Market structure, trader behaviour and performance of small ruminants marketing in Benin, West Africa

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map of Benin showing the eight agro-ecological zones and 21 markets surveyed.

Figure 2. Structure Conduct Performance elements.

Source: Adapted from Adégbola et al. (2016) and Miles (2014).

Table 1. Small ruminant traders’ characteristics

Variables		Sheep traders (n = 168)	Goat traders (n = 191)	All traders (215)
Qualitative variables		%	%	%	X^2
Gender	Woman	17.3	15.7	14	13.9***
	Man	82.7	84.3	86
Education level	None	58.9	58.6	59.1	0.2^ns
	Primary	28	28.3	27.9
	Secondary and more	13.1	13.1	13.0
Main activity	Agriculture	7.1	12	11.2	33.1***
	Handicraft	1.2	0.5	0.9
	Trade other products	2.4	1.6	1.9
	Livestock trade	88.1	85.9	85.1
	Livestock breeding	1.19	0	0.9
Membership of an association of livestock trader	No	88.1	76.4	77.7	48.1***
	Yes	11.9	23.6	22.3
Type of trader	Semi-wholesaler	25.6	33	31.6	15.1***
	Retailer	52.4	48.7	49.8
	Wholesaler	22	18.3	18.6
Knowledge of small ruminant breeds	Yes	99.4	92.7	93	41.8***
	No	0.6	7.3	7
Year-round practice of small ruminant trade	Yes	93.4	91.6	89.8	21.7***
	No	6.6	8.4	10.2
Quantitative variables		Mean ± Sd	Mean ± Sd	Mean ± Sd	t
Experience in small ruminant trade (in year)		13.9 ± 9.4	13.6 ± 9.4	13.7 ± 9.5	0.4^ns
Starting capital (in XOF^a)		67,261.9 ± 66,578.4	59,926.7 ± 60,738.39	63,674.4 ± 60,642.3	4.1***
Current capital (in XOF)		30,0654.8 ± 230,856	280,026.2 ± 21,1387.3	29,8534.9 ± 23,6888.5	5.5***

***: significant at the 1% level; ns: not significant; Sd = Standard deviation.

^aXOF is a common and official currency of the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. 1 USD = 612,38 XOF on 18/02/2023.

Table 2. Traders’ perception of marketing periods

Periods of activity (%)	Sheep trader (n = 168)			Goat trader (n = 191)
	High	Medium	Low	High	Medium	Low
Aïd el-kebir	92.3	6.6	0.6	92.7	5.8	1
Easter	0	17.3	26.3	0	23.	22.6
Ramadan	17.3	39.9	38.7	12.6	46.1	37.2
Christmas/New year	56.6	42.3	1.2	62.8	37.7	0
Vodoun Festival	13.7	28	45.8	12.6	37.7	38.74
Throughout the year	3.6	40.5	58.9	3.7	34.5	63.4

Table 3. CR4 and HHI index

Small ruminant species	CR4 (%)			HHI
	Wholesalers	Semi-wholesalers	Retailers	Wholesalers	Semi-wholesalers	Retailers
Sheep	25.1	20.3	17.7	0.041	0.032	0.025
Goats	25.4	12.1	15.5	0.037	0.019	0.022

Table 4. Funding of traders

Variables		Sheep trader (n = 168) %	Goat trader (n = 191) %	Small ruminants trader (n = 215)
				%	X^2
Source of funding	Own funds	94	95.3	94.9	2.5 ^ns
	Parents	4.8	3.7	4.2
	Neighbours	1.2	1	0.9
Funding in last 5 years	No	92.9	93.7	93	1.3 ^ns
	Yes	7.1	6.3	7
Funding type	Cash	66.7	46.7	66.7	2.8 ^ns
	Kind	16 .7	20	20
	Both	16.7	13.3	13.3
Source of cash credit	Customers	8.3	13.3	15.4	3.9^ns
	Parents	33.3	26.7	46.1
	Neighbours	41.7	26.7	38.5

^nsnot significant.

Table 5. Access to information

Variables		Sheep trader (n = 168) %	Goat trader (n = 191) %	Small ruminants trader (n = 215)
				%	X^2
Access to information	No	61.9	59.2	56.7	15.1***
	Yes	38.1	40.8	43.3
Information types	Supply places	82.8	91	88.2	7.3^ns
	Sale places	84.4	80.8	81.7	1.0^ns
	Available breed	64.1	47.4	48.4	21.1***
	Transport	54.7	39.7	39.8	20.8***
	Small ruminant diseases	54.7	43.6	40.9	22.6***
	Price	28.1	23.1	93.6	20.0***
Information channels	ICT	96.9	100	97.9	10.6***
	Face to face	84.4	79.5	80.6	1.9^ns
Information sources	Trader	93.8	93.6	94.6	16.9***
	Breeder	67.2	80.8	74.2	14.9***
	Family	71.9	76.9	76.3	15.4***
	Supplier	4.7	3.8	3.2	1.5^ns
	Carrier	26.6	19.2	20.4	3.1^ns
Level satisfaction	Dissatisfied	0	1.3	1.1	6.4^ns
	Neutral or indifferent	1.6	1.3	1.1
	Satisfied	82.8	76.9	77.4
	Very satisfied	15.6	20.5	20.4

***: significant at 1% level; ^nsnot significant.

Table 6. Traders’ perception of best trade period of small ruminant breeds

Periods (%)	Djallonké		Sahelian		Crossbreed
	Sheep	Goats	Sheep	Goats	Sheep	Goats
Christmas/New year	11.3	54.4	1.2	45.6	14.9	44.5
Ramadan	11.9	1	0	7.8	13.1	2.6
Aïd el-kebir	35.7	7.3	97	35.6	35.1	15.7
Vodoun	0	1.6	0.6	4.7	4.2	1
Easter	0	0	0	0.5	3	7.3
Throughout the year	41.1	35.6	1.12	5.8	29.8	28.8
X^2	88.4***		16.1***		113.6***

***: significant at 1% level; ^nsnot significant.

Table 7. Buying and selling practices

Variables		Sheep (n = 168)		Goat (n = 191)
		Percentage	X^2 (Depending on type of trader)	Percentage	X2 (Depending on type of trader)
Time between purchase and sale of small ruminants	Same day	17.3	40.8***	16.2	60.2***
	2 to 5 days	32.1		26.2
	5 to 10 days	46.4		52.9
	10 to 20 days	2.4		4.2
	More than one month	1.8		0.5
Attitude in case of non-disposal of all small ruminants on market day	Bringing in another market	29.2	36.1***	24.6	30.3***
	Take them home and bring back for next market	48.8		59.2
	Leave in market for next market	16.7		10.5
	Selling to other traders at low prices	5.4		5.8

***: significant at 1% level; Type of trader: Wholesalers, semi-wholesalers and retailers.

Table 8. Factors influencing price as perceived by traders

Factors influencing pricing	Sheep (n = 168)		Goat (n = 191)
	Average rank	Prioritisation	Average rank	Prioritisation
Body condition of animal	3.3	1	2.7	1
Breed	3.5	2	4.3	5
Trade period	4.1	3	4.0	2
Animal Age	4.1	4	4.0	3
Animal Sex	4.3	5	4.2	4
Coat colour	6.2	6	5.5	6
Seller type	6.5	7	7.1	8
Quantity required	6.9	8	6.4	7
Animal origin	7.3	9	7.5	9
Presence of intermediary	9.5	10	9.7	10
Market Management Committee	10.2	11	10.5	11
Statistics
W of Kendall (concordance)	0.515		0.573
X^2	720.9***		681.6***

***: significant at 1% level.

Table 9. Transaction Costs in XOF^a

Costs	Sheep Trader (n = 168)					Goat trader (n = 191)
	Wholesaler	Semi-wholesaler	Retailer	All traders	Proportion of traders supporting %	Wholesaler	Semi-wholesaler	Retailer	All traders	Proportion of traders supporting%
Loading	116.7 (±40.8)	66.7 (±28.9)	100	100 (±36.9)	7.1	100	25	100	89.3 (±28.3)	3.6
Animal Transport	884.4 (±520.9)	429.7 (±360.3)	365 (±333.3)	466.9 (±415.5)	67.9	732.1 (±603.7)	431.9 (±358.2)	297 (±286.1)	398.9 (±383.4)	63.9
Tax during transport	125 (±90.1)	0	176.9 (±105.3)	167.2 (±101.9)	9.5	150	0	200 (±109)	195 (±103.9)	5.2
Unloading	75 (±35.3)	50	100	75 (±28.9)	2.4	100	0	100	116.7 (±28.9)	1.6
Animal feeding and care	266.3 (±161.6)	134.4 (±67.8)	165 (±104.5)	190.5 (±130.2)	70.2	319.5 (±186.3)	112.4 (±52.9)	195.6 (±181.2)	197.8 (±170.8)	72.8
Market tax	152.5 (±104.5)	160.5 (±48.9)	121.7 (±47.3)	138.9 (±68.1)	47	130.8 (±121.7)	158.9 (±60.1)	127.3 (±56.6)	135.9 (±76.5)	29.8
Animal Inspection	125 (±90.1)	300 (±173.2)	100	196.4 (±148.9)	4.2	200	100	200	180 (±44.7)	2.6
Security/guards	25	143.3 (±30.1)	71.2 (±54.5)	92.5 (±59.6)	4.8	50	0	175 (±35.3)	133.3 (±76.4)	1.6
Communication costs	148.4 (±70.6)	91.3 (±80.3)	81 (±56.8)	104.8 (±73.3)	54.8	142.7 (±72)	52.4 (±33.2)	89.1 (±59.1)	88.4 (±64.5)	60.2
Intermediary costs	200	200	200	200	13.1	200	0	197.1 (±12.1)	197.2 (±11.8)	9.4
Transaction fees	120 (±42.2)	115.5 (±45)	125.9 (±50.5)	122.4 (±47.8)	47	100	114.8 (±36.2)	128 (±48.7)	121.7 (±43.8)	46.1
Small equipment	82.9 (±44.5)	133 (±41.8)	116.3 (±88.1)	111.6 (±70.2)	68.4	85.7 (±33.2)	108 (±41.1)	105.9 (±32)	102.5 (±36.2)	75.9

(±): Standard deviation.

^aXOF is a common and official currency of the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. 1 USD = 612,38 XOF on 18/02/2023.

Table 10. Marketing efficiency

Variables	Sheep trader (n = 168)					Goat trader (n = 191)
	Wholesaler	Semi-wholesaler	Retailer	All traders	Anova p-value	Wholesaler	Semi-wholesaler	Retailer	All traders	Anova p-value
a) Total number of heads purchased per year	782.2 (±570.4)	515 (±313.3)	402 (±292.5)	535.4 (±416.9)	0.0000	650.7 (±358.7)	416.4 (±185.7)	319.7 (±215.2)	427.5 (±272.3)	0.0000
b) Total number of heads sold	746.5) (±547.5)	493.3 (±300)	384.8 (±283.6)	512 (±400.3)	0.0000	623 (±347.1)	405.4 (±182.3)	303 (±210.1)	410.7 (±264.5)	0.0000
c) Percentage of animal sold	95.4	95.78	95.7	95.6		95.7	97.4	94.8	96
d) Average unit purchase price (in XOF^a)	22,666.8 (±9165.9)	24,803.8 (8704.6)	26,123.7 (±13,905.5)	24,823.4 (±11,402.7)	0.3472	16,884.5 (±5474.9)	16,642.1 (±3410.3)	17,301.3 (±5287.4)	16,961.1 (±4687.7)	0.7271
e) Average unit selling price (in XOF)	27,558.7 ± 11,990	30,525.8 (±11,442.1)	32,675.8 (±18,206.8)	30,692.6 (±14,969.6)	0.2589	20,375.4 (±6602.9)	20,371.7 (±4048.3)	21,457.8 (±6413.4	20,812.3 (±5666.5)	0.4897
f) Marketing margin per head (in XOF) f = d- e	4891.8 ± 3891	5722 (±3223)	6552.1 (±5157.3)	5869.2 (±4357.7)	0.1804	3490.9 (±1730.9)	3729.6 (±1248.1)	4156.5 (±1776.3)	3851.2 (±1597.8)	0.1024
g) Total marketing costs per SR head (in XOF)	1000.6 (±648.3)	735.1 (±362.5)	636.8 (±509.3)	742.7 (±530.7)	0.0000	844.6 (±613.6)	609.9 (±343)	629 (±455.7)	663.2 (±463.6)	0.0496
h) Trader’s profit per SR head (in XOF) h = f- g	3842.5 (±3886.1)	4983.7 (±3194.5)	5753.9 (±5141.5)	5022.9 (±4358.4)	0.1070	2623.6 (±1605.6)	3120.3 (±1256.5)	3434.1 (±1777)	3140.6 (±1579.8)	0.0477
i) Marketing efficiency (%)	69.6 (±21.1)	83.1 (±13.1)	81.3 (±17.3)	78.8 (±18)	0.0000	71.5 (±19.4)	81.3 (±14.1)	80.4 (±13)	78.9 (±15.4)	0.0053

(±): Standard deviation.

^aXOF is a common and official currency of the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. 1 USD = 612,38 XOF on 18/02/2023.

Table 11. Marketing constraints

Constraints	Sheep		Goat
	Average rank	Prioritisation	Average rank	Prioritisation
Insufficient capital	2.5	1	2.8	1
Difficult access to credit	3.8	3	3.9	3
Unattractive pricing mechanism	5.8	4	5.7	4
Low profit	3.6	2	3.4	2
High transport costs	5.9	5	6.0	5
Inadequate market information	8.2	11	7.94	10
Storage problems	7.7	8	6.9	7
High losses due to death of animals	7.1	7	7.86	9
No standard measure for purchase	8.1	10	7.97	11
Poor road network	5.9	6	6.43	6
High taxes	7.7	9	7.4	8
Price fluctuations	11.5	12	11.5	12
Statistics
W of Kendall	0.467		0.438
X^2	832.4***		872.3***

***: significant at the 1% level.

Adégbola, P., Komlan-Ahihou, C., Adégbidi, A., Adetonah, S., Coulibaly, A., Mensah, O., & Montcho, M. (2016). Marketing of Jews mallow in Agbedranfo local area in the Southwest of Benin. African Journal of Marketing Management, 8(3), 20–23. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajmm2016.0486

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