Title: An Ivorian initiative to do without glyphosate: beekeepers helping cocoa farmers
Introduction :
Europe continues to debate the use of glyphosate, this controversial chemical component used as a weedkiller. Meanwhile, in Ivory Coast, a farmer named Yeo Yaya has found an ingenious and natural solution to help cocoa farmers do without this harmful product for health. By establishing a partnership with young beekeepers, it offers an ecological weeding alternative on its land, while encouraging the installation of new beekeepers in a region where access to land is difficult.
A remedy against the harmful effects of glyphosate:
Yeo Yaya, owner of a cocoa farm near the village of Youasso, initially used glyphosate to weed his fields. However, the effects on his health and the fertility of his land made him question this practice. While using glyphosate, he felt burns and worried about the long-term consequences on his health. In addition, the herbicide had a negative impact on biodiversity, by eliminating insects essential to soil fertility.
A natural alternative: repellents and a partnership with beekeepers:
It was during a meeting with Cédric Konan, member of a union of agricultural cooperatives, that Yeo Yaya discovered a glyphosate-free alternative. Based on the advice of INPHB researchers, they experimented with weeding methods based on natural repellents such as fermented cocoa juice and certain plants that repel insect pests. However, there remained the challenge of labor, which was often insufficient to carry out manual weeding.
It was at this moment that the idea of calling on beekeepers was born. In exchange for installing hives on their plots, Yeo Yaya allows young beekeepers to set up on their land for free. These beekeepers, by cleaning around their hives located in the cocoa trees, participate in the natural weeding of the plots.
A win-win partnership:
This collaboration between cocoa farmers and beekeepers has many advantages. First of all, it promotes biodiversity by encouraging the installation of hives and thus preserving bee populations. In addition, beekeepers can sell the products of their hives, which constitutes an additional source of income for them. Finally, manual weeding makes it possible to do without glyphosate, thus contributing to the preservation of farmers’ health and soil fertility.
Future prospects :
Cédric Konan, initiator of this project, plans to develop biofertilizer units on a larger scale, using snail shells in particular.. This development could provide an even more sustainable and beneficial alternative for the cocoa growing sector.
Conclusion :
The Yeo Yaya initiative in Ivory Coast offers a promising solution to do without glyphosate in cocoa farming. By using beekeepers, he succeeds in promoting biodiversity, generating additional income and preserving the health of farmers. This innovative approach should inspire other farmers and contribute to agriculture that is more respectful of human health and the environment.