Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

Louis Defo 305

Prices of rattan also fluctuate considerably by virtue of the law of demand

and supply. The average prices in 1996/97 were close to US$0.035 and US$0.022

per metre for the maraca and small diameter cane species respectively.

The trade of finished rattan products

Rural craftsmen’s articles are sold directly to either villagers, city dwellers

visiting or passing through the villages (some craftsmen make exhibitions near

busy trunk roads) or to city dwellers in the city. In this last case, the village

craftsman passes through a retailer installed in the city or supplies his goods

directly to the final consumer. A tiny percentage of the articles sometimes

find themselves abroad at the end of the circuit through the intermediary of a

tourist or an occasional retailer.

The rattan bought from the Yaoundé sales point is conveyed by taxi or

rickshaw (pousse-pousse) from Mvog-Mbi to the PUs spread across the city.

The manufacture of finished articles by craftsmen is undertaken either on

order or for exhibition and sale. The range of selling prices of finished articles

is wide. Extreme prices recorded in 1996/97 were US$0.36 for a small flower

pot and US$381 for a lounge set made from rattan and Chinese or Indian

bamboo. Table 2 presents current articles as well as their respective selling

prices.

Object Price (US$)

Market basket, floor with plywood, simple finishing, L40 W125 p20 1.7–2.5

Market basket, floor with plywood, simple finishing, L50 W30 p20 2.5–3

Round basket, D20 p24 1.4–1.7

Round traditional basket (dziat), D45 p20 0.8–1.7

Tray, floor with plywood, L30 W20 p10 1.4–1.7

Tray, floor with plywood, L36 W17 p7 1.4–1.7

Simple shelf, H110 L60 p30 5.9–6.8

Simple shelf, H130 L70 p30 6.8–8.5

Simple lounge chairs 15.2–34

Lounge (aboa) 84.9–203.7

Padded lounge 203.7–271.6

Simple dining set 51–118.8

Laundry basket, D80 p90 5.9–7.6

Flower pot (for hanging), D10 p25 0.8–1.4

Basket with slack handle, D40 p80 0.8–1.4

Basket with tight handle, D36 p55 1.4–1.7

Table 2. Selling prices of the main current articles in the region of Yaoundé

Key (Notes)

L= length in centimetres

W = width in centimetres

H = height in centimetres

p = depth in centimetres

D = diameter in centimetres

A lounge consists of four armchairs, one couch (settee) and one centre table.

A dining set consists of six chairs and one table.

17Rattan.P65 305 22/12/2004, 11:05