Lupine Publishers | Current Investigations in Agriculture and Current Research
Abstract
Food safety has always been and continues to be a major concern for
all countries of the world. This concern is all the more
perennial in the developing countries like Benin with a low economic
level and still rudimentary and extensive agriculture. To
reduce a little bit of food insufficiency, is developed urban and
peri-urban agriculture based mainly on market gardening. This
study focused particularly on the production of onion in southern Benin.
It aims to analyze its performance, to understand the
importance of this activity but also to see what are the obstacles faced
by these producers. Three municipalities were investigated:
Grand-Popo, Cotonou and Sèmè-Kpodji. A total of 60 farmers were surveyed
at 20 per municipality. Quantitative and qualitative
tools were combined for the analysis of data collected through
individual and group interviews. A joint analysis approach was
used to achieve specific objectives. It consists to combine speech
analysis, participant observation with statistical tools such as the
frequency distribution, the regression model and calculation of
performance indicators. It follows from all of these analyzes that
onion production is profitable from a financial point of view. This
performance is enhanced by factors such as age, experience and
membership of a producer group. Similarly, the farmers claimed for
majority that onion occupies a special place in their market
garden production. This production improves their socio-economic and
food situations. However, the constraints that undermine
the more onion production and thus constitute important producer
concerns are financial, institutional, organizational, property
constraints and those directly related to production. Farmers therefore,
expect a little more effort from agricultural policies to
improve the development of this sector.
Keywords: Onion, Performance, Importance, Barriers, Southern Benin
Introduction
The agricultural sector provides essentially food security and
livelihood in Benin, with 70% of the population earning their
income from agriculture [1]. This sector is even more important
for developing countries like Benin, where it is one of the pillars
of the economy [2]. Nowadays, it is increasingly recognized that
in the developing world, nearly three billion people live on less
than US $2 per day [3]. Majority of this population are smallholder
farmers producing staple food crops with little prospects of
generating higher incomes. Hence, diversification into high-value
horticulture is essential for increasing farm incomes, alleviating
poverty and improving livelihoods [4,5]. Globally, food production
is still a challenge [6,7], especially with the projected rise in world
population to over 9 billion by 2050 and increased urbanization in
cities [8]. There is therefore still some justification for increasing
agricultural production in the coming years [9,10]. Urban vegetable
production is an intensive agricultural strategy through which
urban dwellers secure income and improve their livelihoods [11].Urban
and periurban agriculture (UPA) has been defined differently
by Mougeot [12,13], Moustier [14], and Van Veenhuizen [15], but
they all lay stress on agriculture’s relationship with the city as a
resource and destination for outputs [16].
Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most important commercial
spice crops of the world belongs to Amaryllidaceae family [17].
Moreover, essential oil and sulfur compounds have been found in
onion which is responsible for unique odour, flavour, and taste [18].
Based on the interested situation in health food development, the
properties of onion and its extract as a functional agent have been
demonstrated in many previously [19]. Onion (Allium cepa L.) has
been valued as food and medicinal plant since ancient times [20].
It is widely cultivated secondly to tomato, and is a vegetable bulb
crop known to most cultures and consumed worldwide [21]. The
major onion producing countries of the world are China, India, USA,
Turkey, Japan, Spain, Brazil, Poland and Egypt [22]. In Benin West
African country, this culture has become very important especially
in urban areas where the market gardeners devote more land to
the production of onion. It is in order to make an inventory and
understand onion production in southern Benin that this study
was conducted. Specifically, the study aims to analyze firstly the
profitability of onion production, secondly to appreciate the
importance of onion production in southern Benin and ending by
identifying the difficulties facing the farmers.
Materials and Methods
Study zone
The municipalities of Grand-Popo, Sèmè-Kpodji and Cotonou are
located in south of Benin and cover respectively 289km², 250km²
to 79km². The town of Grand Popo is located in the southwestern
department of Mono. It is limited to the north by the Athiémé,
Comé and Houéyogbé communes, south by the Atlantic sea, to the
southwest by the communes of Ouidah and Kpomassè and west by
the Republic of Togo. Located between the parallel 6° 22 ‘and 6° 28’
north latitude and the meridian 2° 28 ‘and 2° 43’ east longitude,
the commune of Sèmè-Kpodji is in the Department of Ouémé, the
Southeast of the Republic of Benin on the Atlantic coast. It is limited
to the north by the city of Porto Novo and Aguégué, south by the
Atlantic sea, to the east by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to the
west by the city of Cotonou. The town of Cotonou in turn is located
on the barrier beach that stretches between Nokoué Lake and the
Atlantic sea, consistitued of alluvial sands of about five meters
maximum height. It represents the only municipality in the Littoral
department is bounded to the north by the municipality of Sô-Ava
and Nokoué Lake, south by the Atlantic sea, to the east by the town
of Seme-Kpodji and West by that of Abomey-Calavi. These towns
are from a set that has a sub-equatorial climate except Sèmè-Kpodji
bathed in a Guinean Sudanese climate. We find in these areas, the
sandy type of soil, leached and hydromorphic. The municipalities of
Grand-Popo, Sèmè-Kpodji and Cotonou have various socio-cultural
group included the mina, the Goun, the Xwla and Toffins.
Methodology
To conduct this research, three (03) municipalities were
selected in southern Benin. These towns were chosen partly
because of their significant contribution to the onion production of
the department to which they belong, and secondly because of the
large number of onion producers they contain. We have Grandpopo,
Sèmè-Kpodji and Cotonou. Therefore, (60) producers made object
of investigation at the rate of twenty (20) producers per commune.
This sample consists only of onion producers. Note that the sample
was achieved in a simple random in order to give all producers the
same probability of being selected. Table 1 show the composition
of the sample per commune: The collected data is related not only
to the characteristics of the producers, but also to expenditure and
revenue of producers. The information has been collected on the
basis of a questionnaire and a pre-prepared interview guide.
Table 1: Composition of the sample per commune.
Source: Results of investigation, 2018.
Data analysis
In this study, the performance of onion production in
southern Benin was assessed using several indicators of financial
performance. To this end, it is inspired by the work of Dédéwanou
[23]. Several profitability indicators were therefore calculated,
namely: Gross Product Value (PBV), Added Value (VA), the Gross
Operating Income (RBE) and Net Operating Income (RNE). From
Adégbola [24] and Bockel [25] studies, these indicators can be
calculated as follows:
a) Product Gross Value (PBV): Denoting by Q the quantity of
onion obtained and PU the selling price of the kilogram, the Gross
Product Value (PBV) is given by: PBV = Q*PU.
b) The PBV is for this purpose the revenue made by the
producer.
c) Added Value (VA): It corresponds to the difference between
the Raw Product Noise Value and the value of intermediate inputs
(CI). Intermediate consumption represents expenses related to the
acquisition of insecticides, herbicides, and baskets. Its formula is
given by: VA=PBV-CI.
d) The added value is obtained by deducting from the PBV,
all expenses directly related to the production. Note that the
added value is the wealth that the producer creates. This wealth
contributes to the Gross Domestic Product of the country.
e) Gross Operating Income (RBE): It is given by the formula:
RBE=VA-(Labor compensation + financial expenses + taxes). To
estimate the RBE, it was considered only the hired labor.
f) Net Operating Income (RNE) This indicator represents the
balance of RBE less the value of depreciation. Its formula is given
by: RNE=RBE-Amortization.
g) The RNE expresses the gain (or loss) Economic agent once
acquitted all current operating expenses. RNE, expresses the
economic gain (or loss) given the investments made previously.
Therefore RNE is obtained by deducting from the PBV all expenses
related to production.
h) This study is also proposed to analyze the determinants
of the profitability of onion production. For this purpose this
study was based on the work of Tovignan [26] and Allagbe [27]. A
multiple linear regression model has been developed on the basis
of sixty (60) onion producers. Thus, the multiple linear regression
formula can be written as follow:
y =α0 +α1xi+ εi
Where: y is the dependent variable, xi the explanatory variables,
α is a constant called “intercept” and Ɛi the error term of the model.
The evaluation of the importance of onion production consists
to determine changes in socio-economic and food orders induced
by this production in the three investigated municipalities. To
do this, in a collection of producer’s speeches about perceived
improvements since they produce onion was done. The analysis
fundamentally was based on the discourse of these producers and
through participant observation. More simply, the analysis consists
to explain the effects induced by the production of onion in a social
context through producer’s speeches and participant observation.
These explanations were supported by the comments of some
significant producers. The frequency distribution and the farmer’s
speeches allowed identifying the barriers of onion production in
the study areas.
Presentation of the variables included in the model
Two types of variables are included in the regression model
turned. We have on the one hand, the dependent variable and
the other explanatory variables. The dependent variable is the
Net Operating Income of producers. It was therefore question
of identified and analyzed the factors influencing the income of
onion producers. So many variables called ‘’ explanatory ‘’ were
introduced in the regression model. The explanatory variables
included in the model are: age of the producer (Age), household
size (Mena), the number of agricultural household assets (ActifM),
the level of literacy (Alpha), educational level (Inst), seniority (Anc),
membership of a group (APPG), the cultivated area (Sup), the mode
of land access (ACCT) and fixed costs (CF).
There are a lot of reasons for the incorporation of these
variables in the regression model.
a) Age: Age is a variable expressed in years. Several studies
identify age as a parameter determining the profitability of
agricultural production. Indeed, the more the producer is aged, the
more he gains experience enabling him to improve the financial
performance of its operations. This variable has been introduced
into the model to see if it has an influence on the net income of
onion producers in South Benin. The age would have a positive
effect on the financial performance of onion production.
b) Mena: This variable refers to the number of persons who
form the household of the producer. Household size is a potential
source of labor and allows producers to increase production. It
therefore positively influences the net income of the onion producer.
c) ActfM: This variable represents the number of agricultural
workers of producer household. The number of assets would have a
positive effect on the profitability of production because the market
garden production, especially onions requires a lot of labor.
d) Alpha and Inst: Education can acquire a base regarding
the management of a exploitation. So, educated onion producers
will have a higher income than their uneducated counterparts. The
effect of literacy and education on the net income would be positive.
e) Old: This is the number of the producer seniority year. Over
the producer has a number of high year of seniority, the more he
has strengths and knowledge that will enable him to improve his
onion production. It therefore positively influences the net income
of the onion producer.
f) APPG: This variable represents the membership or not of
the producer to a group. It is a binary variable taking the values 1
if the producer is a member of an onion producer group or 0 if not.
This variable could have a positive effect on financial performance
of the production, in the sense that the producer’s group members
have the support of extension services as well as that of some
development programs and projects in order to improve their
performance.
h) ACCT: This variable represents the farmer’s access mode
to the ground. This variable is set to 0 if the producer has access
to land by inheritance; 1 if access rental. The fact that the onion
producer owns the piece of land to his work, it could have an
influence on his income because the latter will invest the necessary
capital. A positive or negative sign of the coefficient for this variable
would be expected.
i) CF: Fixed costs represent costs of production. Over were
these expenses less producers take advantage of his farm. These
variables will therefore have a negative effect on net income of
onion producers.
Table 2: Summary of the model variables and the expected signs.
Source: Results of literature searches, 2018.
Table 2 shows a summary of all the variables included in the
model with their expected signs. Note that two software’s were
used in this section. SPSS has achieved descriptive statistics and
STATA software was used to perform econometric regression.
Results and Discussion
A zoom on onion production and consumption
The following Table 3 shows the countries that produce most of
onion in the world. China and India are the primary onion growing
countries, followed by the USA, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Pakistan,
Brazil, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Korea [21].
Onion productivity is highest in the Republic of Korea (66.16t/
ha), followed by the USA (56.26t/ha), Spain (53.31t/ha), and the
Netherlands (51.64t/ha). With world production of 74,250,809
tonnes from an area of 4,364,000 hectare, the average productivity
across the world is 19.79t/ha. The international trade in onion
exports is 6.77 million tonnes. The Netherlands is the highest
onion exporter (1.33 million tonnes) followed by India, China,
Egypt, Mexico, USA, Spain, and Argentina. Bangladesh, Malaysia,
the Russian Federation, the UK, Japan, and Saudi Arabia are the
major onion importing countries in the world [21]. According to
Bethesda [28], West Africa represents less than 2% of the world
output of onion. However, it represents 10±25% of the vegetables
consumption in West Africa: its culture is ancient in the region
and extends through several agro-ecological zones, ranging from
arid Sahelian countries to humid coastal countries [29]. In Benin
particularly, the production of the onion is relatively young (40-50
years) [30].
Table 3: The ten largest producers of onion in the world.
Source: FAO, 201221.
If there is no recent and clear statistics of the volume of domestic
onion production, it should be noted that the production has been
in galloping development of around 70,000 tonnes against 15,000
just 20 years ago. According to Baco [31] and Affomasse [32], the
average area of onion production is 1 ha in Benin representing 57%
of total area under vegetable crops. Onion is the market garden
predominant crop in Benin since it is grown by more than 80% of
vegetable growers. Similarly, the onion is a product consumed by all the
urban and rural beninese. Urban consumption is estimated
at 3.3kg of onions per year per person. This demand represents a
commercial demand for 7000 tonnes per year. The consumption of
rural populations against is estimated at 1.1 kg of onions per year
per person, a rural consumption of about 14 000 tonnes. Although
the production of onion is growing, the country is unable to meet
domestic demand of around 45,000 tonnes [33] throughout the
year, which explains the need to import the remaining, mainly by
Niger, Gaya-Malanville border [34].
Source of supply and sector’s actors
Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Benin are the biggest onion
supply sources to West African consumers. Niger is the largest
producer and exporter of onion in West Africa and its commercial
network allows to supply the major coastal markets of the sub
region. In Benin, for against the import of this speculation is more
important because domestic production cannot meet the needs
of people. However, nationally the most productive zones are
Malanville, Karimama and Grand-Popo followed by large cities
(Cotonou, Sèmè-Kpodji, Ouidah, Dassa and Glazoué) that also
produce a considerable quantity of onion as urban or suburban
vegetable. The production of onion, like most agricultural crops
in Benin knows two periods: a period of abundance (January to
May) characterized by high availability of onions on the market.
Currently, importers of other countries (Nigeria, Burkina Faso,
Nigeria) are sourcing local onion to neighboring countries. The
second period, that of solder (August to December) is characterized
by the scarcity of onions and increasing the product price on the
market. In Benin, onion varieties are encountered onion Galmi
(or white Galmi onion), purple Galmi (or onion Agades) and
Dendi onion of Malanville (red onion or local onion). Of these
varieties, the white Galmi remains the favorite onion for Beninese
consumers. Besides his characteristics that one knows (bigger than
the red onion, relatively smooth, easier to maintain, less spicy (less
acidic)), it is its organoleptic qualities that are most appreciated
(the pleasant flavor that it gives to the sauce and the fact that it
does not blacken). Regarding the sale price of onions, it knows a big
fluctuation depending on the period as specified above. Thus, the
bag of 100kg of acceptable quality onion (red onion Galmi) and the
most appreciated (white Galmi onion) respectively cost 14,500 CFA
and 19,500 CFA in times of plenty against respectively 50,000 CFA
and 75.000 CFA in lean period. Table 4 shows the selling price of
100 kg bag of different onion varieties in the study area.
Table 4: selling price of 100 kg bag of cultivated varieties of onion.
Source: Results of investigation, 2018.
The actors in the Value Chain (VC): a multitude of
stakeholders
The onion sector is composed of a large number of actors can
be subdivided into four groups. It is the operators of the value
chain; supporters of the chain; institutional actors; stakeholders
and external facilitators
a) The operators of the value chain are most concerned.
They are upstream of the value chain and are for the most part
the first owners of the product. They represent producers, sellers
or resellers, customers or buyers, processors, intermediaries,
wholesalers and retailers.
b) The supporters of the chain are those that are not directly
related to the process of production or marketing. They are actors
who sell their services to producers, processors and traders.
This is usually suppliers of inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides),
moneylenders or credit providers, pumps sellers and gasoline
retailers, MFIs, intermediaries, carriers, of agricultural laborers,
carters to transport the onion over a short distance etc.
c) Institutional actors are the actor’s group that provides
institutional support in the context of a continuous improvement
and regulation of the sector activities. These include state
structures (MAEP, CECPA, SCDA, customary chiefs, customs, police,
gendarmerie, research and extension services etc.). The finding
done is that these groups of actors do not really invest in the
development of the sector.
d) Stakeholders and external facilitators are actors who aim to
improve the socio-economic life of rural populations. They provide
financial and technical support primarily to producers. These
are NGOs, development projects and programs, and specific fund
donors.
Downstream of the chain, there is a last group of actors which
is relatively large: The consumers. Onion Consumers can be at
any level of the chain. He may be the producer and in this case
he practices subsistence farming or firm that process onion for
example. It is important to note that in this sector, the actors play
complementary roles. The value chain would not be good if each
group of actors not playing its role effectively. The following Figure
1 shows schematically the various actors in the onion value chain in
Southern Benin: In fact, some of the onions harvested by farmers are
sold to rural collectors or directly to local markets. Intermediaries
and wholesalers, for their part, buy onion for the most part
from rural collectors or local markets. The purchased stock is
then transported to urban markets (for example the Dantokpa,Malanville and Parakou markets). However, it should be noted that
some producers sell their crops directly in these urban markets.
The following circuit (Figure 2) shows the onion commercialization
process described by respondent’s producers. All actors in the
chain are present and the complementary relationship they have in
the onion value chain.
Figure 1: Groups of actors in the Onion value chain in Benin.
Source: Results of investigation, 2018.
Figure 2: Process of marketing of onion value chain.
Source: Results of investigation, 2018.
Potential and motivations of onion producers
The onion production in both North and South Benin is favored
by some natural assets available in the country. It is:
a) Agro-ecological potential of Benin (soils, climate, topography,
vegetation, drainage network).
b) The geographical location of Benin (proximity to other
producing countries such as Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and other
countries onion importers like Togo).
In addition to the natural potential, certain provisions promote
onion production in Benin. We can talk about:
a) Mechanized irrigation through pumps for irrigation, from
the shallow groundwater.
b) Interventions of many projects to support the intensification
and promotion of fruit and vegetable crops.
c) Applied search to identify ways of improving vegetable
production.
d) The producer’s enthusiasm for onion cultivation due to its
high profitability.
e) The supply in specific inputs (Improved seeds, products
pesticides, fertilizers...) from the 2000s.
f) Existence of market garders communal groups.
g) The existence of an international market and many village
markets.
Especially for urban producers surveyed (Cotonou, Seme-
Kpodji and Grand Popo) these are the following benefits that
motivate these market gardeners to engage in the cultivation of
onion.
a) The high financial profitability of onion production
b) More favorable conditions for the intensification of
production systems, due to land pressure and pluriactivity that
promote the enhancement of complementarities.
c) The geographical proximity to markets (Dantokpa market
for example) reduces transportation costs compared to remote
rural areas.
d) The reduction of energy and time in getting goods to
consumers: transport, storage, especially for fresh produce.
e) The reduction of post-harvest losses due to the proximity of
production areas.
f) Better product quality in terms of freshness for perishable
products.
Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the
surveyed producers
In southern Benin, specifically in the municipalities of
Grand-Popo, Sèmè-Kpodji, and Cotonou onion production is
predominantly male (78.3% of men against 21.7% of women).
These producers have an average age of 28 (±08) with a tenure
of 06 years (±04). Moreover, in the study area average household
has 04 persons (±02) and 03 (±01) agricultural assets. Levels of
literacy and education of the surveyed producers are more or less
acceptable in public Grand-Popo, Sèmè-Kpodji and Cotonou. Note
also that 50% of producers are active members of a group against
a second half not belonging to a producer group. Overall, there are
81.7% literate farmers and 91.7% educated farmers. In the study
zone, onion producers have an average area under crop of 2785.48
m2. These areas are obtained either legacy (61.7%) or rent (38.3%).
To operate their farms, producers face two types of loads in their
exploitations. These called ‘’variables’’ and those ‘’fixed’’. These
charges are respectively 93 CFA/m2 and 5.76 CFA/m2. Table 5
shows the statistical variables characterizing respondents.
Table 5: Statistical variables characterizing respondents.
Source: Results of investigation, 2018.
Financial Performance of onion production
To assess the financial performance of onion production,
analysis of operating farmers account was made. Thus, the results
of the analysis reported in Table 4 shows that onion production is
profitable in southern Benin as the average Net Operating Income
calculated is positive (689 CFA/m2>0). These results are consistent
with those of MAHRH [35] and Fanou [36] whose studies finally led
to the conclusion that onion production is profitable. Table 6 below
shows the operating account of onion producers. Note that the
financial performance indicators used were calculated in CFA/m2.
Table 6: Financial performance indicators calculated.
Source: Results of investigation, 2018.
Determinants of onion production profitability
The multiple linear regression model performed to identify
the determinants of the onion production profitability is generally
significant at the 1% level (p=0.0000<1%). Variables such as age of
the producer, the cultivated area, the level of literacy, membership
in a group, the experience, and fixed costs are those which influence
the onion production profitability in southern Benin. The variables
of the model that are not significant are: household size, the
number of farm assets, access to land and the level of producer
instruction. Age has a positive significant effect on the threshold of
1% on the profitability of onion production. We therefore deduce
that more the producer is old, more sometimes he took advantage
of its business. The producer thus gains experience with time.
Which experience allows him to improve the financial performance
of his exploitations? However, these producers are very few open to
new technologies that are proposed to improve their income. They
therefore remain conservative. This conclusion stems from the
fact that seniority has a negative significant effect on the threshold
of 1% on the profitability of onion production. It is the same for
literacy that has a negative and significant effect on the threshold
of 1% on the profitability of onion production in southern Benin.
These results are contrary to those obtained by Labiyi [37] which
identify education as a determinant of economic efficiency of
resource allocation in soybean production in Benin. Membership of
the producer group has a positive and significant effect at the 10%
threshold on the profitability of onion production.
Thus, onion producers who are members of a group have higher
net profits than the others because they will benefit from certain
advantages. We can highlight the sharing of information, mutual
assistance and the expertise that a producer can take the other
being a member of an onion producer group. These results are
consistent with those of Tovignan [26] who found that producers
who are members of a group have a higher net profit than others
who do not belong to any group. Unlike the membership of a
producer group, the wheat area has a negative and significant
effect on the threshold 5% on the profitability of his exploitations.
Thus, over the cultivated area, the less the onion producer benefits
from his activities. The producers do not manage to meet the
obligations belong to large farms. Note that these results contradict
those obtained by Tovignan [26] who deduced that producers who
have a large area under cotton production have a higher net profit
than those having a small area. It is the same for the fixed charges
that have a negative effect and significant at the 5% level on the
profitability of the production of onion. Therefore, the more these
expenses amounted less the producer benefits from his plantation.
Table 7 shows the results of estimation of multiple linear regression
model performed.
Table 7: Estimated multiple linear regression models.
*** = Significant at 1%; ** = significant at 5%; * = Significant at 10%
Source: Estimation Results, 2018.
Source: Estimation Results, 2018.
Onion importance for farmers: The onion producers
constitute the largest actors group in the in the sector. Therefore, this
production contributes to job creation for over 75% of agricultural
assets during market gardening seasons in different regions of the
study area. At the household level, onion cultivation is an important
source of income and contributes to food and income security for
producers. The onion is often the biggest source of cash income
and helps to meet the needs of families. At Grand-Popo, as in all the
investigated cities (Cotonou, Seme-Kpodji), deferred selling garden
products, particularly onion is a powerful lever to support the food
security of urban populations. As an activity of counter-season,
onion belts allow producers not only to self-employed, to ensure
household food security but also to receive significant revenue.
98% of surveyed producers recognized that onion production
has resulted in many changes in their socio-economic life. In
general, improving purchasing power has had a positive impact on
food security, education and health situation of farmers. The onion
income often also generates new income-generating activities
such as petty trading, farming and others. Culturally, onion helps
to prepare for marriage or pilgrimage to Mecca. Woman A and
Man B two onion producers of Grand Popo and Cotonou asserted:
‘Onion production is very important to us. With this production I am
more and more autonomous. I depend less on my husband. I don’t
expect him anymore before buying coal or kitchen utensils. I do all my
small expenses through this production income and I can even pay
my tontine which was very difficult for me when I was not market
gardner’ (A).’Onion is very profitable. I produce a lot of vegetables but
little counter-season onion i produce, I can invest in my livestock and
it is the same money that allow me paying my three children’s scholar
fees each year’ (B).
Importance for input suppliers and other service
providers
To carry out their activities, onion producers have much
contact with a range of actors that are upstream in the value chain.
Producers purchase pumps and pipes, gasoline, seeds, plows and
small equipment, fertilizers and pesticides. Then, there is all kinds
of economic relations between producers and suppliers, including
the informal credit provision. The majority of the production
costs regarding labor. Indeed, the onion sector creates many jobs,
often for the poor. There is a redistribution of income from large
producers to small producers, landless people in rural exodus
through the agricultural labor. In most cases, producers raise
funds to run production without financial institutions credit. Man
C a Cotonou seed seller confirms these observations through these
words:
‘In general market garden production allows us seed sellers to us
to quickly sell our products in the city. Most of the time, people come
to take the seeds of garden crops like onion and tomato. Many people
feed through production. Carriers, agricultural equipment vendors,
laborers ... ‘ (C)
Health and nutritional importance for producers-self
consumer
Some market gardeners (6%) produce the onion just for its
nutritional and health importance. For these producers, onion is a
valuable culture that they not only produce for sale but also and
especially for its therapeutic properties, organoleptic qualities
and anti-erosive effect. Three onion self-consumers Men D, E and
Woman F justify the importance of the Niger’s purple gold in their
diet and their health situations.
‘The onion gives the taste and flavor. You can prepare a good
sauce without putting a little onion. It is sometimes used to garnish
the food or mitigate the effect of spicy chili’ (D)
‘The onion comes in many herbal tea in traditional therapies.
When crushed with other products such as garlic, Goussi and others
that can heal digestive problems, cancer, liver, rheumatism. It also
helps to regulate menstruation cycle of women. My grandfather
suffered from high blood pressure but with the adequate consumption
of onions, it’s much better for a while ‘ (E)
‘The onion can be used in all forms: raw for salads, for example,
cooked for frying or sauce, cut, beads, rapped or crushed. Onion
juice can treat skin acne and provides a smooth and beautiful skin,
as well as for hair growth and maintenance, colds, coughs, to sexual
arousal’ (F). Figure 3 presents the advantages of onion production
in southern Benin.
Figure 3: Importance of onion production in southern Benin.
Source: RResults of investigation, 2018.
Obstacles and expectations of onion producers in south benin
Onion production despite the many benefits that it brings
to market gardeners, is facing various difficulties. Analysis of
the Table 8 shows that the major constraints identified in onion
production in southern Benin are institutional organizational,
financial, land orders, and those directly related to production. The
market gardeners interviewed affirmed that these constraints were
also those for which it was essential that one find solutions. Among
the most relevant constraints mentioned by farmers are: the lack of
specific inputs for vegetable (onion), strong parasite pressure not
control pests and vegetation in stock, the still extensive production
system and low yields, low technical capacity of producers, difficult
access to credit, poor organization of the onion sector in Benin, the
lack of organization of market gardeners in general, deforestation
and soil impoverishment, difficult harvest evacuation due to the
degradation of most of the tracks, the low involvement of technical
extension services, low supply of local services for the supply and
distribution of specific inputs, lack of arable land, delay and poor
distribution of rainfall in time and space and finally shortening the
rainfall cycle.
Table 8: Constraints of onion production and relevance of these constraints by producers.
Source: Results of investigation, 2018.
These results are in the same direction as those obtained by
Gotoechan-Hodonou [38] in northern Benin, attic of the onion
production. Baco [31] also identified similar constraints in their
studies in the field of seed production. The context of the difficulties
faced by onion farmers in southern Benin is similar to the case of
Niger where the constraints identified were the poor quality and
availability of inputs and equipment, problems of access to certified
seeds, low financial capacity producers, poor access and insufficient
agricultural credit, poor mastery of production techniques, a lack
of modern storage infrastructure and huge losses in stock, the
traditional character of the transformation, the lack of appropriate
packaging the variability of the weight of the bag, the existence of
different methods of fixing and price volatility, weak infrastructure
and road harassment [39], market saturation after the third cycle of
production, the lack of regulatory mechanism supply and demand
and competition from foreign imports in the sub-region39. However,
among the identified constraints, are institutional, organizational
and financial coming to the forefront. It is therefore imperative that
the public and private agricultural institutions orient their policies
in a process of facilitation and development of onion production
in Benin. Despite the efforts, the producers of South Benin still
face enormous difficulties that significantly hamper production.
Producers have issued many approaches that could improve
production conditions and therefore their living conditions. The
most important approaches proposed by the producers were
related to the main constraints mentioned. Man X and Woman Y,
two onion producers argued about it, respectively:
‘We know that we are in cities, so with regard to the land is
lacking but we did not complain too much. But there are things the
government can do to make our job easier. For example, they can
create agricultural credit services for onion producers, they can put us
in group; can also be formed on the most effective technologies
of production. It is necessary that the state helps.’ (X)
‘It is difficult to produce in cities, but we mostly need help. We
receive no government support. Nobody supervises us, we cope
alone. We would like the state begins to take us for help. The state
focuses on cotton or cashew forgetting that gardening provides
food security especially those urban populations. I don’t know
if they know but especially gardening onion production is more
profitable than cotton. I have produced cotton in the North before
coming south for work. But finally I gave myself to the production of
onion because it gives me more revenue especially against season. I
strongly urge agricultural institutions to find us improved varieties
of onion seeds, financing for irrigation and the launch of activities,
organizing into cooperatives and especially we organize training
courses.’ (Y)
Conclusion
Onion production is a very important sector which may be
considered not only to ensure food security of urban populations
but also to improve the living conditions of the producers. This
production proves very financially profitable for producers in
southern Benin. In addition to its financial performance, it also
impacts on social, health, nutritional and environmental producers
living. It allows a large number of producers and a considerable
number of actors as service providers to have substantial income.
However, it would be interesting for agricultural policies to develop
actions to limit constraints of this production in southern Benin.
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