August 06, 2019
The hotel Azalaï served as a setting yesterday Monday for the opening of the 2nd edition of the Sahelian Cashew Forum (FOCAS). This three-day meeting is a space of sharing, experience and reflection between cashew producers in the countries of the Sahelian space.The opening of the Forum was chaired by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lassine Dembélé. He was surrounded by the President of the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) and Dr. Bernard Agbo of GIZ's Competitive Cashew Initiative.
Images by IT
after the preliminary speech of the mayor of commune III, the president of the Interprofession of the Anacarde Branch (IPROFAM), Dr. Ibrahim Togola indicated that the cashew nut is a very important plant cultivated in Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso and Ségou. He lamented the lack of support from industry stakeholders by the institutions during the cashew season. For this purpose, the majority of Malian traders remain intermediaries for buyers in the sub-region to urge them to pay the fees for commissions.
The President of the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) will support that FOCAS will be an opportunity to discuss issues of common interest of cashew producing countries in the Sahel region, as well as to reflect on measures to better organize and support the sector for the benefit of the entire value chain.
2nd agricultural export product after cotton
It is believed that cashew is the second most important agricultural export product after cotton, according to the Malian Ministry of Commerce. In terms of job creation, cashew production mobilizes nearly 50,000 farm households and has created 2,000 direct jobs, of which more than 90% are for women in the processing sector. "One of the goals of ACA is to advocate for sector improvement and partnership," he said.
Thus, he took the opportunity to salute the Ministry of Agriculture and the partners of the competitive cashew initiative implemented by GIZ.
The representative of the Minister of Agriculture, Lassine Dembélé, welcomed the participants of the forum. According to him, the cashew nut sector plays an important role in the Malian economy, but it faces problems along the entire chain creating a considerable loss of revenue for the actors and for the national economy.
It is in this perspective that Mali and AECID have decided to invest in the agricultural sector through the promotion of the cashew sector in the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro and Sikasso.
Oumar BARRY
Source: Bamada/ The Independent
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