Filières oignon en Afrique de l'Ouest : étude comparée des filières nigérienne et béninoise

The onion sector represents the base of the livelihoods of thousands of producers in West Africa. Onion is produced in several West African countries, but with the exception of Niger and Burkina Faso that produce quantities that exceed domestic demand, the production often does not meet the needs of local consumption. Niger boasts the first place as exporter of onion in West Africa, and its well-rooted commercial network can supply major coastal markets in the sub-region. In contrast, Benin stands between net importers of onion with the Cotonou market stocked a good part of the year by the Niger onion. To understand the relationship between the onion sectors in Niger and Benin and the mechanism allowing the Niger onion to be sold on the coastal markets at a competitive price, this study provides a comparative analysis related to the production and marketing from two production areas supplying the Dantokpa market in Cotonou (Benin): Keita, in Niger, and Malanville, in Benin. The study shows that the two sectors are at the same time competitive and complementary and that the Niger sector has a clear comparative advantage at the level of production, with lower costs and major earnings for producers. In addition, the organisation of the Niger commercial network reduces the risk of longdistance trade, allowing the onion from Niger to be competitive on the Cotonou market. For its part, the strengthening of the onion sector in Benin, concerning production, storage and marketing, should follow an approach of complementariness rather than competition with Niger production. In a perspective of regional integration, it should be more appropriate to valorise other local productions with comparative advantage on regional markets.