Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Sep 14;19(1):333.
doi: 10.1186/s12936-020-03406-2.

Minimal tillage and intermittent flooding farming systems show a potential reduction in the proliferation of Anopheles mosquito larvae in a rice field in Malanville, Northern Benin

Innocent Djègbè  1 , Merdie Zinsou  2   3 , Edia Flavien Dovonou  2 , Geneviève Tchigossou  3 , Murielle Soglo  3 , Razack Adéoti  3 , Brice Gbaguidi  3 , Seun Atoyebi  3 , Fabrice Chandre  4 , Martin Akogbéto  5 , Jo Lines  6 , Rousseau Djouaka  3
Affiliations

Minimal tillage and intermittent flooding farming systems show a potential reduction in the proliferation of Anopheles mosquito larvae in a rice field in Malanville, Northern Benin

Innocent Djègbè et al. Malar J. .

Abstract

Background: Irrigation systems have been identified as one of the factors promoting malaria disease around agricultural farms in sub-Saharan Africa. However, if improved water management strategy is adopted during rice cultivation, it may help to reduce malaria cases among human population living around rice fields. This study aimed to assess the impact of the different irrigation practices on malaria transmission, as well as to evaluate the water management system that will best mitigate malaria transmission in Malanville, Benin.

Methods: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) study was conducted on 104 households staying on and around the rice fields in Malanville. The study focused on the frequency of mosquito bites and preventive measures against malaria as well as soil preparation and rice planting methods. Mosquito larvae density was assessed in different water management system: continuous flooding (CF) or intermittent flooding (IF), deep tillage (DT) or minimal tillage (MT) and normal levelling (NL) or abnormal levelling (AL) in an experimental hut set-up. Larvae were collected using dipping methods and their density was determined.

Results: Three tillage systems, which include the use of tiller, plow and hoe, were identified on the rice field. Continuous flooding was the only irrigation system used by farmers. Retrospective data from Malanville Health Centre revealed higher malaria cases during rice production season, which was also confirmed by field participants. The density of Anopheles larvae was reduced by 80.8%, 30.8% and 40.7% (P = 0.000) during transplanting, tillering and maturation periods, respectively with intermittent flooding compared to continuous flooding. In addition, a clear reduction of larva density was observed with both intermittent flooding systems applied to minimal tillage (MT + IF + NL) and intermittent flooding applied to deep tillage (DT + IF + AL), showing that intermittent flooding could reduce the abundance of malaria vector in rice fields.

Conclusion: Recommending intermittent flooding technology for rice cultivation may not only be useful for water management but could also be an intentional strategy to control mosquitoes vector-borne diseases around rice farms.

Keywords: Anopheles larvae; Continuous flooding; Deep tillage; Intermittent flooding; Malanville; Malaria; Minimal tillage; Rice field.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of Benin showing the study site
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Malaria cases in Malanville district in 2013 (a), 2014 (b) and in 2015 (c). NB: This figure reveals two peaks of transmission: peak 1 in July due to the rainy season and peak 2 in September due to the rice production and rainfall
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Mean density of all mosquito larvae and Anopheles mosquito larvae collected during Panel 1 transplanting (a, b), Panel 2 tellering (c, d) and Panel 3 maturation (e, f). NB: DT, Deep tillage; MT, minimal tillage; CF, continuous flooding; IF, intermittent flooding; NL, normal levelling; AL, abnormal levelling. Histogram bars sharing the same letters are not significantly different
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Programme National Malaria Control. Rapport annuel d’activité. Benin: Cotonou; 2012.
    1. WHO . World Malaria report. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018.
    1. Goonasekere KGA, Amerasinghe FP. Planning, design and operation of irrigation schemes—their impact on mosquito-borne diseases. Vectorborne disease control in humans through rice agroecosystem management. Proceedings Workshop on Research and Training Needs in the field of integrated vector borne diseases control in Rice Agroecosystem of developing countries, 9–14, 1987 International Rice Research Institute, The Philippines 1988. pp. 41–50.
    1. Antonio-Nkondjio C, Atangana J, Ndo C, Awono-Ambene P, Fondjo E, Fontenille D, et al. Malaria transmission and rice cultivation in Lagdo, northern Cameroon. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008;102:352–359. - PubMed
    1. Dossou-yovo J, OuattaraItai A, Doannio J, Diarrassouba S, Chauvancy G. Enquêtes paludométriques en zone de savane humide de Côte d’Ivoire. Med Trop (Mars). 1998;58:51–56. - PubMed