The impact of powder milk imports on the milk sector in Burkina Faso (Part II)

In our last bulletin we published excerpts from a study of the problem of imported milk powder in Burkina Faso and its impact on the development of the milk sector. The study concludes with a set of recommendations. (Analyse de la problématique de l’importation de la poudre de lait au Burkina Faso et son effet sur le développement de la filière lait.)

RECOMMENDATIONS

The study proposes a number of measures, which may be seen as a supplement to the Action Plan for the development of the milk trade in Burkina Faso, and recommends:

At the regional level – import controls

 that the West African Economic and Monetary Union, WAEMOU, and shortly also the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, raise the import duty on all milk products to 20%(including of course milk powder) and that the possibility of further increases not be excluded from the outset;

 that the Government of Burkina Faso and all civil society organisations concerned make the necessary representations to the WAEMOU and the ECOWAS to support the rapid implementation of such a proposal;

 that the Government of Burkina Faso endorse the setting up of a rigorous mechanism of import controls in all countries in the sub-region, as proposed by the WAEMOU in its Plan for fighting fraud and counterfeit;

At the production level

 that the Government of Burkina Faso and the various donor organisations involved in the development of the sector intensify their efforts in order to level out seasonal variations in milk production;

 that the Government of Burkina Faso as soon as possible adopt the necessary measures to settle the problem of tenancy rights, in order to give producers at least a minimum of security with regard to their long term occupancy of the land they work on;

 that the Working Groups and the bodies in charge of support programs for the milk sector act in close co-operation with field operatives to work out a system of price differentials according to season, so as to enhance milk production during the dry season by making it more rewarding financially;

At the milk processing level

 that the Government of Burkina Faso intensify its program for inspection of dairy plants, so that quality improvements already under way can be continued and local milk products become increasingly appreciated by consumers;

 that the Government of Burkina Faso and the agencies in charge of support programs raise the awareness among dairy operators of the benefits of a reorganisation of the sector. This could result in economies of scale and the introduction of work schedules that provide for the delivery of milk in evenings and on week-ends and perhaps also the selection of some dairies for the preparation of products that are not intended for immediate consumption;

 that the Government of Burkina Faso as soon as possible transfer state owned processing units to private groups in a satisfactory state of operation and request the financial aid for such programmes if necessary;

 that the Government of Burkina Faso publicly identify and name plants which do not observe established quality standards, but persist with non-compliance in spite of warnings issued;

At the distribution and consumption level

 that the Government of Burkina Faso provide for the introduction of a labelling system, so that consumers may be informed of the true origin of the milk products they buy;

 that national Working Groups in the sector launch an awareness-raising and education program among milk distribution operators on the need to observe the low temperatures required for milk transport and storage;

 that the Government of Burkina Faso carry out a market survey on milk products among consumers, based on quantities consumed rather than money spent, so that a more precise and reliable information be made available. It would thus be possible to more accurately establish such important data as the volume of sales of local milk and of imported quantities.

Koudougou, September 11, 2006
Maurice Oudet