. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/CFMC/W/10 
11 April 2008 
 
 (08-1683) 
 Original:   French 
  
DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S CONSULTATIVE FRAMEWORK 
MECHANISM ON COTTON 
 
Cotton Projects
1 
 
Communication from Benin 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 22 November 2004, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegation of Benin.  
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PROJECT N° 10 - RESEARCH ON INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE PHENOMENA 
 
A. J
USTIFICATION  
1. Resistance by H. armigera  to pyrethrinoids appeared in Benin in 1996-1997, and first led to 
spectacular losses in output in 1998.  Since then, the situation appears to have been brought under 
control with regular increases in yield since the in troduction of the protection programme, beginning 
with two applications of endosulfa n.  However, the species remains resistant to pyrethrinoids, and 
could cause fresh damage at any moment if crop protection is neglected, as occurred in the Kandi 
region in 2003.  Moreover, th is phenomenon accounts for the increased cost of protection 
programmes in 1999 and 2000.  Other species could de velop similar resistance to various chemical 
insecticide families at any moment, as appears to be currently happening with aphids ( Aphis gossypii) , 
which have already been identified as resist ant to pyrethrinoids and organophosphates in 
Burkina Faso.  Indeed, this may help to explain the increased stickiness of cotton from Benin notified 
by the International Textile Manufacturers Federati on (ITMF) of Zurich in its 2003 report.  It is 
therefore essential that research facilities be equippe d to conduct all of the necessary studies in this 
domain.   
B. OBJECTIVES  
2. Creation of an efficient laboratory in which it is possible to conduct the supplementary studies 
necessary for a proper understanding and sound mana gement of insecticide resistance phenomena. 
C. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES  
(a) Provide the cotton and fibre research entomology laboratory with the equipment 
needed for the dosage of resistance en zymes and for the molecular biology 
characterization of pest populations; 
(b) train the technical staff needed to use th is equipment and to ensure the efficient 
functioning of the laboratory; 
                                                      
1 This project was distributed amongst the Development Community by e-mail on 18 August 2005. WT/CFMC/W/10 
Page 2  
 
   
(c) take samples of pest populations for whic h analysis techniques have already been 
developed in order to determine the frequen cy and geographical location of resistant 
populations (cartography);  and 
(d) correlate the results of the two planned me thods to achieve a better understanding of 
the phenomena involved and to help to reduce their impact in the field. 
D. E
XPECTED RESULTS  
(a) Knowledge of the resistance mechanisms involved; 
(b) cartography of resistance for several species; 
(c) better protection of fields; 
(d) quantitative improvement of production;  and 
(e) strengthening of research capacity in the area of risk forecasting for producers. 
E. COST:  CFA Francs 1 billion. 
F. DURATION :  five years. 
G. LOCATION :  CRA-CF Entomology Laboratory in Cana. 
H. PARTNERS :  INRAB,  CRA-CF,  AIC,  FUPRO,  CARDER,  University of Abomey-Calavi, 
CIRAD. 
 
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