Evaluation and Performance (Production and Marketing System) of Improved Seedlings of Fruit Trees in Njombé-penja

Abstract

The cultivation of fruit trees has a considerable socioeconomic impact in Cameroon, which has led to a craze/keen interest around this value chain. The study analyzes the performance of the production and marketing system of improved seedlings of fruit trees in the locality of Njombé. Surveys were carried out among registered nurserymen (38) in the locality. The study shows that the production and marketing of fruit trees is an activity exclusively reserved for men. They are all married well educated with an average age of 35 and an average experience of 8 years. In the production units of avocado, lemon, mango, soursop, orange, and mandarin trees plants are the main species of the most produced fruit tree plants out of the 12 species demanded in the markets. The average annual supply of a nursery is around 27200 fruit tree seedlings for an overall supply estimated in 2020 at 638,450 seedlings to meet the increasingly growing demand in the locality. Due to competition between nurserymen, improved plants are sold between 1,000 and 2,000 FCFA depending on the age and size of the plant. The activity generates considerable income for the actors (nurserymen) an average annual turnover of 39,252,961 FCFA and a net annual margin of 25,857,517 FCFA.