Apple cultivation and its major challenging constraints in the Central Highlands of Madagascar
Introduction: Apple Malus domestica B. was imported to Madagascar in 1870 to be grown in the central highlands of this subtropical continental island of the Indian Ocean. Despite conditions that have been considered favourable for its cultivation, current bioclimatic constraints weaken the apple production. Materials and methods: Surveys of apple growers were carried out in the 5 main regions. In the survey, characteristics of the apple orchards, cultivation methods and constraints linked to production were asked. Periodic monitoring of the phenology of 25 identified varieties were also performed for 1 year. Results and discussion: The region of Vakinankaratra is the main producer of apples and has the higher varietal diversity (up to 8 varieties per grower). Growers multiply their own apple trees by stump bursting (44.61%) and grafting (45.57%), maintain their apple orchard (59.68%). Most of them associate apple orchards with other annual and perennial crop (59.92%) species. In the Amoron'i Mania region, the orchards installed around 1950 are still in the central zone without any renewal of the apple trees. The rest of the regions (Analamanga, Haute Matsiatra and Itasy) mostly grow apple for non-commercial purposes with rare cultural maintenance. Major constraints are Deborrea malgassa H. (Lepidoptera Psychidae) pest (63.51%). Ecological disturbances due to deforestation and climate change, where temperate zones are the most affected, could be at the origin of phytosanitary problems, particularly the aggravation of the attack of this Psychidae affecting apple growing.
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | article biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | F01 - Culture des plantes, E90 - Structure agraire, Malus, Malus pumila, pratique culturale, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4553, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4555, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2018, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_4510, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3081, |
| Online Access: | http://agritrop.cirad.fr/606368/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/606368/1/miora%202023.pdf |
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