The reorganization of the palm oil sector is underway. Government officials visited  production centres from April 24 to  May 2

A Committee composed of representatives of the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Mines and Industries Ministry, the Chamber of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, representatives of producers and processors, traveled to production centres in the Littoral, West and South West regions in a bid to step up reorganization of the local palm oil trade.

The marketing of palm oil in the country is faced with challenges caused by imported refined vegetable oils, some of which do not conform with national technical regulations.

Under the leadership of Dr Emmanuel Nkoulou Ada, Chairman of the Committee, the mission focused on the overall assessment of the sector and the production and processing plants. During the tour, an inventory of the stocks of raw materials and finished products, including stearin and palm kernel oil was made in order to assess the impact of marketing of oils of fraudulent and non-conforming origin on local production.

“Factories we visited are currently producing oil. Secondly, in spite of low local production, these processing units do their best to ensure production of refined oil is steady. Inasmuch as these factories create jobs, so far there are no new jobs created, perhaps because there is still this thorny unsolved problem of structural deficit of crude palm oil.” Dr Nkoulou said, noting that they were satisfied with what the companies are doing.

The problem of non-procurement arises at the level of agro-industries, says Dr Nkoulou.This is due to trade policy problems for some processing units. The committee, which is a watch structure, tries to dispel this misunderstanding, so that the harmony that has always existed between agro-industries and processors can be sustained.

Dr. Sonya Fanke, Director of the Co-manufacturing Group in Bomono, said they hoped the government can help them achieve their goals.

“We believe that someone can hold us by the hand like a father showing the way to a child. We intend to support ourselves, to be members of the Committee to whom we will raise our problems. The refusal to sell crude palm oil by SOCAPALM continues to arise. She maintained; “We have large machines. SOCAPALM which used to supply us raw raw material supplies no longer does. We are obliged to stop work and choose a new option to keep the workforce we use.

Yves kollo Atangana DG of SOPROICAM for his part, complained that Cameroonian farmers are selling their soyabeans to Nigerians who offer better prices. He says they spend money on campaigns to invest on farm inputs, sensitisation of farmers and when it was time to benefit from their investments, farmers chose Nigerians.

Admitting better prices are good for the farmers, the director general pointed out that local tranformation of the farm products is imperative. Other companies visited include, ASROC, CTA, Saagri and ATHV.