Evaluation of the processing characteristics of Vigna subterranea coffee in the Ndjamena city, Chad

An evaluative study was carried out on the processing characteristics of Vigna subterranea seeds in the city of N'Djamena, the capital of Chad. A survey of women coffee growers enabled us to define the artisanal processes used to produce this coffee. The survey revealed that the ages of the women processors ranged from 20 to 56, with 8% of women aged 20 to 30, 50% of women aged 30 to 40 and 42% of women aged 40 to 56. Women's experience in coffee production varies from around 1 to 10 years, with 13.33% of women having one year's experience, 30% two years, 23.33% 3 years, 6.66% 4 years, 20% 5 years, 3.33% 6 years and 3.33% 10 years. With regard to potato pea seeds processed into coffee, all women (100%) claim to have used seeds from Bousso in their processing, those processing seeds from Djawala represent 86.67% and those using seeds from Sarh represent 60%. 17% of coffee is stored in bottles and 83% in plastic. The sale of Vigna subterranea coffee gives women producers an average profit of around 8,083 FCFA per month. The minimum and maximum profits from the activity are 4,000 FCFA and 10,000 FCFA per month respectively. Given the average profit from other processing activities, which is higher than the average profit from processing potato pea seeds into coffee (8,083 FCFA), the activity of processing potato pea seeds into coffee would be less profitable and therefore not the main activity of these women. However, this activity reinforces the profitability of the women processors and consequently their economy.