resources, to contribute to community development, or the structures in place (laws, religious beliefs, policies, and institutions) limit women’s ability to participate in community development. As a result of their limited agency and the unequal structures in society, women in Benin have often been denied participation in decisions around education, health, economy, and agriculture. While women are key actors in all these sectors, they are often not represented sufficiently in the discussions that shape their lives. Women in Benin have collectively organized into associations to address these issues. Associations such as Mothers Associations (MAs) in Benin, have emerged with the specific purpose of improving the education of their daughters. MAs function under the umbrella of Parent Associations (PAs) to address issues of particular concern to girl students. While PAs have helped to improve basic education by putting pressure on school administrators and political leaders to address the quality of schools, these associations have been primarily male dominated, rarely identifying the specific barriers to education for girls. My dissertation has three main objectives: to assess how MAs in Benin have collectively mobilized to enhance the quality of education for schoolgirls; to determine whether MA activities and mobilization efforts have led to women’s empowerment and influence within their respective communities; and to examine whether MAs have had an impact on changing harmful social norms. Overall, the objective of this research is to examine how members of the MAs have used their collective agency to enhance gender equality within the school and community life. Through a critical feminist approach and applying a socio-ecological model, I examine the process in which African women have mobilized, collaborated, and advocated for girls’ education in ways that subtly undermine the harmful relations of power that govern their position in society.