Study finds profitable eggplant farming methods in central Côte d’Ivoire

Survey covers six towns

Researcher Fabrice Diangoné Bi Tra surveyed 272 producers across six specific towns including Toumodi, Yamoussoukro, Dimbokro, Bouaké, Bouaflé and Tiébissou. The work groups farmers by their field management choices instead of looking at farm size or available capital.

Three distinct practice types

Two-thirds of the producers follow an intensive system that uses mineral fertilizer and applies pesticides every week. Another quarter combines organic amendments like poultry manure with mineral fertilizer while treating pests less systematically. A tenth of the growers cultivate a local variety on small rain-fed plots without using any synthetic inputs.

Soil conditions in region

Much of this vegetable is grown in the forest-savanna transition zone where soils are sandy and low in organic matter. African eggplant serves as an important source of income for smallholders and ranks as the second-most-produced vegetable after okra.