Millers in Senegal who did not agree with the government’s decision to reduce the price of type 55 baking flour from 19,200 FCFA to 15,200 FCFA, a reduction of 4,000 FCFA, had threatened to suspend their activities of flour production. Following the government’s formal notice, the Association of Industrial Millers of Senegal (Friends) gave up and decided to resume production.
After the decision of the National Consumer Council of June 21, 2024 to reduce the price of type 55 bakery flour, from 19,200 FCFA to 15,200 FCFA, i.e. a reduction of 4,000 FCFA, the millers of Senegal through the Association industrial millers from Senegal (Friends) have decided to suspend flour production. They estimated that this measure comes at a time when the average cost of wheat is constantly increasing, exceeding 300 euros, or more than 196,000 CFA francs. According to the association, this reality makes it difficult to reduce flour production costs. Faced with this threat, the government of Senegal is putting the millers on notice, asking them to respect new prices subject to incurring liability. “The government is calling on millers to continue production activities in compliance with the newly established prices. Failing this, it will take all its responsibilities without excluding any option in order to ensure the correct supply of the market. said the Minister of Commerce and Industry Serigne Guèye Diop during a press conference on the drop in flour prices. Today, the millers have come to their senses and have decided to resume their flour production activities. They also agree to sell the bag of flour from now on at the price set by the government, which makes the price of a baguette viable at 150 francs. Following the mediation of the president of the National Employers’ Council of Senegal (Cnp) Baidy Agne and the president of the National Union of Industrialists of Senegal Ousmane Mbaye, L’Amis invited the companies concerned to resume their production activities. The Friends is hopeful that this mediation will allow the concerns of the State and industrial millers to be addressed,” announced Claude Demba Diop, president of the Friends in a press release that reached us yesterday, Tuesday June 25. The association of industrial millers of Senegal (Friends) has thus taken note of the government’s declaration relating to the approval of the sales prices of bakery flour in Senegal. L’Amis recalls that the decision taken by the millers was an invitation to the government to clarify the subsidy mechanisms so as not to jeopardize the activity of industrialists. “ Industrial millers in Senegal have always been concerned about improving the purchasing power of the Senegalese and their access to basic necessities. This is why they have always helped regulate the prices of essential foodstuffs.», Underlined Claude Demba Diop.
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