Market analysis of added-value chain products and employability of young people in North Benin

Abstract

The challenge of young people employability in Africa and particularly in Benin continues to rise with acuity. The majority of young people are affected by underemployment, or are without decent jobs. This is the reason why the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) implemented the Youth Employment project for the Improvement of Food Security in northern Benin (EJASA). This study aimed to analyze the added-value chains (AVC) from different agricultural sectors in order to assess their ability to ensuring the employability or professional integration of young people. This study analyzed six (06) added-value chains divided into three (03) sectors as follows: AVCs from market gardening sector (tomato fruit and fresh chilli pepper), AVCs from soybean sector (soybean grain and soybean cheese) and AVCs from the poultry sector (local chicken and guinea fowl). The results obtained showed that the overall demand of the selected AVC products was generally satisfied only at the level of 10 to 40% in the targeted municipalities, which suggests opportunities for positioning and entrepreneurship for young people. All the AVCs analyzed are profitable with the best rates of return (RNE/CT ratios) recorded for the AVC of guinea fowl (4.7), chilli pepper (1.6), tomato (1.1) and soybean grain (0.9), while the best wealth creation rates (VA/CI) observed for AVC guinea fowl (6.2), chilli pepper (4.5), tomato fruit (2.4) and soybean grain (1.6). The strong demand for AVC products, the existence of sales markets for all AVCs, the permanent support from technical and financial partners, and support structures for access to financing are all opportunities available to young people to ensure their employability and improve their income. The access to a well-paid job in one of the AVCs will help young people to improve their income and consequently to fight poverty and improve their food and nutrition security situation. Key words: Food value chains, youth employment, Improved income, Food security, Nutrition