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Toward the Reshaping of an Endogenous Leafy Vegetable Value Chain: the Case Study of Vitex doniana in the Republic of Benin

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Abstract

The black plum Vitex doniana is a wild tree widely distributed in Africa. It is consumed as a leafy vegetable by at least 22 ethnic groups in Benin and also used as a source of income. This research analyzed the value chain of this leafy vegetable in order to define strategies that create added value for maximum profits for stakeholders. For each segment of the value chain, we investigated the flow of goods and services, financial flows, opportunities, and bottlenecks. The results indicate that three groups of stakeholders, including collectors-processors, wholesalers, and retailers, were involved in the production and marketing of Vitex doniana leaves. The Vitex doniana investigated in this study came from Kpokissa, a village located in the southeast near Bohicon. Vitex doniana was parboiled before selling and generated reasonable income for stakeholders. Bottlenecks in this value chain included the low density of trees for high productivity, the use of traditional tools for leaf harvest, and poor yield performance of trees due to ageing. Moreover, Vitex doniana was not found in supermarkets and small restaurants, indicating that the species remains an underutilized leafy vegetable. The analysis of the Vitex doniana value chain revealed that some consumers adopted freeze preservation, which requires keeping the pre-cooked vegetable below 0 °C before further use. This method added value. These results provide a baseline for further investigations in improving the value chain of Vitex doniana.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Editor and the reviewers for their contributions. We are grateful to Dr. Blair Orr for English language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526, Cotonou, Benin

    Viviane C. O. Sinébou, Euloge Codjo Togbé, Vincent Ezin A., Alain Fanou Ahohouendo & Bonaventure Cohovi Ahohuendo

  2. Research Group Genetics, Reproduction, Populations, Earth and Life Institute – Agronomy, Université Catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2 Box L7.05.14, B-1348, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium

    Anne-Laure Jacquemart

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  1. Viviane C. O. Sinébou
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  2. Euloge Codjo Togbé
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  5. Bonaventure Cohovi Ahohuendo
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Contributions

SCOV performed all the experiments and surveys in the field (Benin) and wrote the manuscript as a part of her PhD dissertation. TCE led the methods design and co-wrote the manuscript. EVA corrected and improved the English level of the manuscript. AFA helped to perfect the protocol. BCA supervised the field experiments. A-LJ co-supervised data collection and corrected the manuscript. All the authors approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Viviane C. O. Sinébou.

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Ethics Approval

The ethical considerations were addressed prior to starting the interview process with each participant. The purpose of the interview concerning the value chain analysis of Vitex doniana was explained verbally to each informant to request his agreement before data collection. Respondents were explicitly notified that their participation is voluntary, confidential, and non-identifiable.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Sinébou, V.C.O., Togbé, E.C., Ezin A., V. et al. Toward the Reshaping of an Endogenous Leafy Vegetable Value Chain: the Case Study of Vitex doniana in the Republic of Benin. Econ Bot 77, 455–475 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-023-09591-w

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