Socio-Economic Impact of Shea Butter Production on the Living Conditions of Producers in the Regions of Poro and Tchologo (Northern Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the socio-economic effects of shea butter production on producers’ life in the regions of Poro and Tchologo, the largest production areas, in northern C&#244te d’Ivoire. Thanks to a survey carried out on 1200 producers, results showed that 90% of producers are women. The activity of shea butter production is a factor of social cohesion through the formation of several working groups. Producers earned between $82.55 and $86.14 per campaign when retailers earned between $89.73 and $116.64 and the wholesalers between $1794.52 and $1973.98. Pickers (24.16%) and producers (88.16%) had health problem when retailers and wholesalers are spared health problems. The state of C&#244te d’Ivoire had to reorganize the shea sector and involve women at all levels of the chain. It must set the price of the kg of shea butter at the start of each campaign compared to other industrial crops.