2023-09-21 10:19:08
Members of the Benin Farmers’ Association were received in audience, on Wednesday September 21, 2023, by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. A meeting at the end of which they admitted to having been manipulated to wrongly vilify the Government and its Leader, Patrice TALON. “We have wronged His Excellency, the President of the Republic, Patrice TALON. Indeed, we had asked producers not to produce for this agricultural campaign.
“We cannot deny it. But by saying it, it is not President TALON that we have harmed. It’s up to ourselves. So, through the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, we would like to ask forgiveness from the Head of State. We ask you to say this forgiveness to the Head of State. Our association is apolitical. Our Association campaigns for better agricultural production throughout the national territory, since it represents all Beninese farmers. Next campaign, we will go to all the hamlets so that everyone cultivates cotton and other crops. Do it for us with the President of the Republic.” These are the conclusions drawn by Mr. Imorou SAKA KORA, President of the Association of Farmers of Benin, at the end of the audience with Minister Gaston Cossi DOSSOUHOUI. But first, in his introductory remarks to the audience, President SAKA KORA declared that Beninese farmers are facing enormous difficulties which go so far as to threaten their survival and compromise the future of Beninese agriculture. But following discussions with the Minister, all the members present of the Association recognized the efforts made by the Government since 2016 to make Benin an agricultural nation which enriches the stakeholders. Indeed, Minister DOSSOUHOUI first emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture is the home of farmers and meeting the minister should never be a problem. “I never do administration with peasant questions. It is said that it is difficult to meet me, yet I am with you all the time on the ground. We need farmers to build Benin. Our country’s economy is currently based on agriculture. Can we do agriculture without farmers? It’s impossible,” insisted the Minister, before adding: “The Government, since 2016, has ensured that production factors are made available to producers at low cost. The Government subsidizes the purchase of agricultural machinery to reduce hardship for farmers and reduce post-harvest losses; maximize production to the producer. The Government has trained maintainers of these agricultural machines so that these machines never again break down indefinitely like before. Regarding prices, the Government has never set the purchase price of cotton. It is the producers themselves who set their price, and this is approved by the Government. To prevent traders from buying soya, cashew and shea cheaper from producers, the Government sets floor prices. But that does not prevent the producer from selling his production at a much higher price.” All things which led Minister DOSSOUHOUI to conclude: “The politicians told you something else, you believed them. Benin is very well on its way in its agricultural policy to be an agricultural power in the sub-region. But that doesn’t please everyone. How can we tell farmers not to produce? What will he live on? Those who say it don’t love you.”
Finally, Gaston Cossi DOSSOUHOUI promised to carry the Association’s message to those it may concern. “I have heard your complaint. It will be forwarded to the appropriate person. But our Government does not make promises, it acts. We will act on levers so that you are satisfied.”
The Association was accompanied to the hearing by members of the Ousmane TRAORE Network office.
QA September 21, 2023
#Agricultural #producers #state #forgiveness