<p>300 FCFA / kg. This is now the floor price for the purchase of cashew nuts from the producer. The opening date of the campaign is March 11, 2021, while October 31, 2021 is retained as the closing date. This is the confirmation from the Beninese Government provided by the Minister of Industry and Trade and her colleague from Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries on the occasion of the launch of this 2020-2021 marketing campaign for the said product.</p> <p>For Minister Shadiya Alimatou ASSOUMAN, this launch makes it possible, with all the players in the sector, to take stock and to make commitments for the development of the sector and of the Beninese economy. “The National Cashew Exporters Council (CoNEC) has registered seventy (70) companies having expressed an intention to export raw cashew nuts from Benin during the past campaign. Thus, 137,205 tonnes of raw cashew nuts were weighed at the weighbridges. Regarding processing, only 11,045 tonnes or 6.49% of cashews were processed. This low rate is due to the suspension of certain contracts during this period of Covid-19… ”, she noted.</p> <p>Rigor and seriousness required</p> <p>Especially since several difficulties punctuated the 2019-2020 marketing campaign, in particular "the failure to carry out the cost structuring study to facilitate the fixing of the floor price, the difficulties of access to financing, the fraudulent exit of cashew nuts by land borders ”without forgetting“ the non-respect of the commitments regarding the quantities and the mechanism of supplying the factories with raw nuts, the failure of the process for the retrocession of part of the levies to better finance the activities of the campaign, the drop in the quality of raw cashew nuts… ”.</p> <p>However, the Minister in charge of Trade urged the actors to be more rigorous and serious in the implementation of decisions taken by mutual agreement. She recalled the measures taken by the Government of President Patrice TALON, whose attention paid to the development of the agricultural sector in general and to the cashew sector in particular no longer needs to be demonstrated. These are the prohibition of exports by land, the involvement of the Republican Police to ensure compliance with this measure, the respect by the actors of the texts in force in the Republic of Benin and the application of sanctions. to unscrupulous actors. Strict compliance with barrier measures against the spread of Covid-19 during this campaign was strongly recommended.</p> <p>For his part, Edouard ASSOGBA, President of the Interprofession de la Filière Acajou (IFA Benin) praised the Government for its benevolent gaze towards this income sector which ranks second after cotton in Benin. He listed some achievements such as the creation of the Nursery Association, the establishment of service brigades, the creation of new cashew orchards, the establishment of the strategic watch committee, etc. The President of IFA Benin recognizes that a lot remains to be done and that is why he is asking for the support of the State.</p> <p>The Minister in charge of Agriculture spoke with his heart to the actors of the cashew sector. According to Gaston Cossi DOSSOUHOUI, they must work to improve productivity and transformation, maintain quality so that everyone finds their benefit. Also, he invited producers to form a group with cooperative standards to benefit from state support, to use grafted plants for new plantings with a view to the homogeneity of the plantation.</p> <p>It should be remembered that Messrs Vincent AKPONA and Valère FATONNOUGBO, respectively 1st Deputy Mayor of Kétou and Prefect of the Plateau, who praised the strengths and potential of the locality, honored the ceremony with their presence. A ceremony richly embellished by folkloric activities punctuated by the local dance known as "Guèlèdè".</p>