Download File
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
International Journal of Current Advanced Research ISSN: O: 2319-6475, ISSN: P: 2319-6505, Impact Factor: 6.614 Available Online at www.journalijcar.org Volume 9; Issue 03 (D); March 2020; Page No.21670-21676 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2020.21676.4265 Research Article SOCIOECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GILO GROUP'S AFRICAN EGGPLANT TRADE (Solanum aethiopicum L.) IN THE MUNICIPAL MARKETS OF BRAZZAVILLE (REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO) Mialoundama Bakouetila Gilles Freddy Rural Economics and Sociology Laboratory, Higher National School of Agronomy and Forestry (ENSAF), Marien Ngouabi University, Congo ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: The objective of this study is to determine the socio-economic characteristics of the african Received 06th December, 2019 eggplant trade in the municipal markets of Brazzaville. The study was carried out in Received in revised form 14th Brazzaville with a sample of 150 traders involved in this trade. The analysis of the survey January, 2020 data was done with the Sphinx Plus software. V.5. The results show that this trade is Accepted 23rd February, 2020 dominated by women of various profiles. It mobilizes young people, adults and constitutes Published online 28th March, 2020 an opportunity for professional integration and women impowerment. The African eggplant sold in Brazzaville comes mainly from rural production areas, and mobilizes Key words: long-type marketing circuits. During the procurement, the actors of this sector maintain several types of relationships based on their social capital. The sale of eggplant is a characteristics, socio-economy, trade, African profitable activity with average gross profit rates on sale of 22%. It allows to diversify the eggplant, Congo income of vegetable sellers. Copyright©2020 Mialoundama Bakouetila Gilles Freddy. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. INTRODUCTION They are associated either with found in manydishes, mostly salted fish, peanut paste, sorrel from Guinea in palm oil, etc. The urbanization of cities in sub-Saharan Africa results in an (Mialoundama and al., 2001). increase in food demands and a modification of the access conditions to productive resources (Temple and al., 1998 quoted by Mahoungou, 2018). Urban populations are therefore looking for a diversification of their consumption, mainly on fresh and perishable products such as fruit and vegetables (Temple and Moustier, 2004). In the market gardening sectors, the development of market gardening production has led to that of commercial activity and the specialization of actors directly involved in these sectors (Berton-Ofoueme and Moustier, 1991). One of the most commonly grown and consumed fruit vegetables in tropical Africa is the African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) from the Gilo group. It is a shrub plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, it is cultivated in the tropical zone of Africa, Latin America, Asia for the exploitation of its edible fruit (Chen and al., 2000). It occupies Photo 1 round fruits of African eggplants from the Gilo group the 4th place interms of consumption volume after tomato, onion and okra (Lester and Seck, 2004). Production is carried out by small producers living in rural and urban areas (Fondio and al., 2007). In the Republic of the Congo, the consumption of African eggplant fruits (photos 1 and 2) is part of the eating habits of the population. *Corresponding author: Mialoundama Bakouetila Gilles Freddy Rural Economics and Sociology Laboratory, Higher National School of Agronomy and Forestry (ENSAF), Marien Ngouabi University, Congo Socioeconomic Characteristics of the Gilo Group's African Eggplant trade (Solanum Aethiopicum l.) In the Municipal markets of Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo) The primary data were collected through a survey sheet intended for African eggplant traders in the municipal markets selected for the study. Reasonable choice sampling allowed 200 traders to be chosen. The selected traders met the following criteria: first, they had to be traders and exerting in one of the selected markets, secondly they had to be present during the survey and finally they had to be available to answer the survey questions. The direct observations as well as the free talks were carried out simultaneously with the individual interviews through the survey sheets. The data collected through the survey sheets were typed, treated and analyzed by Sphinx Plus V.5 software. However, the information collected through free chat, secondary data Photo 2 elongated fruits of African eggplants from the Gilo group collection and direct observations were subject to content analysis. The African eggplant is widely traded in the Brazzaville markets and it provides income to traders involved in this RESULTS informal trade. Despite the importance of this vegetable, very The profile of African eggplant traders in Brazzaville little information is available on the socio-economic characteristics of this trade. The objective of this study is The African eggplant trade activity in Brazzaville is largely therefore to determine the socio-economic characteristics of dominated by women. It mobilizes both young people (48 %) the African eggplant trade in the urban markets of Brazzaville. and adults (52 %). The 25 to 34 year-old age group is the most represented (45 %) of all the actors surveyed. Live-in women METHODOLOGY (47 %) and single (34 %) are the most represented. Divorced The data collection on the socio-economic characteristics of (2 %), widowed (8 %) and married (9 %) women are the African eggplant trade took place from July to December insignificanly involved in this trade. Almost 56 % of the 2017. The study took place in 16 urban markets in the city of women surveyed lived in households. The african eggplant Brazzaville chosen according to the importance of business trade enables women who are involved in this activity to transactions. It favored both the load breaking points of the participate in family expenses. agricultural production and the large retail markets in the city The literacy rate of the women surveyed is 100 % (Table 1). of Brazzaville (Figure 1). The markets selected for the study The proportion of traders who have reached high education were: Thomas Sankara, Moukondo, Poto-poto 1, Poto-poto 2, remains very insignificant, 2 %. However, it should be noted Plateau des 15 ans, Ouenzé, Port Yoro, Port ATC, PK-Mfilou, that 87 % of women traders have a high school level; 74 % of GVA and PV stations, Total 1, Total 2, Bourreau, Bifouiti, them have a lower secondary level. The fact that all the traders Madibou. have been to school is certainly an advantage in the perspective of popularization actions aimed at professionalizing the actors involved in this value chain. Finally, 70 % of the surveyed traders have a more than 4 years experience, thus testifying the socio-economic impact of this activity. Table 1 Typology of African eggplant traders Characteristics Frequency (%) Variables Modalities Women 100 Kind (gender) Man - < 24 yearsold 3 25-34 yearsold 45 Age range 35-44 yearsold 28 > 45 yearsold 24 Single 34 Free union 47 Marital status Married 9 Divorced 2 Widower 8 Primary 11 Educationallevel Secondary 87 University 2 < 4 yearsold 30 05-09 yearsold 28 Professional 10-14 yearsold 4 experience 15-19 yearsold 15 Figure 1 Location of the main markets surveyed in Brazzaville > 20 yearsold 23 The primary data collection was preceded by an exploratory phase which consisted in the collection of secondary data via local libraries and websites, obtaining survey authorizations. 21671 International Journal of Current Advanced Research Vol 9, Issue 03(D), pp 21670-21676, March 2020 The main characteristics of the African eggplant trade in the surveyed markets comes from Pool department. In this Brazzaville department, the main production areas are located in the sub- prefectures of Igné (Mati, 100 km, 45 km), Ngabe (Imvoumba A value chain dominated by long circuits, involving several and Léfini), Kindamba, Mindouli and Boko. The localities of actors, some of which mobilize their social capital Mouyondzi and Loutété are the two main ones in the Several actors are directly involved in the African eggplant department of Bouenza which supply the Brazzavillian value chain in Brazzaville. Producers are the first types of markets with African eggplants. actors, they are found in vegetable production areas, both in The localities of Ngo (department of plateaux) and Igné are the urban and rural areas although they are more found in rural two main areas of the African eggplants production sold in areas. This value chain mobilizes three types of traders Brazzaville (Figure 3). The production from market garden characterized by their mode of sale, in particular wholesalers, spaces in Brazzaville is low; these market gardeners are more semi-wholesalers as well as retailers. Some wholesalers get attracted by more popular and profitable vegetables. their supplies directly from the production places and resell the goods in bulk (conventional wholesalers). On the other hand, In the city of Brazzaville, the survey identified the main other wholesalers have developed a cooperative strategy with wholesale markets for African eggplants, corresponding to the producers who are located in production areas found in rural breaking point of production load from rural production areas. areas. The strategy