Peri-urban market gardening in Libreville and Owendo (Gabon): farmers' practices and sustainability

In Gabon, peri-urban gardening is an opportunity to provide vegetables to the main cities, such as Libreville and Owendo. Following a survey conducted in three market gardening areas, an inventory was conducted on the socio-economic characteristics, the diversity of crops, and pesticide uses. The cropped areas range from 0.08 ha to 0.4 ha per farmer, according to the site. National operators represent 51%, while people from Burkina Faso manage 40% of vegetable production. The most cultivated species throughout the year are amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), Guinea sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.). The most important pests are Aphididae and some beetles. The most commonly used plant protection products are insecticides, mainly conventional neurotoxic. Best crop monitoring, pest control including pesticide application reduction, and the possibility to offer microcredit systems to small producers would help increasing peri-urban healthy vegetable production and increase local food autonomy.