Fresh Pineapple Agronomy in the Republic of Benin: Recent Trends in Calcium Carbide Use and Producer Perceptions.

Pineapple ( (L.) Merrill) is among the main fruits produced in West Africa. This is also the case for the Republic of Benin, where pineapple fruit is regarded as an important crop for numerous producers in the Southern part of the country. However, crop production is constrained by various issues, the major one being poor yield caused by current agronomic practices. This has become a bottleneck that affects high-quality fruit production. The objective of this research was to (i) conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current fresh pineapple production system with a focus on trends over a decade and (ii) explore the compounds used to artificially induce flowering of pineapple plants, along with the perception of fresh pineapple producers on the use of calcium carbide (CaC) on their health. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 308 producers. Our results indicate that agronomic practices were diverse, with the involvement of more women in pineapple production over the last decade. A decrease in the involvement of young people was also observed. Cv. Sugarloaf remains the main cultivar grown, with a slight increase in cv. Smooth Cayenne. Increasing numbers of pineapple producers applied chemical fertilizers, with an increase in the use of potassium sulphate (KSO). Artificial flowering induction practices such as adding (i) petroleum/motor oil, (ii) cooking salt, (iii) liquid fertilizer ("Super Gro"), or (iv) urea to calcium carbide were reported, as well as health issues related to the use of calcium carbide. The research highlights the need for further studies on the use of alternatives to calcium carbide for artificial flowering induction in pineapple production in Benin.