Read the passage below carefully and answer the question that follows:
In the savanna belt of northern Ghana, women's shea cooperatives have traditionally relied on solar-drying harvested nuts on open concrete mats before mechanical extraction. Recently, unseasonal rainfall during the early harvest months forced several federations to adopt biomass-fueled hot-air dryers. While this technological shift halved processing times and protected the nuts from mould infestation during wet spells, it significantly increased operational costs due to the rising price of sustainably sourced firewood. Surprisingly, premium international cosmetics buyers began offering higher purchase contracts to these specific cooperatives. This commercial advantage arose not from the faster turnaround time, but because the controlled thermal environment of the biomass dryers consistently yielded unfermented kernels with lower free fatty acid levels—a key quality metric for luxury skincare formulations. Consequently, nearby independent processors who lacked capital for mechanical dryers began renting off-peak shift hours from the cooperatives, turning the drying facilities into a vital secondary revenue stream for the women.
Based on the passage, what can be logically inferred about the international cosmetics buyers' decision to offer higher contracts?
- They prioritized the superior chemical purity of the processed kernels over the reduced processing duration.Answer
- BThey intended to subsidize the cooperatives' increased operational expenses resulting from firewood purchases.
- CThey favored the accelerated turnaround time enabled by the biomass-fueled drying units.
- DThey sought to encourage independent processors to rent facility shifts during off-peak hours.