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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 10, No. 6

Publication Date: December 25, 2022

DOI:10.14738/aivp.106.13569. Assogba, S. C., Lègba, H. T., & Aïssoun, S. M. (2022). Consumers Perception of Organic and Ecological Vegetables in Porto-Novo City,

South-Benin. European Journal of Applied Sciences, 10(6). 506-520.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Consumers Perception of Organic and Ecological Vegetables in

Porto-Novo City, South-Benin

Assogba, S. Claude-Gervais

Laboratory of Research on Innovation for

Agricultural Development (LRIDA), Faculty of Agronomy

University of Parakou, Benin

Lègba, H. Théodora

Laboratory of Research on Innovation for

Agricultural Development (LRIDA), Faculty of Agronomy

University of Parakou, Benin

Aïssoun, S. Murelle

Laboratory of Research on Innovation for

Agricultural Development (LRIDA), Faculty of Agronomy

University of Parakou, Benin

ABSTRACT

Vegetables production and consumption play an important role in achieving the

food and nutrition security objectives and fight against unemployment and in

achieving the objectives of food and nutrition security. In order to intensify organic

and ecological vegetable production and consumption in Benin’s cities a study of

the consumers’ perception of these vegetables was conducted in Porto-Novo,

second biggest city of Benin after Cotonou. The study aims at determining factors

which underline people’s decisions to consume organic and ecological vegetables

and the importance of economic, environmental and social factors as perceived by

actors. Data used were collected from a sample of 130 consumers encountered at

the organic and ecological vegetable production and consumption sites, by using

questionnaires with kobo collect application. Likert scale based on items

formulated from sustainable vegetable concepts, was used as the basis for data

collection and analysis. Statistic parameters were used to analyse data. The study

shows that organic and ecological vegetables consumers belong to various socio- professional categories with a monthly income less than 100,000 FCFA for nearly

60% of consumers. Vegetables are consumed every day by nearly 46% of

respondents who devote weekly to them, nearly 2,700 ( 2,019.828) FCFA.

Consumers perceive organic and ecological vegetables as contributing to the

reduction of food poisoning, the creation of employment and entrepreneurship

opportunities for young people and to the environment protection. They facilitate

digestion, improve human health and strengthen the immune system.

Unfortunately, according to consumers, organic and ecological vegetables are not

well promoted and therefore poorly known in Porto-Novo. So promotion actions

need to be taken to facilitate vegetable consumption at a large scale.

Keywords: Agro-ecology; Sustainability; Market garden; Consumers; Perception; Likert; Benin