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Women Entrepreneurship In West Africa: The Cowpea Street Food Sector In Niger And Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • MIRIAM OTOO

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, 403 W. State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA 47906, USA)

  • JOAN FULTON

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, 403 W. State Street, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA 47906, USA)

  • GERMAINE IBRO

    (Institut National de Recherche Agronomique du Niger (INRAN) Niger, Nigeria)

  • JAMES LOWENBERG-DEBOER

    (Department of Agricultural Economics Purdue University, 403 W. State Street West Lafayette, Indiana, USA 47906, USA)

Abstract

Women entrepreneurship in the informal sector, such as street food vending, is important for poverty alleviation in West Africa. The street food sector provides employment for women and inexpensive and nutritious food for the urban poor. In this paper, we determine the importance of the cowpea street food sector, evaluate the determinants of successful enterprises and ascertain the impact of economic, cultural, religious and geographic differentials between enterprises in Niamey, Niger and Kumasi, Ghana. Data were collected through in-person interviews with 114 and 122 women street food entrepreneurs in both countries in 2009. Results revealed that women entrepreneurs engaged in the cowpea street food sector can earn incomes 4 times and 16 times higher than the minimum legal wage in Niamey and Kumasi, respectively. Incomes earned from these entrepreneurial activities contribute directly to health, education and needs of their families. OLS regression results indicate that lack of financial resources, stable business locations and religious beliefs are important entrepreneurial success factors. Cross-country comparisons revealed enterprises in Kumasi are larger and more successful than those in Niamey.

Suggested Citation

  • Miriam Otoo & Joan Fulton & Germaine Ibro & James Lowenberg-Deboer, 2011. "Women Entrepreneurship In West Africa: The Cowpea Street Food Sector In Niger And Ghana," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 16(01), pages 37-63.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:jdexxx:v:16:y:2011:i:01:n:s1084946711001732
    DOI: 10.1142/S1084946711001732
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    Cited by:

    1. Smale, Melinda & Theriault, Veronique & Allen, Andrea & Sissoko, Mamadou, 2022. "Is cowpea a ‘women’s crop’ in Mali? Implications for value chain development," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 17(2), June.
    2. Esther Salvi & Frank-Martin Belz & Sophie Bacq, 2023. "Informal Entrepreneurship: An Integrative Review and Future Research Agenda," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(2), pages 265-303, March.
    3. Hundera, Mulu, 2019. "Role conflict, coping strategies and female entrepreneurial success in sub-Saharan Africa," Other publications TiSEM 3e263b0c-3bf3-474a-8a20-b, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    4. Ojong, Nathanael & Simba, Amon & Dana, Leo-Paul, 2021. "Female entrepreneurship in Africa: A review, trends, and future research directions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 233-248.
    5. Francis Fortune & Olawale Ismail & Monica Stephen, 2015. "Rethinking Youth, Livelihoods, and Fragility in West Africa," World Bank Publications - Reports 22517, The World Bank Group.
    6. Lefophane, Mapula Hildah & Mdungwa, Maria Sherly & Oluwatayo, Isaac Busayo, 2022. "Analysis of Factors Influencing the Income Generated By Informal Fresh Produce Traders during Covid-19 Pandemic in Polokwane Local Municipality, South Africa," International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics and Finance, vol. 10(4), October.
    7. Surender Mor & Sonu Madan & Geoffrey R. Archer & Arvind Ashta, 2020. "Survival of the Smallest: A Study of Microenterprises in Haryana, India," Millennial Asia, , vol. 11(1), pages 54-78, April.
    8. Ramani, Shyama V. & Thutupalli, Ajay & Medovarski, Tamas & Chattopadhyay, Sutapa & Ravichandran, Veena, 2013. "Women entrepreneurs in the informal economy: Is formalization the only solution for business sustainability?," MERIT Working Papers 2013-018, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).

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