Relationship between production and consumption of fruit grown on the Allada plateau in southern Benin.

In Benin, the diet of the population is deficient in vitamins and minerals; consumption of fruits and vegetables could be an effective way to prevent nutritional deficiencies and chronic disease. In this context, it was important to study the volume of fruit and vegetable consumption in Benin and to assess the relationship between availability, price and acquisition by households. We were interested in the consumption of fruits produced in a region of Benin, Allada plateau. The different species of fruit grown on the Allada plateau were identified. Availability was assessed and related to their consumption based on a regional survey of a sample of 120 farm managers across four municipalities in the region. The net consumption of locally grown fruits by each producing household was estimated at 31.6 kg per year. Among the 15 fruit species identified, the most eaten were found to be mango (13.3 kg per person per year, 42%), banana (7.6 kg per person per year, 24%), mandarin (11%), orange (8%) and avocado (7%). No significant correlation was found between consumption and production of fruit. However, a very strong correlation was demonstrated between the production and the amount of fruit sold, and a significant negative correlation was found between the amount of fruit products and their selling price. The balance between production and consumption showed a positive margin for the orange, pineapple, tangelo and papaya, which means that these products are primarily commercial and only a residual share of these crops is reserved for consumption. Most other fruit crops consumed by households of Allada plateau must be imported. On the Allada plateau, despite high production of certain fruits, their consumption by farm households is low and little diversified with respect to their availability; it is well below the standards recommended by the WHO. It will be necessary to study further the determinants of such a bias to guide public policy and the choice of producers and consumers better to ensure a better diet for local people.

Source de publication: Fruits, 67(01): 3-12. doi: 10.1051/fruits/2011061,

Contacts du ou des auteurs: Christophe Cocou Tossou (chritossou@yahoo.fr), Anne B. Floquet, Brice A. Sinsin