IMPACT OF INFORMAL QUALITY STANDARDS ON THE MARKETING OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS: CASE OF WILD MANGO (Irvingia Gabonensis) AND DJANSANG (Ricinodendron Heudelotii)

Non-timber forest products (NTFP), such as wild mango and djansang, are essential to the income of rural communities in Central Africa, particularly in Cameroon. However, their marketing is complicated by informal quality standards imposed by buyers, disrupting the market and the distribution of profits. A study conducted between January and June 2024 among 250 producers and various market actors reveals that buyers apply strict criteria regarding drying, cleanliness, taste, aroma, and harvest timing. Compliant products can see their prices increase by 30%, while non-compliant ones risk being excluded from the formal market. Smallholders, especially women and indigenous Baka producers, struggle to meet these criteria due to a lack of equipment and unfavorable climatic conditions. The absence of standardization and the arbitrary enforcement of standards exacerbate information asymmetry, limiting producers' access to lucrative markets. To promote fairer marketing, the study recommends establishing concerted standards, strengthening producers' processing and storage capacities, enhancing the value of NTFP through local certifications, and involving NGOs and public institutions more in defining and disseminating the standards.