The Ivorian government launched on Wednesday 07 December, the construction of 40 new local markets in the 31 regions of the country. With an overall cost of $9.9 million, the project is part of the Government’s second Social Program (PSGouv 2) and aims to improve the living conditions of households.
For the Ivorian Prime Minister Patrick Achi, who proceeded to the launching of the works, the markets have a definite impact on the improvement of the living conditions of the populations, especially those of the women, who are the main actors of the food industry. Hence the government’s desire to “bring producers closer to distributors and customers. “The market is at the heart of the development of a town, a sub-prefecture or a village. We know the difficulties that exist in places where there is no market. A market serves to generate income,” said Prime Minister Patrick Achi.
Led by the Food Marketing Support Office (OCPV), this programme supports the development of income-generating activities. The government intends to contribute to the modernisation of the agricultural value chain through a CFAF 260 billion program. According to a government press release, these local markets should make it possible to increase the income of beneficiary producers by at least 20% and to collect at least 165,000 tonnes of food products to supply the markets, particularly those in Abidjan.
An added value for the populations
The beneficiaries of this large-scale project, including producers, traders, transporters, cooperatives, young people and women, did not fail to express their relief and gratitude to the Ivorian executive.
“This market is welcome. We produce cassava, aubergines, chillies, everything related to food production. But because of the lack of a market nearby, we were obliged to sell the products of our cooperative elsewhere. For example, for a load of cassava that has to be sent to Abidjan, because that’s where we send most of our products, we can spend at least 300,000 CFA francs. From now on, this local market will be the primary destination for all our food products. This will make us a real gain. We will earn much more financially in order to take care of our families,” said Angèle Tony, Treasurer of the Yakassé-Attobrou Women’s Cooperative, a cooperative of more than 200 producer members.
