PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY OF TRADffiONAL VEGETABLE LEA VES lN THE CITY OF COTONOU

Abstract

The production and supply of traditional leafy vegetables has been studied in the city of Cotonou to contribute to a better knowledge of traditional leafy vegetables and their mode of production. Data were collected from socio-economic surveys based on structured interviews with three categories of actors, namely gardeners, traders and consumers. A total of 209 people were interviewed, including 130 traders, 39 consumers and 40 gardeners. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequencies, response rates and averages. From the results obtained, it emerges that 06 main traditional leafy vegetables are grown in the city of Cotonou. Each gardener produces an average of 2016 m2 of Amaranthus cruentus, 5424 m2 of Solanum aethiopicum, 1362 m2 ofVernonia amygdalina, 1548 m2 ofOcimum gratissimum, 1020 m2 of Celosia argentea and 360 m2 of Hibiscus sabdariffa. Finally, the various supply routes for traditional leafy vegetables are the market garden sites, the small markets of the submunicipalities of Cotonou, the markets of the municipalities bordering Cotonou such as Ouidah, Abomey-Calavi and Sèmè-Kpodji and the international market Dantokpa which feeds aIl local markets in the supply of traditional leafy vegetables.