Capsicum in Sub-Saharan Africa: Production, Diversity, Market Importance, and Seed-System Challenges

Pepper ( Capsicum spp.) is an important crop across sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to income generation and culturally significant cuisines. However, assessing production trends and market dynamics remains difficult due to limited differentiation in global data sets and frequent taxonomic misclassification among Capsicum annuum , Capsicum chinense , and Capsicum frutescens . Current knowledge on the diversity, distribution, and regional importance of major Capsicum species is limited. However, trends indicate an expansion of bell pepper markets in East and Southern Africa, a strong culinary and economic role of aromatic C. chinense types, especially in West and Central Africa, and a localized importance of C. frutescens in informal production systems. Consumer preferences for fruit color, aroma, and capsaicinoid content shape market segmentation and breeding priorities, while weak seed systems and reliance on farmer-saved seed constrain productivity and varietal purity. Strengthening breeding pipelines, improving crop classification, and integrating participatory market assessments with formal statistics will be essential to support climate-resilient pepper value chains and enhance livelihoods across sub-Saharan Africa.