August 22, 2019
The production of shea has lead in the wing. Several causes are at the root of this situation, including the extension of cotton cultivation.
The production of white gold, the cash crop par excellence in Benin, requires more and more space. As a result, in order to have this substantial agricultural area for cotton, producers are more and more likely to excel in the excessive cutting of shea trees. This observation was made thanks to a document entitled: "Position Paper of the SCOs and Trade Unions of Benin on the Integrated Development of the Cashew and Shea Systems" .
But it happens that cotton is not the only responsible identified with regard to those who pose threats to the shea sector.
Among other things, the document pointed to the production of coal, the manufacture of mortars and works of art. There is also talk of low tree productivity coupled with low plantation density, poor regulation and poor quality and ignorance of quality standards for almonds and butter.
In that document, therefore, civil society organizations and trade unions made a clear and explicit statement of their position. It is through the results of analysis of evidence on the current situation of this sector of shea. The document also highlights the commitments made at various levels, to help improve the current gloomy situation in the country's shea sector.
Several national and foreign partners supported financially or financially this edition These include the Kingdom of the Netherlands through Edukans, Icco Wilde Gazen Pascib and Dedras.
"Position paper of the SCOs and Trade Unions of Benin on the integrated development of the Cashew and Shea sectors" , is the title of this 32-page document which gives a presentation of the bases of the position paper on the major development issues inclusive and integrated cashew and shea sectors.
Better, it closes a synthesis of the actions of plea and the engagements of the organizations of the civil society and the unions. This publication examines many recommendations from several studies in these two sectors.
The case of the cashew
For CSOs and unions, cashew is in second place on the list of export channels after priority cotton in the Strategic Plan for Agricultural Sector Development (PSDSA).
However, the cashew sector remains highly dependent on the value chain with raw nuts for the domestic or international market. Experts estimate that about 95% of the raw nuts are exported and cashew production occupies more than 20,000 small producers. But these figures contrast sharply with that of productivity estimated at less than 400 kg / ha on average.
Among the problems that explain this low productivity are the difficult access to producer financing, the weak mobilization of producers around group sales and the impoverishment of land, in the context of the aging of cashew plants.
This gloomy picture is not so far from that of shea managed on the basis of added value chains characterized by a harvesting economy.
As therapy to these various evils that undermine these sectors, after analysis and findings and relationships of cause and effect, proposals for action and advocacy are formulated. These proposals concern the updating of numerous texts, laws and decrees on the protection of cashew and shea resources.
Also, in order to increase the volume of shea nuts and cashews, it is necessary to continue the inscription in the state finance laws, the exemption of the equipment of production, transformation. Not to mention the packaging of these two products, the creation of a framework conducive to private investment in the shea sector.
In addition, CSOs and unions are proposing the vote on inter-branch law, the development and implementation of incentives for massive membership of their umbrella organizations.
Finally, they argue for the inclusion of shea production as a priority of government policy on environmental management. There is also, the taking of measures and regulatory texts aimed at improving the living and working conditions of the different actors involved in these two chains.
As can be seen, it is at the confluence of these measures that these two sectors will have their lifeline.
By Ibrahim Yarou DJIBRIL
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