Nearly two weeks after its official launch, if the peanut marketing campaign has started in certain areas, in others, this is not yet the case. In Ziguinchor, for example, Sonacos announces that it has already collected more than 380 tonnes out of a target of between 80 thousand and 100 thousand tonnes. In Tambacounda, in part of the Kolda region, as well as the central zone, notably Kaolack, Fatick and Kaffrine, the campaign is currently considered gloomy. Few collection points are functional in these regions of the South-East and the peanut basin. By Dialigué FAYE –
In the central zone, that is to say the regions of Kaolack, Kaffrine, Fatick, many peanut collection points are not functional, according to the economic operator Sidy Bâ, member of the Agricultural Producers Consultation Framework (CCPA). But, specifies the agricultural producer, at the level of certain cooperatives affiliated with the Ccpa, there were farmers to whom this organization had lent peanut seeds. “We are in the process of being reimbursed (in kind) and those who have money are buying some to keep. Other than that, there is no rush yet. The operators have not yet embarked on the campaign,” explains Mr. Bâ.
And to justify this timidity, he cites the collection margin which is low. “The collection margin of 27.7 is so low that if an operator pays for transport, bagging, handling, practically he only ends up with 14 francs on the kg sold. And if he suffers reductions at the factory, because the farmers do not agree to do screening, it is money that he loses and the Internal Trade services can fine him, saying that he is committing fraud on the merchandise. This is what discourages many operators,” argues the producer.
And what is valid for operators who are members of the Ccpa is also valid for operators of other organizations. So, he believes, until the problem of the screens is resolved, buyers will not be very enthusiastic.
As another problem, he points to financing. In his opinion, the three billion that were disbursed are below needs. A good marketing campaign requires the mobilization of around a hundred billion CFA francs.
As a reminder, in Pékessse, in the department of Tivaouane, region of Thiès, three large operators were raided at the weekly market of this community, and more than 23 tonnes of peanut seeds seized, as part of a hunt led by the Thiès Regional Commerce Service against crooked operators who buy peanuts at an unapproved price.
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