Economic Profitability of Shea Butter Production under Different Production Systems in the 2KP Districts in the Northern Part of Benin

Abstract

The production and marketing of shea butter provide enough benefit to the rural population, especially women. However, its production varies depending on the production systems used: traditional, semi-mechanized, and mechanized. Each system has specific characteristics that influence the economic performance of the processors. This article aims to evaluate the economic profitability of shea butter production according to the different production systems adopted by women processors of the 2KP and identify the socio-economic and technical factors that influence this economic profitability. To this end, empirical data were collected from 200 women butter producers in Kérou, Kouandé, and Péhunco in the northern part of Benin.

The processing of shea nuts into butter is economically profitable in the production areas from the point of view of processors' profit. In addition, the Average Labour Productivity showed a trend equal to the values of the net margin. Therefore, shea butter production is very economically profitable from the point of view of labor remuneration, but only for women who have used modern and semi-modern systems. Furthermore, the factors influencing the economic profitability of this activity for women include, among others, the age, experience of the processor, her level of formal education, the type of system adopted, the distance traveled to access equipment, etc.