Collaboration between the World Vegetable Center and CGIAR Initiative on Market Intelligence yielded a preliminary set of seed product market segments for peppers in Western and Eastern Africa. These preliminary segments served as the basis for discussion during the validation workshops on pepper market segments.
The workshop in Benin brought together key stakeholders from both private and public sectors and shed light on crucial insights into pepper cultivation and market preferences in West Africa. Findings reaffirmed that habaneros are the most important pepper crop in Western Africa. As for color preference across the subregion, different countries have different preferences. Togo and Benin have a unique requirement for immature color, while other countries prefer mature color, particularly yellow peppers, which receive a premium price in these regions.
Additionally, the workshop revealed that chili peppers are important and constitute considerable acreage in Western Africa. The sweet pepper market in Western Africa includes green peppers, primarily for local consumption, and colored peppers, catering to premium customers such as hotels and tourists. Colored peppers constitute the smallest proportion of the pepper crop grown in Western Africa.
In the Tanzania workshop, similar discussions took place for Eastern Africa. Interestingly, results showcased a dynamic different from Western Africa, with a higher consumption of long chilies compared with the more marginal habaneros. Bell pepper segmentation in Eastern Africa was not different from Western Africa; however, total acreage of bell pepper was much higher and constituted the largest proportion of pepper produced in the region, except for Ethiopia. Ethiopia has a special need, with a market dominated by Berbere chilies. Typically, deep red, nearly brown, Berbere chilies have moderate levels of heat. This type of pepper is grown exclusively for chili powder. Another specificity of the region is the importance of bird’s eye peppers in Rwanda. This short, erect, red pepper is particularly hot.
Both workshops provided a platform for engaging various stakeholders through group work and plenary sessions. This collaborative approach allowed for gathering diverse perspectives and insights from all participants, enriching the discourse on pepper cultivation and market dynamics in Western and Eastern Africa.
Table 1: Pepper chili seed product market segments for Western and Eastern Africa
| Western Africa | Pepper-chili, N, WAF, Fresh-export, Dark green/red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Western Africa | Pepper-chili, Y, WAF, Fresh-export, Dark green/red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Western Africa | Pepper-chili, Y, WAF, Fresh red, Dark green/red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Western Africa | Pepper-chili, N, WAF, Fresh red, Dark green/red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Western Africa | Pepper-chili, Y, WAF, Short fresh/dual, Dark green to dark red, All relevant production environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Western Africa | Pepper-chili, N, WAF, Short Fresh/dual, Dark green to dark red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Eastern Africa | Pepper-chili, Y, EAF, Short fresh/dual, Dark green to dark red, All relevant production environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Eastern Africa | Pepper-chili, Y, EAF, Long fresh, Light green to red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Eastern Africa | Pepper-chili, N, EAF, Dry powder, Dark red (berbere), All relevant production Environments, Short harvest, NA |
| Eastern Africa | Pepper-chili, Y, EAF, Dry powder, Dark red (berbere), All relevant production Environments, Short harvest, NA |
| Eastern Africa | Pepper-chili, N, EAF, Long fresh, Light green to red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Eastern Africa | Pepper-chili, N, EAF, Bird eye, Dark green to dark red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Eastern Africa | Pepper-chili, Y, EAF, Bird eye, Dark green to dark red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |
| Eastern Africa | Pepper-chili, N, EAF, Short Fresh/dual, Dark green to dark red, All relevant production Environments, Long harvest, NA |