Analysis of the Piper Umbellatum (Tshilombolombo) chain in Kinshasa

This study proposes an analysis of the Piper umbellatum (Tshilombolombo) sector in Kinshasa through a socio-economic survey of 51 actors active in the UPN Somba-Zigida Liberté and Matete markets in Kinshasa. The results indicate that women are in the majority in the Piper umbellatum sector i.e. 96.1%. These actors have reached the secondary school level and are all from the provinces of Kasai-Oriental and Kasai-Occidental. The sale of Piper umbellatum contributes 94% of the overall household income for all the vendors surveyed. Our results show that 90% of the Piper held by the surveyed vendors come from Kasai Oriental and Kasai Occidental while 10% come from Bas-Congo and the Kinshasa hinterland.