Key Informant Interview Transcripts on Value Chain Roles and Market Dynamics for Fonio and Jute Mallow in Atacora, Benin

This dataset contains cleaned and transcribed key informant interviews (KIIs) conducted with market actors in the fonio and jute mallow value chains in the Atacora region of Benin. It provides rich qualitative insights into supply, distribution, processing, retailing, and market access structures from the perspectives of collectors, processors, retailers, and wholesalers. Topics explored include sourcing practices, market constraints, pricing dynamics, value addition, seasonal availability, and perceptions of demand and consumer preferences. The interviews aim to deepen understanding of how different actors contribute to and experience value chain processes for underutilized crops. Methodology:Key informant interviews were administered as semi-structured qualitative interviews with key actors in the fonio and jute mallow value chain across Boukombé and Natitingou communes. Samples included collectors, processors, retailers, and wholesalers identified through purposive sampling based on their active engagement in market activities. Trained interviewers conducted face-to-face interviews, with audio recording and detailed field notes to capture narrative responses. The interview guides contained open-ended prompts suitable for exploring value chain roles, constraints, motivations, and market practices. Transcriptions were prepared from recordings and verified against field notes.