Production Costs and Economic Competitiveness of the Pig Field in the Livestock and Meat Market, Cameroon

Abstract

The capacity of the pig field to sustainably increase its wealth under a competitive situation was valued and compared on the Cameroonian livestock and meat market within a period of 6 months. The assessment items used as indicators to appreciate the economic competitiveness at national level were related to production costs on the market, field structuring, market size and quality of the product. The main results showed that the pig field is able to conquer more and to preserve its market share against substituting products competing by price. The main comparative advantage of the domestic pig field lies, basically, on its rationalization possibilities and production potential. Scattering of pig farms, mainly of small scale, all over the territory and using mostly family labor with a production system linked to the peasant lifestyle, limit the zoonoses spread and environment pressure and also contributes to the sustainability of pig field. Pig distribution channels are well structured enough to allow an easy flow of the products, with actors specialization at all levels, from livestock sale to roast meat. In addition, the development of the fifth quarter meat small scale roasting and processing industry in major metropolis is an indication of the capacity for innovation, constant productivity improvement and adaptation to environmental conditions. Moreover, the additional production costs in the pig market are relatively low, indicating a certain efficiency of the distribution system. However, the gaps between production and consumption prices, on the whole, are relatively important and reflect a situation of imperfect competition on the pig market. Also, the contractual advantages, without guaranteed prices or profit, the absence of any follow-up from the public authorities making it possible to modernize and restructure the pig field, create commercial infrastructures and external outlets, standardize transactions and ensure product quality to be presented on the market, are all factors with profound effects on the economic competitiveness of the Cameroonian pig field.