Nelly Bassily | December 3, 2007
The poor condition of roads in Gabon is driving up the cost of transportation and narrowing profit margins in the Gabonese banana industry.
Bananas make the long journey from their local growers to intermediary markets in the country’s interior, and then to larger markets in the capital city of Libreville and the economic capital of Port Gentil.
With poor road conditions, made worse by the heavy rains the country has seen in the past few months, the journey can take up to three days.
Merchants say the transport costs have risen dramatically in the past year, making it more difficult for them to earn a profit in bananas.