Meals nook: “Chitoumou” is uncommon in the marketplace

Shea caterpillars, generally often called “chitoumou” within the Dioula language, seem yearly throughout the wet season. On the identical time, the streets and numerous markets of the town of Bobo-Dioulasso are animated by these edible caterpillars. However this 12 months they’re uncommon in the marketplace and even within the normal corners. What’s the trigger? A group from L’Categorical du Faso crossed a number of the streets and markets of the place to inquire in regards to the state of the market, on Thursday August 22, 2024.

On the morning of Thursday, August 22, 2024, a group from L’Categorical du Faso toured the automobile station market. Unattainable to see the same old shea caterpillar sellers on this route. We needed to block the highway once more as a way to take the highway that results in the people sq. to see these ladies. From a distance, piles of “chitoumou” are organized and simply ready for patrons, however the place are you able to see them? Arduous to say. In line with Madjelia Soré, a shea caterpillar vendor, “I’ve been on this discipline for 10 years. I’ve by no means come throughout this example,” he mentioned. In line with him, “final 12 months, firstly the field was 3,500 FCFA and a discount of 600 FCFA per field was seen. However this 12 months the value of the field began at 5,500 FCFA and up-to-the-minute I’m speaking to you, it has not decreased as we wish as a result of presently the field prices 2,000 FCFA.” She additionally regrets that it’s “very tough this 12 months as a result of there’s a lack of consumers”. This different shea caterpillar vendor, Setou Sanou, offers us the explanations. “As a consequence of uncertainty, shea caterpillars are uncommon in the marketplace this 12 months,” he mentioned. She goes on to say that the caterpillars are laborious to seek out as a result of “individuals are afraid to enter the bush to gather them.” Which means that these caterpillars have turn out to be uncommon and the value has risen to five,500 FCFA as quickly because the caterpillars are launched. “I hope the value of the field will drop to permit folks to eat it as they’re used to,” mentioned Setou Sanou. For Aminata Zongo, one other shea caterpillar vendor, ladies are particularly afraid to go to the fields due to insecurity that dangers dropping their lives there. “We’re experiencing losses regardless that it’s nearly the top of the wet season the place we’ll now not see contemporary shea caterpillars whereas the field continues to be 2000 FCFA,” he insisted.
Wende Mi Estelle KOUTOU
(intern)