Perception of Agroecological Practices Among Smallholder Farmers: Opportunities, Influencing Factors, and Barriers in Senegal

Abstract

Market gardening plays a central role in food security and improving household income in Ziguinchor, Senegal. Faced with growing environmental and socio-economic challenges, agroecology emerges as a sustainable pathway for strengthening this agro-economic activity. This study evaluates the adoption of agroecological practices by urban and peri-urban market gardeners, identifying influencing factors and constraints. A survey of 300 farmers was conducted in Ziguinchor, and data were analyzed using Excel. Relative Importance Index (RII), Weighted Average Index (WAI), and Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) ranked the most used practices, influencing factors, and adoption barriers. Results show that 79.67% of respondents were women, mostly over 45, with secondary education. Most of market gardeners consider this activity main source of income, and have been doing so for more than 10 years. Common agroecological practices include: removing weeds and diseased plants, organic fertilization, watering, crop rotation, and recommended fertilizer application, with relative importance indices of 0.75, 0.75, 0.72, 0.73, and 0.62, respectively. Key constraints include the lack of labor (PCI = 789), lack of information and training (PCI = 597), high cost of improved seeds (PCI = 549), and limited access to organic fertilizer (PCI = 538). Reinforcing extension services, capacity building, and both technical and financial support is essential to promote agroecological practices.

1. Introduction

The issue of food security is becoming increasingly complex and worrying in a world where the population is growing rapidly and consumption needs are increasing [1]. In fact, in 2023, approximately 2.33 billion people worldwide were experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity. These food crises are often the result of known factors such as conflicts, economic shocks, food price spikes, climate change, and droughts, which have had a particularly severe impact on African countries [2]. According to the March 2024 Harmonized Framework analysis published by the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), approximately 55 million people in West and Central Africa experienced food insecurity during the June–August 2024 lean season [3]. In Senegal, the interior and southern regions are particularly affected, with 20 departments vulnerable to chronic food insecurity. In Sedhiou, 29% of the population is affected, while in Kédougou, Kaffrine, and Tambacounda, the rates exceed 25% [4]. Faced with sustained population growth from 13,508,715 inhabitants in 2013 to 18,126,390 inhabitants in 2023 [5,6] and environmental challenges, ensuring sufficient and sustainable agricultural production is becoming a priority. Agriculture, which remains a pillar of the Senegalese economy, employs more than 60% of the working population and accounts for 15.74% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022 [7]. In 2021–2022, national horticultural production reached 1.6 million tons, of which 106,000 tons were exported, generating more than 75 billion CFA francs [8]. Among the various agricultural activities, market gardening plays a crucial role in the local economy and livelihood, particularly in the Ziguinchor region. However, the predominance of conventional agricultural practices raises many concerns today. It is increasingly criticized for its intensive nature, which depletes arable land and is therefore unsustainable [9]. The intensive and inappropriate use of chemical inputs degrades soils, harms the environment, reduces product quality, and poses a threat to human health [10,11,12,13,14]. At the same time, the effects of climate change, notably irregular rainfall and rising temperatures, are heightening farmers’ vulnerability, making it essential to transition to more resilient farming practices. Market gardening also faces challenges such as poor technical expertise, limited access to water, difficulties in seed supply, post-harvest losses, and inadequate market organization [15].

Faced with these challenges, agroecology is emerging as a viable and sustainable alternative, promoting environmentally friendly practices. It helps improve the resilience of agricultural systems and reduce vulnerability to the effects of climate change [16]. Agroecology, conceived as a science, a practice, and a movement, integrates ecological principles into the management of agricultural systems [17].

In Senegal, several studies have been devoted to the use of agroecological practices in market gardening, notably in the Fatick region by [18], the Niayes zone, the groundnut basin (center of the country), and the Tambacounda region by [19]. However, these studies did not specifically analyze the farmers’ perception regarding facilitating or hindering factors of the adoption of agroecological practices. Yet understanding these is essential to promote their wider dissemination. Although these studies provide valuable information at the national level, they remain geographically uneven. In particular, the Ziguinchor region, despite its strong agricultural potential and the growing importance of market gardening, has received comparatively little attention. Furthermore, to our knowledge, existing studies on market gardening in the Ziguinchor region have not yet addressed this issue in depth [20,21]. This is why we conducted a study in Ziguinchor to help fill this knowledge gap. Specifically, our study aims to: (1) identify and classify the agroecological practices most widely adopted by market gardeners; and (2) examine the perceived factors that promote or hinder their decisions to adopt agroecological practices. This study is guided by the following hypotheses: (1) farmers perceive agroecological practices as offering opportunities, such as improved soil fertility, crop quality, nutrition, and income; (2) farmers identify factors that promote or hinder the adoption of agroecological practices, including technical, economic, and market-related aspects.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Area

This study was carried out in the commune of Ziguinchor, located in southwestern Senegal (12°33′ N, 16°16′ W) (Figure 1). It covers an area of 7339 km², representing around 3.7% of the national territory [6]. The area, which is subject to a coastal submarine climate [22], experiences average annual temperatures around 27 °C [23] and annual rainfall of approximately 1200 mm [6]. Agriculture is a major livelihood activity [24], with market gardening being one of the main sources of income and food security [25]. Market gardening is typically carried out on small plots (200–1200 m²) [26] and is characterized by a high diversity of crops [27].

2.2. Data Collection

2.2.1. Survey

Data collection was based on a questionnaire drawn up on the basis of an in-depth review of the scientific literature. To ensure the relevance of the questions and the methodological appropriateness to the local context, a pilot survey was carried out in the study area. The questionnaire, comprising 74 questions, is structured under six main headings: (1) socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, (2) information on crop plots, (3) use of agroecological practices, (4) Motivations for the adoption of agroecological practices, (5) Perceived influencing factors of agroecological practices adoption and (6) perceived obstacles to the adoption of agroecological practices. The KoboToolbox platform (version 2.024.05) was used to develop the questionnaire, which was then deployed on the KoboCollect application (version 2023.2.4) to ensure effective data collection from 28 October to 19 November 2024.

In urban areas, the survey was carried out in Ziguinchor neighborhoods where market gardening is most developed: Lydiane, Diabir, Djibock, Diefaye, Colobane, Cobitene, Kande, Kantene, Kenia, Nema 2, Grand Yoff, Castor, and Boucotte. In rural areas, it was carried out in villages on the outskirts of Ziguinchor, notably in the commune of Niaguis (Agnack Petit, Djifanghor and Niaguis) and in the commune of Boutoupa Camaracounda (Bourofaye Diola, Bourofaye Bainounck and Mpack).

2.2.2. Sampling

Cochran’s formula [28] was used to calculate the essential sample size for the required level of precision, confidence level, and the estimated proportion of the attribute present in the population. According to [29], the Cochran’s formula is most suitable for a large population. The formula in question is described below (1):

$$no={\displaystyle \frac{z^{2}pq}{e^2}}$$

(1)

With:

no: sample size; z: the standard value of 1.96 at a confidence interval of 95% and a precision of ±5%; e is the preferred level of precision, p is the estimated proportion of the population, and q is 1 − p.

The resulting sample size is as follows:

$$no={\displaystyle \frac{({1.96)}^2(0.3\left)\right(0.7)}{{\left(0.05\right)}^2}}=322$$

(2)

Although the initial target was 322 respondents, the survey successfully covered 300 market gardeners, representing a robust and diverse sample despite the limited availability of some participants during the data collection phase.

Given the absence of a complete sampling frame and the need to reach dispersed producers, a snowball sampling strategy was employed to identify participants. Initial respondents were asked to refer others who met the study criteria (being market gardeners residing in the study area), creating a referral chain that facilitated access to this hard-to-reach population. The participation was voluntary, and only farmers aged 18 years and above were included. Informed consent was obtained from all respondents before the interviews.

2.3. Data Analysis

Basic descriptive statistics, such as mean, frequency, percentage, and count, were used to present the results. To assess the agroecological practices adopted, the associated opportunities, and the factors promoting or hindering their adoption, scoring criteria were defined, scores calculated, and a ranking made.

2.3.1. Relative Importance Index (RII)

The agroecological practices used were identified and ranked using the Relative Importance Index (RII). In addition to assessing the level of use of agroecological practices, the RII also helps prioritize agroecological knowledge and practices in order of frequency of adoption, so that adaptation actions or support can be targeted on the right practice(s). This method has been used in previous research by [30,31] to examine the most popular agroecological practices among small-scale farmers in northern and eastern Ghana, respectively. Formula (3) was used to calculate the RII:

$$\mathrm{R}\mathrm{I}\mathrm{I}=\sum {\displaystyle \frac{W}{A \times N}}$$

(3)

Here, W is the weighting of a particular response on a Likert scale with 4 response modalities: never used = 1, rarely used = 2, often used = 3, and used every year = 4. A is the highest response (4), and N is the number of respondents taken into account (300).

2.3.2. Weighted Average Index (WAI)

WAI is a statistical analysis method that determines the mean of an outcome by multiplying the weight given to a particular event by the associated quantitative result, then adding up all the results. This is very useful for determining a theoretically expected outcome where each event has different probabilities of occurring. WAI is therefore crucial in determining the perceived opportunities for adopting agroecological practices and the factors that may influence their adoption.

To assess the perceived motivations of producers to adopt agroecological practices, the WAI was estimated on the basis of a 4-point Likert scale: 1 = “disagree”; 2 = “more or less agree”; 3 = “agree”; 4 = “strongly agree”.

For the assessment of perceived factors that influence farmers’ adoption of agroecological practices, the WAI was estimated based on a Likert scale with the following 4 categories: 1 = very low, 2 = low, 3 = medium, 4 = very high level of influence.

Several studies have used the WAI to evaluate climate change adaptation measures [32,33,34]. The WAI is mathematically given by Formula (4):

$$WAI={\displaystyle \frac{\sum F_i{W}_i}{\sum F_i}}$$

(4)

where F denotes frequency, W represents weight or importance, and i shows the score of each factor and opportunity related to agroecological practices, or the score of each factor that can influence the adoption of agroecological practices.

2.3.3. Problem Confrontation Index (PCI)

To classify the perceived barriers to the adoption of agroecological practices, the Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) was used. This index has been used in previous studies to identify factors that prevent smallholder farmers from adopting climate-smart farming practices [35,36]. For the estimation of PCI, a list of 9 questions was asked with a 4-point Likert scale to classify the obstacles that hinder the adoption of agroecological practices: 0 = “this is not a constraint”; 1 = “low-level constraint”; 2 = “moderate-level constraint”; 3 = “high-level constraint”.

$$PCI=Pn\times 0+Pl\times 1+Pm\times 2+Ph\times 3$$

(5)

where Pn is the number of small-scale farmers who rated the obstacle as no problem; Pl is the number of small-scale farmers who rated the obstacle as low-level; Pm is the number of small-scale farmers who rated the obstacle as moderate-level; and Ph is the number of small-scale farmers who rated the obstacle as high-level.

3. Results

3.1. Sociodemographic Characteristics of Market Gardeners

Table 1. Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents.

Parameter	Modality	Number	Percentage (%)
Gender	Female	239	79.67
	Male	61	20.33
Age	>45 years	152	50.66
	30–45 years	111	37
	20–30 years	33	11
	<20 years	4	1.3
Marital status	Married	199	66.33
	Widowed	54	18.00
	Single	39	13.00
	Divorced	8	2.67
Household size	5–15 people	222	74
	>15 people	50	16.66
	<5 people	28	9.33
Ethnic group	Diola	147	49.00
	Soce	79	26.33
	Peul	15	5.00
	Ballante	10	3.33
	Mancagne	8	2.67
	Mandjack	7	2.33
	Serere	5	1.67
	Wolof	3	1.00
	Other	26	8.67
Educational attainment	No formal education	89	29.67
	High School	68	22.67
	Basic school	64	21.33
	Qur’anic	56	18.67
	Tertiary education	20	6.67
	Literacy	3	1.00
Head of household	Yes	173	57.67
	No	127	42.33
Principal activity	Agriculture	299	99.6
	Breeding	105	35
	Beekeeping	2	0.66
	Fishing	8	2.66
	Forestry	9	3
	Trade	278	92.6
	Crafts	4	1.33
	Salaried employment	27	9
	Other	5	1.66
Farming experience	>10 years	203	67.66
	5–10 years	59	19.66
	<5 years	38	12.66
Technical training	No	253	84.33
	Yes	47	15.66
Member of an association	No	252	84
	Yes	48	16
Access to credit	No	251	83.66
	Yes	49	16.33

presents the sociodemographic characteristics of the market gardeners surveyed. Women make up the majority, representing 79.67% of the sample, compared to 20.33% men.

In terms of age distribution, more than half of the market gardeners surveyed (50.66%) are over 45 years old, while young people aged between 20 and 30 remain poorly represented in the sector (11%). Those under 20 account for only a marginal share (1.3%). The majority of respondents (66.33%) are married, compared with 18% widowed, 13% single, and 2.67% divorced. In terms of household size, a large proportion (74%) has between 5 and 15 members. The study also shows that the Diolas (49%) and Socés (26.33%) are the ethnic groups that practice market gardening the most in the study area. Approximately 30% of market gardeners have no schooling, unlike the others who have varying levels of education, dominated by secondary level (22.67%) and primary level (21.33%). In addition, 57.67% of respondents are heads of households. Furthermore, a large proportion of market gardeners (84.33%) have not received training in market gardening techniques and are not members of a production association (84%). Furthermore, the majority (83.66%) do not have access to credit. The study also reveals that agriculture is the main activity of market gardeners (99.6%), followed by trade (92.6%) and livestock farming (35%). Their main sources of income are vegetable production (96%), followed by trade (87.33%), cashew nut production (47.33%) and mango production (33.33%). It was also noted that more than half of the vegetable farmers surveyed (50.33%) have more than 10 years of experience.

3.2. Characteristics of the Market Gardening System in the Study Area

Table 2. Characteristics of the market gardening system in the study area.

Parameter	Modality	Number	Percentage (%)
Product destination	Sales and consumption	269	70.67
	Consumption	30	10
	Sales	1	0.33
Soil type	Lowland soil (Gleysol)	135	45
	Plateau soil (Acrisols)	106	35.33
	Both	59	19.67
Evaluation of soil fertility	Good	212	70.67
	Average	82	27.33
	Poor	6	2
Land tenure system	Borrowed	188	62.67
	Inherited	88	29.33
	Offered	17	5.67
	Purchased	11	3.67
	Other	11	3.67
Total area of cultivation plots	<200 m2	23	7.66
	200 à 500 m2	48	16
	500 à 1000 m2	61	20.33
	1000 à 5000 m2	90	30
	>5000 m2	78	26
Number of participants in the household	<5 people	256	85.33
	5–10 people	39	13
	>10 people	5	1.6

provides information on the characteristics of the market gardening system in the study area. It shows that the total area of cultivated plots is most often between 1000 and 5000 m². With regard to land tenure, the majority of market gardeners obtain their plots through loans (62.67%) or inheritance (29.33%), revealing a problem of insecure land tenure. Production is mainly carried out on low-lying land (45%) and plateau areas (35.33%). In terms of soil fertility, most respondents (70.67%) consider their soil to be fertile, compared to 27.33% who consider it to be of average fertility. In addition, most of the crops grown are intended for food and sale (89.67%). In terms of the active workforce in the household, the study reveals that the number of people in the household involved in production work rarely exceeds five (14.6%).

3.3. Agroecological Practices Used by Smallholder Farmers

Table 3. Agroecological practices used by the smallholder farmers.

Agroecological Practices	Score				Total Weight	Total	A × N	RII	Rank
	Never Used (1)	Seldom Used (2)	Often Used (3)	Used in Every Agricultural Season (4)
Removing weeds and diseased plants	0	2	885	16	903	300	1200	0.75	1
Plant spacing	1	2	885	12	900	300	1200	0.75	1
Use of manure	7	16	837	24	884	300	1200	0.73	3
Irrigation adapted to crop needs	15	10	837	4	866	300	1200	0.72	4
Crop rotation	72	32	615	28	747	300	1200	0.62	5
Low use of chemical fertilizers	78	156	246	248	728	300	1200	0.60	6
Dry grass and residue conservation	83	24	597	24	728	300	1200	0.60	6
Water conservation	100	20	564	8	692	300	1200	0.57	8
Crop association	143	38	402	16	599	300	1200	0.49	9
Mulching	169	12	372	4	553	300	1200	0.46	10
Agroforestry practices	177	4	360	4	545	300	1200	0.45	11
Using short-cycle varieties	171	32	336	4	543	300	1200	0.45	11
Using biopesticides	131	258	111	12	512	300	1200	0.42	13
Use weather information	260	14	93	8	375	300	1200	0.31	14
Reduce or zero tillage	267	14	45	44	370	300	1200	0.30	15
Use of disease- and pest-resistant varieties	268	34	39	8	349	300	1200	0.29	16

Notes: RII. relative importance index; A. the highest response (4); N. the number of respondents being considered (300).

shows the relative importance of agroecological practices used by smallholder farmers.

The analysis reveals that market gardeners employ a range of agroecological practices. Maintaining proper spacing between plants during sowing or transplanting and quickly identifying and removing weeds and diseased plants are among the agroecological practices most commonly adopted by market gardeners, with an RII value of 0.75. These agroecological practices include using manure to fertilize plots (RII = 0.73); irrigation adapted to crop needs (RII = 0.72); crop rotation (RII = 0.62); applying recommended doses of chemical fertilizers, and avoiding burning dry grass and crop residues, each with an RII of = 0.60. The least adopted agroecological practices are the use of weather information (RII = 0.31), no-till farming (RII = 0.30), and the use of resistant seeds (RII = 0.29).

3.4. Motivations for the Adoption of Agroecological Practices

The results in

Table 4. Motivations for the adoption of agroecological practices.

Motivation	Score				WAI	Rank
	Disagree (1)	More or Less Agree (2)	Agree (3)	Strongly Agree (4)
Improved fertility	5	32	72	1020	3.76	1
Healthy and nutritious food	2	44	75	1004	3.75	2
Higher-quality production	6	42	57	1016	3.73	3
Increased yields	3	52	87	968	3.7	4
Improved revenues	2	68	120	896	3.62	5
Environmental protection	3	32	255	784	3.58	6
Adapting to climate change	3	54	402	544	3.34	7
Biodiversity conservation	1	98	405	460	3.21	8
Effective pest and disease control	34	336	72	296	2.46	9

Notes: WAI. Weighted Average Index.

indicate that improved soil fertility, healthy and nutritious food consumption, higher-quality production, increased yields and vegetable output, and improved revenues are perceived as the main motivations for producers to adopt agroecological practices, with respective WAI values of 3.76, 3.75, 3.73, 3.7, and 3.62. Enhanced environmental protection, improved adaptation to climate change, biodiversity conservation, and effective disease and pest control are the factors that motivate producers the least to adopt agroecological practices.

3.5. Perceived Influencing Factors of Agroecological Practices Adoption by Smallholder Farmers

The results in

Table 5. Perceived influencing factors of agroecological practices adoption.

Factors	Score				WAI	Rank
	Very Low Level of Influence (1)	Low Level of Influence (2)	Medium Level of Influence (3)	Very High Level of Influence (4)
Management and training	10	12	99	1004	3.75	1
Access to information	6	12	138	968	3.74	2
Producer networks or groups	12	12	126	960	3.7	3
Access to financing	16	20	108	952	3.65	4
Access to seeds of improved varieties	10	26	159	896	3.64	5
Having a titled plot of land	25	44	147	816	3.44	6
Rain and temperature information	168	36	141	228	1.91	7

Notes: WAI. Weighted Average Index.

show that having technical guidance and training on agroecological practices, access to information on good agroecological practices, and being a member of a network of producers practicing agroecology, are ranked first, second and, and third, respectively, among the perceived factors influencing the producers’ decision to adopt agroecological practices, with respective WAI values of 3.75, 3.74, and 3.70. The factors that have less influence on the adoption of agroecological practices are access to improved seed varieties, access to organic fertilizer and biopesticides, the availability of crop plots with property title, and the receipt of information on rainfall and temperature.

3.6. Perceived Barriers Affecting the Adoption of Agroecological Practices

The results in

Table 6. Perceived obstacles to the adoption of agroecological practices.

Obstacles	Score				PCI	Rank
	It is Not a Constraint (0)	Low-Level Constraint (1)	Moderate Level Constraint (2)	High-Level Constraint (3)
Lack of manpower	0	9	60	720	789	1
Poor access to information and training	0	35	190	372	597	2
High cost of improved seeds	0	16	140	393	549	3
Difficult access to financing	0	54	126	297	477	5
Difficult access to land	0	29	90	303	422	6
Crop diseases and pests	0	27	142	228	397	7
Weak government support	0	62	86	177	325	8
Weak information on climate	0	17	88	48	153	9

Notes: PCI. Problem Confronting Index.

show that lack of manpower (PCI = 789), low level of access to information and training on good agricultural practices (PCI = 597), high cost of improved seeds (PCI = 549), difficulties in accessing organic manure (PCI = 538), difficulties in accessing financing for agriculture (PCI = 477) are ranked in this order as the most important obstacles that can block the adoption of agroecological, according to the farmers’ perception. Factors such as difficulty of access to land (PCI = 422), crop pests and diseases (PCI = 397), poor government support for access to seeds, organic fertilizers and pesticides (PCI = 325), and difficulty of access to climatic information (rainfall, temperature) (PCI = 153) also appear as limitations blocking the adoption of agroecological practices, but to a lesser extent, compared with the first obstacles cited.

4. Discussion

This study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to recall bias and social desirability bias. Recall bias could have led respondents to misremember or simplify past experiences, while social-desirability bias may have encouraged them to provide answers perceived as more acceptable or favorable. These potential biases might have influenced the accuracy of some responses, possibly leading to an over- or underestimation of poultry farmers’ actual perceptions. While these limitations do not invalidate the findings, they should be kept in mind when interpreting the results. A limitation of this study is that potential confounding variables were not controlled for. Characteristics such as age, gender, education, credit access, land tenure, and producer group membership may jointly influence perceptions and adoption of agroecological practices. Because the analysis relied on descriptive indices (RII, WAI, PCI), some associations may partly reflect these underlying socio-economic factors. In addition, the use of the snowball method to recruit participants may limit the representativeness of the sample. Although Cochran’s formula guided the sample size estimation, the non-probabilistic recruitment means that findings should be interpreted with caution and not generalized to all market gardeners without further confirmatory studies.

4.1. Sociodemographic Characteristics of Market Gardeners

The results of this study show that women are more involved in market gardening than men. This female predominance could be explained by the fact that men are more involved in food and cash crops, such as rice, cowpeas, or cashew nuts.

This clear predominance of women suggests that this sector may serve as an accessible economic opportunity for women, especially in contexts where men are more involved in food and cash crop production, such as rice, cowpeas, or cashew nuts. This gendered division of labor implies that market gardening not only provides income but may also reinforce women’s economic autonomy and social roles within households. These observations, which highlight the importance of designing interventions that target female producers to maximize impact on household welfare, concur with those of [25,37] in Senegal, and [38] in the Ivory Coast, who report that women represent 86%, 90.8%, and 95% of the sector, respectively.

More than half of market gardeners are over 45 years of age. This can be explained by the fact that this age group has significant responsibilities as heads of households, with needs to be met. But this is also linked to the strong rural exodus of young people, who no longer seem to be attracted by agriculture. This has implications for the sustainability of market gardening, as an aging workforce may affect productivity and innovation unless strategies are developed to attract younger participants. Policy measures such as youth-targeted training programs or incentives could help reverse this trend.

With regard to education, the most represented category is that of those without formal education, but the second is that of those who have reached high school. This could be because people with no education find it difficult to find work in other sectors, thus falling back on market gardening. These findings are consistent with those of [38], who noted that the majority of market gardeners in the city (86%) have no formal schooling. With regard to technical expertise, the study also reveals that almost all respondents have not received technical training in market gardening and are not members of a producers’ association. This is at odds with the work of [39], who showed that half of producers have received at least some training in market gardening, and 40% of producers are grouped in market gardening associations. Such gaps may limit the adoption of improved cultivation practices and constrain collective bargaining power, suggesting that fostering associations and providing accessible technical training could significantly enhance productivity and market access. As for access to credit, only a minority of respondents have access to it. This could be explained by the lack of financial guarantees and the risks perceived by lenders, given that they do not belong to producer groups.

4.2. Characteristics of the Market Gardening System in the Study Area

The results show that most of the production is intended for household consumption and sale. This demonstrates the importance of vegetable production in providing subsistence for the population and generating income. These results are consistent with those of [40,41], respectively, in Ziguinchor, Senegal, and in the city of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The results also show that market gardeners cultivate the types of soil studied according to their location in the region. Most of the market gardeners surveyed reported that soil quality is good in terms of fertility, hence the acceptable yields obtained according to the producers’ assessment. Land insecurity was also noted, characterized by the absence of property rights, with most plots being obtained through loans. This situation is due to the difficulty of accessing property and high land acquisition costs. The areas cultivated are generally between 1000 m² and 5000 m². These results contrast with those of [25], who noted areas ranging from 200 m² to 1200 m². Among vegetable crops, it was found that sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and bitter eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum) are the most widely grown. Strong local demand, relative ease of cultivation, and the economic and cultural importance of these products explain their prevalence in market gardening in Ziguinchor [25].

4.3. Agroecological Practices Used by Smallholder Farmers

The identification and elimination of weeds and diseased plants, and spacing between plants during sowing and transplanting operations are the agroecological practices most frequently adopted by market gardeners. These practices reflect farmers’ recognition of the competitive pressures that weeds impose on crops, particularly in terms of water and nutrient availability. Beyond confirming agronomic observations [42], this suggests that smallholders possess practical knowledge that can support crop productivity, even in the absence of formal technical training. There is also the fact that the majority of market gardeners use manure to fertilize their fields, as it promotes crop development. This aligns with findings from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where poultry manure and cow dung constitute the primary sources of organic matter for urban agriculture [43]. However, alongside these practices, others are less commonly used, such as using the recommended doses of chemical fertilizers, not burning dry grass and residues, water conservation techniques, and crop rotation. This situation is thought to be the result of low awareness and a lack of technical training among vegetable farmers in good agroecological practices. These omissions may limit long-term sustainability, contributing to soil degradation, reduced water quality, and vulnerability to pests and diseases [44].

4.4. Motivations for the Adoption of Agroecological Practices

The results of this study reveal that, according to producers’ perceptions, the application of agroecological practices improves soil fertility, increases yields, and improves soil health. This perception appears to be a key driver motivating the adoption of such practices in the study area. These results are consistent with those of [45] in Benin and [46], who noted that the use of organic fertilizer improves soil fertility and increases yields. which demonstrated that organic fertilization contributes to soil fertility and yield improvement. This suggests that farmers are capable of recognizing tangible agronomic benefits, even when formal training is limited, highlighting the role of experiential knowledge in shaping sustainable agricultural practices. However, the study also reveals a degree of uncertainty among producers regarding the broader ecological benefits of agroecological practices, such as effective pest and disease management and biodiversity conservation. Most respondents only partially agree on these points, indicating gaps in awareness and understanding. This uncertainty may stem from limited formal education and insufficient exposure to holistic agroecological principles. Consequently, while farmers adopt practices that directly improve crop performance, the potential for broader ecosystem services remains underexploited.

4.5. Perceived Influencing Factors of Agroecological Practices Adoption by Smallholder Farmers

Having guidance and training in the application of agroecological practices, access to information and financing for good agroecological practices, and membership in a network or group of producers practicing agroecology are the three factors that strongly influence market gardeners’ decisions to adopt agroecological practices. These findings underscore the importance of social capital and knowledge transfer in shaping sustainable agricultural behavior. They corroborate those of [47], who state that, under the impetus of international institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that finance agroecology, producer groups are moving toward agroecological initiatives. Additional factors perceived as influential include access to improved seeds, organic fertilizers, biopesticides, and secure land tenure. The level of influence of these factors could be explained by the fact that the elements mentioned above are very expensive and sometimes inaccessible to market gardeners. These results are consistent with those of [48] in Togo, which reveal that the market gardening sector is linked to biophysical conditions, producer organization, access to production factors and equipment, producers’ capacity building, and the marketing, storage, and processing of products.

4.6. Perceived Barriers Affecting the Adoption of Agroecological Practices

The lack of labor, poor access to information and training in good agricultural practices, the high cost of improved seeds, and difficulty accessing organic fertilizer are perceived by producers in the study area as the main factors that could significantly constrain the adoption of agroecological practices. These findings corroborate previous research [46] and highlight the structural and knowledge-based constraints faced by smallholders. This can be explained by the fact that agroecology requires a good knowledge base and more labor than conventional agriculture, which can discourage adoption, particularly among aging farmers or those with a limited workforce. As for fertilizer, most producers in the study area do not raise livestock, which means they have to purchase it at high prices due to high demand. Limited information and capacity-building opportunities may also hinder adoption, especially when extension services are delivered in formats that are not well-adapted to the needs of smallholders.

5. Conclusions

This study analyzes the market gardeners’ perception of agroecological practices in urban and peri-urban areas in the Ziguinchor region. It highlights a growing awareness of the benefits of these techniques while also highlighting the persistence of several major obstacles. Among the main obstacles identified are a lack of technical knowledge, insufficient financial resources, and limited access to capacity building. In rural areas, market gardeners often operate in a precarious economic context, which limits their capacity for innovation. In urban areas, on the other hand, the availability of infrastructure and market opportunities can encourage faster and more effective adoption of agroecological approaches. Integrating these practices into market gardening is an important lever for boosting food security, improving farm incomes, and promoting the sustainability of local ecosystems. To accelerate adoption, it is essential to strengthen training and technical support systems, develop incentive-based public policies, and facilitate access to financing. In addition, building strong partnerships between institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local communities is a key factor in creating an environment conducive to agroecological transition.

It is therefore imperative to continue efforts to build a more environmentally friendly agricultural future that benefits local communities.