After years of difficulties, the National Oilseed Marketing Company of Senegal (SONACOS) is gradually returning to sustained activity by reinventing its model, combining industrial ambition, social responsibility and national strategic vision.
In the corridors of the National Oilseed Marketing Company of Senegal (SONACOS), a wind of renewal is now blowing. Appointed last May by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, El Hadj Ndane Diagne is trying as best he can to take up a challenge as complex as it is strategic: rehabilitating an emblematic company in the Senegalese agro-industrial sector, which has long remained dormant.
« I’ve been in the business for a long time. The SONACOS model is in no way new to me », he explains with an assurance that contrasts with the critical state of the company when he took office.
The figures are clear: in 2023, only 12,000 tonnes of peanuts were collected, a paltry volume compared to the historical performance of SONACOS. “ The company was at a very low level in terms of performance », says Mr. Diagne.
Industrial infrastructure presented a similarly bleak picture: obsolete equipment, technology “ really late », and production units stopped. An internal diagnosis, supplemented by an external audit, made it possible to precisely map the challenges to be met.
Reboot and modernization
From June, a reconquest strategy was put in place. The factories in Dakar, Ziguinchor, Kaolack, Louga and Diourbel have been reactivated, marking the start of a new era. “ We started by restarting the machines to process the 12,000 tonnes collected the previous year “, he explains.
The results are already noticeable. In Ziguinchor, daily production increased from 120 to 247 tonnes, with the encouraging prospect of reaching 260 or 275 tonnes daily, confides the CEO of SONACOS.
The revival of this infrastructure is accompanied by a remarkable social dynamic. In Ziguinchor, 500 direct jobs were created, also generating numerous indirect jobs. “ Today, I can say that SONACOS is one of the rare companies capable of creating up to 7,000 jobs throughout the country. », Proudly asserts Mr. Diagne.
For the next campaign, the objective is very ambitious: to collect 300,000 tonnes of peanuts. “ We have exceeded 2,000 tonnes per day, and we expect to soon reach 3,000 or even 3,500 tonnes “, he confides.
Faced with illicit price-fixing practices, SONACOS has implemented strict measures. The company has committed to paying transporters within 48 hours after unloading and has paid 3 billion CFA francs to help operators open collection points.
The objective? Guarantee compliance with the floor price of 305 CFA francs per kilo set by the State. “ If a producer manages to sell more expensively, we encourage this, but never below the floor price », Specifies Mr. Diagne.
Food sovereignty and regional vision
SONACOS aims to contribute to Senegal’s food sovereignty by producing enough to achieve self-sufficiency in oil, while exploring other crops such as sunflower and soya.
Discussions are also underway with the SIFCA group in Ivory Coast and SN-Citec (Société nouvelle oilerie ey savonnerie) in Burkina Faso to exchange skills and replicate successful models.
Despite progress, challenges persist. Agricultural yields vary significantly depending on the area, from 1,400 kilos per hectare in the south-southeast to sometimes less than 400 kilos elsewhere.
ARD/Sf/te/APA
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