BENIN

Falling in the price of cotton per kg in 2006

During the 2005-2006 agricultural season, and in spite of an important production expected (428,000 tons), the price of cotton per kilogram should fall. Indeed, cotton which has, for a long time, provided prosperity appears now in Benin as a source of impoverishment whereas it remains an important provider of foreign currencies for the State.

This situation is worsened by the subsidies granted by developed countries - mostly the United States of America and Europe – to their own cotton producers.

CAMEROON

Distribution of selected seedlings to farmers in order to boost the agricultural production

The Prime Minister has announced on December 1st , 2005 that focus should, during the year 2006, be put on agricultural production and the backing of paysants. The Government should make available selected seedlings of cocoa, coffee, palm-oil and banana-plantain in view of boosting agricultural production in Cameroon .

COTE D'IVOIRE

Cocoa sold to the highest bidders

The producers in the western part of the country sell their cocoa beans to the highest bidders. Cocoa has indeed two purchasing prices : one used by local purchasers and another one used by the purchasers from Man. The first ones take the beans at CFA F 325 per kg on the spot whereas the second ones pay CFA F 370. The choice between both is quickly made by the producers who prefer having more money with Man purchasers proposing a price close to CFA F 400 which is the basic price adopted by Cocoa-Coffee Exchange for the current agricultural season.

It is difficult to convince the producers not to sell their beans to these purchasers who, in fact, do not export trough Cote d'Ivoire, thus prevent the State from levying duties, all this, because some producers cannot acceed to their plantations.

As to the eastern part of the country, which is traditionally an area where cocoa is sent, marketing cooperatives have decided to make efforts to fight against Ghana purchasers during the current agricultural season.

SENEGAL

Launching of the marketing of cotton

The marketing of cotton has started since December 7, 2005 in spite of late rains in all the country which obliged the producers to sow again and caused a downgrading of cotton to the second group. The expected production is 45,022 tons, corresponding to an estimated 8.7 billions CFA F.

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

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Boycotting of the products of American oil companies to start

Asodegue, an association based in Spain , has launched in Equatorial Guinea the boycott of the products of four American oil companies (Exxon Mobil, Chevron Texaco, Amerada-Hess et Marathon Oil) from January 1 st , 2005 and for all 2006. It indeed states that these companies oppress and exploit the people of Equatorial Guinea in collusion with President Obiang who was accused in 2004 to have placed in his bank accounts in the American Riggs important illicit commissions paid by these companies.

COTE D'IVOIRE/ EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Building of 2,000 houses and development of urban lands

A convention has been signed between Sonavi Vivienda & URB, from Equatorial Guinea and the Bureau national d'études techniques et de développement (BNETD) of Côte d'Ivoire . At stake, the building of 2,000 houses and the development of urban lands in Equatorial Guinea . The works which should last three years are estimated to cost 44 billions CFA F.