Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture No. 1/09
The value of yam diversity in the transition Guinea Sudan zone of
Benin:
market evidence
Afio Zannou
University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
Paul C. Struik and Paul Richards
Wageningen University, The Netherlands
Abstract
Preferences of traders and consumers for different yam varieties were
analysed in Benin. Prices varied by variety, showing that the market
valued distinct crop traits differently. These varietal price
differentials were present throughout the year and across years. The
use for which each variety was appreciated, was the most important
factor determining the selling price. The study showed that the main
quality criteria for poundable varieties were plasticity, absence of
knobs, taste, and swelling. The quality of the paste depends on the
quality of the dried slices. The quality criteria of the dried slices
included possibility for long storage, absence of blackening during
drying, absence of fibres inside the tuber, strong swelling of the
paste, and high eating quality of the paste and the wassa-wassa (also
called “African couscous”). These market data confirm that successful
varietal technology development on food crops ought to include
reference to consumer preferences, including cultural preferences.
Keywords: price differentials, quality criteria, farmer varieties, Dioscorea spp.
JEL: Q 190
Vol. 48 (2009), No. 1: 67-80