Drabo Samuel
Fogné, Nikiéma Dominique, Zézouma Anselme Dao, Romba Rahim,
Sedogo Sanata, and Gnankine Olivier, from the institute of the Burkina
Faso. Wrote a research article about, Kogle-Zanga Biopesticide Boosts Amaranth
Yield. Entitled, Role of the Kogle-zanga biopesticide in improving amaranth
leaf production in Loumbila. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences | IJB. an open access scholarly research journal on
Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For
Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research
journal publisher.
Abstract
Amaranth is a widely consumed traditional vegetable with high nutritional value. However, its production is constrained by both biotic and abiotic factors, which cause significant field damage. To address this issue, farmers often rely on a variety of pesticides, many of which are unregistered and pose risks to both humans and the environment. Hence, there is an urgent need to find alternatives to these synthetic products. In this context, the present study was undertaken to improve amaranth production using Kogle-zanga, a biopesticide. A completely randomized block design with four replications and four treatments was used. The biopesticide’s efficacy was assessed based on pest attack levels, plant growth and development, and leaf yield. The results showed that Kogle-zanga effectively controlled pests. The T3 dose (70 mL/ha) had a more favorable effect on growth, development, and leaf yield compared to the T1 (50 mL/ha) and T2 (60 mL/ha) doses. Among the tested doses, T3 (70 mL/ha) was the most effective. Additionally, the biopesticide enabled amaranth to achieve its potential yield of 1–2 t/ha. Therefore, promoting the use of this biopesticide among producers for amaranth leaf cultivation is essential to protect human health and the environment.
Introduction
Burkina Faso is
characterised by a Sudano-Sahelian climate and an economy strongly dependent on
agricultural and pastoral activities. Agriculture plays a central role in the
national economy and remains a major driver of economic growth. It currently
contributes approximately 18–19% of the gross domestic product (GDP) (INSD,
2025), while the services sector was the principal contributor to the 4.9%
economic recovery recorded in 2024. Agricultural activities continue to be the
primary source of employment in the country, with 98.7% of the agricultural
workforce employed in the informal sector (INSD, 2025).
With cereal production
estimated at 6.1 million tonnes (FAO, 2023), agriculture remains a cornerstone
of both the economy and food security in Burkina Faso. Agricultural production
is largely dominated by cereals, particularly millet, sorghum, maize, rice and
fonio, which occupy more than 60% of cultivated land and contribute over 55% of
total crop production nationwide (INSD, 2025). The sustained production levels
recorded in recent years further underscore the strategic importance of
cereal-based farming systems in the country (FAO, 2023).
This situation is
partly due to a long-standing agricultural policy that has prioritised the
promotion of food and cash crops to the detriment of fruit and vegetable
production. This trend persists today, as subsidies for cereal inputs continue
to account for the largest share of the national agricultural budget (INSD,
2025). According to the World Bank (2023), the agricultural sector contributed
1.9 percentage points to the 4.9% economic growth recorded in 2023 and
represented 18.59% of the national gross domestic product (GDP). Vegetable
crops, particularly onions, tomatoes and cabbages, constitute the second
largest group of primary crops after cereals in Burkina Faso. These crops
contribute substantially to both food security and the livelihoods of rural
households (INSD, 2025). Their production has increased steadily in recent
years, largely driven by the expansion of irrigated farming systems and the
growing use of agricultural inputs, including fertilisers and pesticides.
Improvements in farming practices and the adoption of high-yielding varieties
have also contributed to this upward trend (FAO, 2023).
Among these vegetable
species, amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is an important traditional leafy vegetable
valued for its high nutritional potential and widespread consumption (Gelaye,
2023; Netshimbupfe et al., 2023). In addition to its leaves, the seeds are also
consumed in various forms (Ajayi et al., 2016; Alemayehu et al., 2015). More
generally, leafy vegetables constitute an essential component of diets in many
parts of the world, particularly in Africa, Asia and Oceania, where they make
significant contributions to nutritional intake and are also used in
traditional medicinal practices (Abolaji et al., 2016; Al-Mamun et al., 2016;
Bhat et al., 2015). However, amaranth production is frequently constrained by a
wide range of biotic pressures, particularly pest infestations, which are among
the major causes of yield losses (Ezeh et al., 2015; Mureithi et al., 2017;
Seni, 2018). To manage these pests, producers frequently depend on the
intensive and often indiscriminate application of synthetic chemical pesticides
(Drabo et al., 2017, 2021). Nevertheless, the excessive use of chemical
fertilisers and pesticides may adversely affect both the agronomic performance
of amaranth and its culinary quality (Ahouangninou et al., 2011; Nampeera et
al., 2019). Moreover, the intensive application of synthetic pesticides poses
considerable risks to human health and the environment, including contamination
of soils and water resources (Acharya et al., 2025), poisoning of producers and
consumers (Romba et al., 2020), and the progressive erosion of biodiversity (Knauer
et al., 2026). A recent study estimated that the annual avoidable health and
environmental costs associated with toxic chemicals in food systems amount to
approximately USD 3 trillion (Systemiq, 2025). In addition, the repeated and
uncontrolled use of insecticides contributes to the development of resistance
among several pest species, thereby reducing treatment efficacy over time and
increasing production costs (Bian et al., 2026). These constraints represent a
major challenge for agricultural production systems, particularly for vegetable
crops that depend heavily on phytosanitary interventions (Schatz et al., 2026).
In response to the
growing challenges associated with synthetic insecticides, increasing attention
is being directed towards plant-based biopesticides as sustainable alternatives
for crop pest management due to their biodegradability, low environmental
impact and compatibility with agroecological and integrated pest management
approaches. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Kogle-zanga, a
locally produced biopesticide, on pest damage and the agronomic performance of
amaranth crops.
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