Tilène Market onion cutting service provides profit in Dakar

In the Tilène Market of the Médina district in Dakar, onion cutting has emerged as a profitable service catering to the time-saving needs of urban kitchens. Despite the pungent environment and volatile market prices, the activity provides a steady income for many vendors.

Boubacar Camara, a vendor originally from the Tambacounda region, has operated in the market since 2011 and expanded into cutting services in 2017. He employs two workers, paying them 1,500 FCFA per day. Camara charges 100 FCFA per kilogram for cutting onions provided by customers, or a reduced rate of 75 FCFA per kilogram if he supplies the onions himself.