The lack of regulation of the coconut sector in Côte d'Ivoire has led to neglect of production, resulting in a steady decline in acreage and supply problems for exporters. However, according to Ivorian exporter Beugré Marie-Nadège, this problem is on the way to being resolved, with the Ivorian government having recently taken matters in hand.
Marie-Nadège describes a chaotic industry until last season: "Unlike mango, coffee-cocoa or cashew nuts, we had no regulatory body for coconuts. There was no reference price at the farm gate, and export prices varied from exporter to exporter with no consistent basis. We also had a big problem with buyers from neighboring countries, who created unfair competition in pricing and sizing. Where a tax-paying Ivorian exporter would buy coconuts at €0.15, they would buy it at €0.19 and sell it at a higher price in their country. We had great difficulty sourcing large-caliber coconuts, i.e., at least 400 g, as regional buyers siphoned off anything down to 200 g."
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This disorder has made the sector less attractive, to the benefit of other crops such as cocoa, coffee, and oil palm, which are better organized. We are therefore witnessing the destruction of coconut plantations, exacerbated by urbanization and urban sprawl, which are destroying coconut plantations," the exporter continues.
The Ivorian government, in collaboration with exporters and stakeholders in the coconut industry, has stepped up to take ownership of the situation, according to Marie-Nadège. She reports, "In February, the Council of Ministers adopted an ordinance extending the scope of Law No. 2017-540, by extending the rules relating to the regulation, control, and monitoring of activities in the Hevea and Oil Palm industries to the Coconut industry. The Hevea and Oil Palm Council are now set to fill the vacuum and play a key role, notably by drawing up and implementing an agricultural production program, ensuring compliance with quality standards, developing a fair pricing mechanism for each link in the value chain, and promoting the industrialization of the coconut sector."
Reflecting its determination to protect and strengthen the industry, Côte d'Ivoire has also joined the International Coconut Community (CIC). "Côte d'Ivoire is the second African country to join this intergovernmental organization. This is important for us, as the CIC plays a major role in the sustainable development of coconut cultivation while promoting trade and technological innovation in the sector," the exporter says.
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The effects of these measures will be felt very quickly, according to the exporter, who concludes: "Soon, with the restriction of coconut spillage to neighboring countries, there will be more supply for exporters, which will increase the volume of exports and added value for Ivorian companies and the national economy. Farm-gate prices, which are now under the authority of the Hevea and Oil Palm Council, are expected to be fair, reasonable, and affordable for all exporters. This will also allow us to increase the surface area and enable exporters to achieve better integration by having their own production."
For more information:
Beugré Marie-Nadège
Compagnie Internationale de Commerce et Services
Tel: +2250717145538
Email: cics.sarl@gmail.com