Smallholders’ Perceptions and Socio-Economic Importance of Megaphrynium macrostachyum (Benth.) Leaves in the Central and Littoral Regions of Cameroon

This study, which aims to determine the perceptions of the actors and the socio-economic uses of Megaphrynium macrostachyum leaves, was conducted in the Central and Littoral regions of Cameroon, in fourteen markets distributed in four cities among which Douala, Edea, Boumnyebel and Yaounde. Data collection carried out from April to June 2021 from 102 merchants involving men and women was done through an ethnobotanical survey with individual and semi-structured interviews and direct observations in the field. Regarding the knowledge of the smallholders on the socio-economic uses, the result revealed that Megaphrynium macrostachyum leaves are mainly used in food (UA = 99%) and medicinal (UM = 61.85%) sectors and its trade was proved to be a profitable activity according to 99% of respondents. An average gain of 211.1 FCFA per package of 57 leaves was reported, the purchase and sale prices being 147 FCFA and 246 FCFA respectively. The major difficulties encountered by the sector are the transport (48.23%) and the rotting of the leaves (27.06%). The actors involved in the sector are mostly single (48%) and married (34%), their education level being mainly secondary (47%) and primary (46%). Young women are the main providers (84.15%) and the Bassa community is the main source of supply for the product (55.31%). Megaphrynium macrostachyum appears then to be both of social and economic interest, because it is used as a medicinal plant and also as a traditional vegetable sold and consumed by several households. In order to improve the well-being of the populations who benefit from it, this species must be taken into account in programs for the conservation and sustainable development of NTFPs in Cameroon.