Evaluation of the Economic Profitability of the Mangosteen (<i>Garcinia mangostana</i>) Trade in Côte d'Ivoire: Survey of Six Markets in the Autonomous District of Abidjan

Abstract

Côte d'Ivoire's fruit and vegetable exports are literally dominated by pineapple, banana and mango. Apart from these fruits, Côte d'Ivoire also exports some fruits that do not enjoy the same success as their congeners, including the mangosteen (<i>Garcinia mangostana</i>). The objective of this study was to evaluate the microeconomic profitability of the mangosteen trade in Côte d'Ivoire through the socio-demographic characterization of the traders, the analysis of the marketing circuit, the evaluation of the financial profitability of the trade and the determination of the constraints encountered in the exercise of the activity. To do this, a reasoned choice survey was used as a method for collecting information on mangosteen marketing. The survey was conducted among retailers in five markets in the city of Abidjan and in the fruit market in the town of Azaguié. The results reveal that the mangosteen trade is exclusively carried out by women, most of whom are from the north of Côte d'Ivoire. This activity generates an average monthly income of 110,376.66 ± 2,734.16 CFA francs, which enables traders to meet several expenses. The average financial returns obtained on each of the markets surveyed were above 10%. The average financial return was 81.16%. The marketing of the mangosteen could therefore constitute a real opportunity for economic and social development for the population, which deserves a lot of attention.