Palm Oil Production and Marketing in the Municipality of Houeyogbe in South-West Benin

Abstract

The agricultural sector play important role in the development of Houeyogbe municipality. This study aims to analyze the production and marketing of palm oil in Houeyogbe. The methodological approach is based on data collection, processing, analysis and interpretation. A total of 294 farmers were interviewed and, the data collected was processed using Excel software. Finally, the SWOT analysis was used. The results reveal that, oil palm exploitation is an activity carried out primarily by women. 30 % of the earnings from the sale of palm oil are intended for home-consumption and the remaining 70 % for sale and export. In addition, for a production of 15 liters of palm oil in the dry season, the producers make a revenue from 135000 FCFA (245.45 $) to 330000 FCFA (600 $) with an estimated expense of 80000 FCFA (145.45 $). The profit margin varies from 55000 FCFA (100 $) to 250000 FCFA (454.54 $) in the dry season. In the rainy season, the processing of 200 measures of palm nuts yields a quantity of 150 liters of red oil, the selling price is 9000 FCFA (16.36 $) per 25 liter can, which gives a revenue of 135000 FCFA (245.45 $) with an estimated expense of 60000 FCFA (109.9 $). The profit margin is 75000 FCFA (136.36 $). Retail marketing of palm oil is not developed in Houeyogbe’s municipality. Most retail marketing is directly linked to consumption. Most of the wholesalers are beginners who come from urban areas with trucks to buy palm oil in bulk. They sell for the most part in the markets of Lokossa, Azovè, Dogbo, Athiémè, and sometimes in Cotonou. It is recommended that actors at various levels take into account the various constraints that constitute bottlenecks so that appropriate solutions are provided to improve the performance of the various actors in the palm oil sector in the commune of Houéyogbé.