The Traditional Whedo Aquaculture System in Northern Benin

Abstract

The traditional whedo system involves the digging of large ditch-like ponds that fill seasonally with flood water, trapping fish which are subsequently harvested during the dry season. Although whedos are well described in the South of Benin, basic information necessary for their management in the North is lacking. Since 1998, the commune of Malanville has experienced a kind of ‘blue revolution’ because up to now, approximately 500 whedos (known locally as tschifi dais) have been constructed covering a total surface area of 9.3 ha, thus reflecting the high acceptance of the practice among the local population. Despite the fast development this system has received little attention from national development planners and international agencies, but in view of the disastrous state of the river Niger's fishery, sustainable aquaculture, fully relying on local species should be supported to release pressure on natural fish stocks. Instead of focussing all efforts on the introduction of modern aquaculture, it is important to enhance the existing system because of the knowledge and acceptance by the local population.

This paper characterizes the current management and the technical as well as economical features of the tschifi dais in the commune of Malanville, northern Benin.

Keywords:

• floodplain pools
• Niger River
• management system
• adapted species

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Our sincere thanks go to Assongba Danhin Yao Norbert (Fishery association of Malanville) for his own initiative in training and assisting the fish farmers and for his technical support and experience-based advice and help. Moreover we express our gratitude to Amidou Nourou-Dine, Bossou Arouna, Bako Mourei and Nsidou for their assistance in guiding the research team to the different sites. Ms. Monique Sabo Gado we thank for the translation in the course of the interviews. This project was funded by the BIOTA-West project of the BMBF Germany Nr.: 813393-6 01 LC 0017A2.

Notes

Our sincere thanks go to Assongba Danhin Yao Norbert (Fishery Association of Malanville) for his own initiative in training and assisting the fish farmers and for his technical support and experience-based advice and help. Moreover we express our gratitude to Amidou Nourou-Dine, Bossou Arouna, Bako Mourei, and Nsidou for their assistance in guiding the research team to the different sites. We thank Ms. Monique Sabo Gado for the translation in the course of the interviews. This project was funded by the BIOTA-West project of the BMBF Germany Nr.: 813393-6 01 LC 0017A2.