Investigation in the Trading of Oranges (Citrus sinensis L.) in Côte d’Ivoire: Inventory of the Supply and Merchandising

The oranges (Citrus sinensis L.) are diversely available on the markets along the months and seasons of the year. The current investigation, implemented in 10 communes from the district of Abidjan, focused on parameters dealing with the supply and marketing of these citrus fruits in Côte d’Ivoire. It was achieved using a questionnaire for collecting data regarding the sellers’ profile, the main concerns in the fruits’ acquirement and sale, as well as the oranges’ customary. The results reveal that the oranges are especially marketed by Ivorian citizens (77%) against 23% foreign nationalities, namely from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. The oranges’ trading is a female gender activity accounting 60% saleswomen. It’s mainly practiced by 21-40 years old persons representing 77.77% traders, showing that the oranges’ trading is a significantly profitable activity since youngers are really involved in. The local way of oranges production is bimodal, with 66.7% in the rainy season against 32.3% for the dry season. The oranges are generally routed from overall country regions towards the big city markets by haulage (80%). During the season of lower production, the markets are provided with oranges thanks to imports, especially from Ghana, a neighbouring country (87%). The potential customers of the oranges are consisted of 90% home consumers and fruits juice processers. The investigation shows that the oranges’ fruits channel is fitted with jobs supplying but remains casual. It therefore requires a better organization to become more profitable for overall stakeholders in the orange path. Also, the technological promotion of the oranges through the extensive juice processing and the valorization of the fruits residues, namely seeds, membranes, and peels could provide more incomes from this foodstuff.