Marketing of cashew nuts: The underside of the government embargo

By letter dated 15 mars 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIC) notified the president of the Interprofession of the cashew sector in Benin, the new provisions contained in decree no. 2022-568 of the 12 October 2022 banning the export of cashew and grain soy in the Republic of Benin. Is it a wise decision ?

In any case, it growls and murmurs dangerously in the ranks of producers and exporters of cashew nuts. A decision that fell on their heads, like a sword of Damocles. But on the side of the Beninese executive, this measure is necessary. And for several reasons. The aim is to work towards greater facilitation of the supply of cashew nuts to factories.. Since then, the export of raw cashew nuts by land under the campaign 2022-2023 must be done on the basis of certain conditions with the submission of the authorization application files before the opening of the marketing campaign by the year 2024. Fateful steps and deadlines that slow down the animation of the market.

The new cashew nut export requirements are struggling to achieve unanimity among these economic actors who are working to regularize their situation at the risk of deliberately excluding themselves from the market.. On the side of the Beninese executive, the decision to reorganize the cashew nut export market is irrevocable. As such, it calls on the actors involved in the cashew sector chain, to comply with the legislation in force so as not to speak of exclusion.

Didi HOUNNOU (Coll)