Senegal has been shaken in recent days by clashes between opposition demonstrators and the police. The security situation has cast a shadow over the country's economic activity, particularly the mango export campaign which has just begun.
The clashes disrupted the mango export campaign after roads were blocked and the services of the Ministry of Agriculture, and therefore the administrative process for exporting mangoes, was halted. Today, the situation is calmer according to Abdoulaye Gueye, a Senegalese mango producer.
Gueye explains, "The current situation is calm and exports are ongoing, there are no more obstructions, except on a few occasions when demonstrators momentarily block the road but end up clearing it. The demonstrators are producers' sons and have no interest in disrupting shipments. So we're seeing a few delays in deliveries, but nothing more than that."
Harvesting and shipment have also been hampered by curfews imposed by the the authorities between 7 am and 6 pm. "However, growers and transporters were able to adapt their schedules," says Guye.
Gueye continues, "The airport and ports are up and running, as are the mango packing stations. Banks have also resumed their activities. There have been a few delays in payments due to the closure of banks in the context of clashes, but this concerns only a few branches and has had no impact on the harvest."
The campaign was most impacted by the standstill in government services, as the export process requires a visit from the Ministry of Agriculture inspectors to harvest areas. Gueye says, "The Ministry of Agriculture services are now operational. Growers call the Plant Protection Directorate as soon as the harvest is imminent, and the latter sends out its inspectors to check that the crop is pest-free and exportable."
"Cross-border roads are also all operational and secure, except for those leading to Burkina Faso. Throughout the period of unrest, road exports to Morocco and Mauritania functioned normally," says the producer.
However, exports to Europe are expected to fall considerably this year, for a number of reasons not all related to the security situation, according to Guye. "In Casamance, producers have preferred to sell their produce on bana bana (local markets) without waiting for exporters. Exports to Morocco and Mauritania are not affected, since they buy their supplies from the bana bana. By contrast, exports to other destinations will fall by a third at least."
Gueye concludes, "In the central and Niaye regions, production has dropped considerably. Growers are used to do 2 or 3 harvests per season, but this year there is only one. The local market is also very demanding for mangoes, which is contributing to a drop in exports."
For more information:
Abdoulay Gueye
Layekent
+221 76 322 28 81
layekent.2001@gmail.com