DOI: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20261405.14 ISSN: 2330-8591

Characterization of Onion ( Allium cepa L.) Storage Practices in the North and Far North Regions of Cameroon

Soumeiya Halimatou, Gilles Nkouam, Jacques Bikai
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This study aimed to evaluate onion ( Allium cepa L.) storage practices and structures in the North and Far North regions of Cameroon. A structured and validated questionnaire was administered to producers who owned storage facilities. The study covered 52 producer facilities in each of the two regions. These producers included individuals, Common Initiative Groups, Cooperative Societies and Cooperatives with a Board of Directors. The results showed that individual growers are the primary producers (60.58%). The five onion varieties known in these regions are Goudami (adopted by 100% of respondents), Chagari, Violet of Galmi, alongside more marginal varieties such as Belami and Safari. Storage warehouses consisted predominantly of construction sites (38.46%). Temperatures range between 36 and 40℃ in 26.92% of facilities in the North and between 31 and 35°C in 55.77% of facilities in the Far North. Humidity levels were higher (31 to 50%) in 98.07% of facilities in the North whereas very low levels (10 to 20%) in 82.69% of cases in the Far North. The lack of measurement is more common in the Far North (7.7%) than in the North (1.0%). Constructions sites and Rudu were the most vulnerable, with losses reaching up to 42.99% and 32.56%, respectively. Producers were willing (96.15%) to adopt modern storage technologies such as controlled atmosphere storage, to safeguard stocks for periods exceeding four months. This work provided information for managing technical and technological conditions in onion storage facilities and paves the way for the introduction of modern preservation technologies.

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