**A.6 Egusi traders (wholesalers)**

Tell me about the last time you bought Egusi; How do you source for Egusi? *The last time I bought Egusi was 2 days ago. In order to get the quantity I need, I normally would go around seeking farmers and other traders who are willing to sell.*

Do you engage farmers to farm for you?

*I do not cultivate myself. I buy from farmers who cultivate.*

Is there a particular period you buy Egusi and why?

*I go around during the harvest period when the farmers are harvesting and drying the Egusi. That is the best time to buy. After buying, we bag and put a chemical to preserve the Egusi from insects.*

Do you purchase Egusi before or after shelling?

*Most times, we buy the Egusi unshelled nut, we also buy shelled Egusi but it is more expensive.*

How do you store Egusi?

*We bag them and preserve them with chemicals.*

Do you sell immediately?

*We keep it for a while till when it is more expensive. That is how we make our profit.* What value do you add to the Egusi after purchase?

*We shell the Egusi for the unshelled ones before selling.*

How do you prevent Egusi from a pest infestation?

*We make use of chemicals.*

Is it difficult to sell Egusi after a period of storage?

*When it is scarce, it is not hard to sell.*

How do you ensure you make a profit?

*We keep the Egusi for a while in the store. After some time, the Egusi becomes scarce and the price increases. That is the time we sell because we will make a profit.*
