1World Vegetable Center, Eastern and Southern Africa, Duluti, Arusha, Tanzania
2Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA
3World Vegetable Center, West and Central Africa-Coastal and Humid Regions, IITA-Benin Campus, Cotonou, Benin
4Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, USA
5World Vegetable Center Eastern and Southern Africa, Duluti, Arusha, Tanzania
*Corresponding author: govind@sebs.rutgers.edu
JEL classification: Q02, Q13
In sub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, rising awareness of the nutrition and health benefits of traditional African vegetables (TAVs) has raised demand over the past decade. TAVs compete with conventional vegetables in most retail outlets such as supermarkets and small food stores. Yet, there is little information on the retail structure of organic traditional vegetables. This study sought to identify the trading structure of organic TAVs; the determinants of retailers’ decision to sell these vegetables and the major bottlenecks to the growth of TAV retailing. Results indicated that it was the expected profits and consumer concerns over food safety that influence the retailers’ decision to sell organic TAVs.
Organic, traditional African vegetables (TAVs), retailers, food safety, Zambia
