From March 7th to 15th  Ouagadougou hosted the 5th Trade Fair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Its main theme was « The reinforcement of  intra-community trade  through information and communication technology”. As I went to visit the fair, I was hoping to find an answer to the question “Is regional integration now  under way?”

 While making a tour of the stalls I quickly forgot my initial concern. I was impressed by the number of quality food products exhibited. The choice of beverages on offer was more diversified. Numerous stalls advertised “local” products, without specifying from which ECOWAS country they originated.

At the end of the tour it would have been hard to disagree with the view expressed by the President of the National Farmers’ Confederation of Burkina Faso (CPF – Conféderation Paysanne du Faso): “Given the potential in agriculture, forestry and livestock breeding demonstrated by producers at this fair,  we have the capacity of developing trade within the community and provide food for the region”. The CPF as well as ROPPA ( Réseau des organisations paysannes et producteurs agricoles - the Network of West African Farmers and Agricultural Producers) remain opposed to the signing of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in its present form, between West Africa and the European Union.  They will wait until they have  thoroughly studied the new  “road map” (EU schedule for the practical steps) and make sure that the draft agreement covers both development and trade aspects. At any rate, in the words of the President of the CPF, the only alternative in order to resist the wave of foreign goods that will invade ECOWAS markets is to “eat what we ourselves produce”. (See LE PAYS of March 18^th 2008).

Indeed, at this fair, West African farmers and producers, have given full evidence of their capability to gradually replace imported food products by domestic ones (products made within the ECOWAS area, that is), with special emphasis on fruit juice and beverages. But the fact remains that they will need a sound national, regional and international environment to operate in. We understand the diffidence of the President of the CPF as to the signing of an EPA without knowing if it will provide sufficient safe-guards for farm products and food stuffs from the region. That is why the civil society of Burkina Faso has requested “adequate protection for sensitive or strategic agricultural and industrial products, so as to facilitate regional market integration,   reduction of poverty and  achievement of food sovereignty.”  So far the international environment (and products made within EC
OWAS borders).

At the regional level we share the  stance taken by the ECOWAS President,  Mr Mohamed Ibn Chambas : “in order to reduce the cost of living, there must be further development of domestic production and free circulation of people and goods”. Speaking of the many hurdles slowing down the progress of regional trade, he points out the high transport and energy costs, the inadequacy of financial services and the excessive checks and illicit collection of taxes and duties. (See the Weekly Newsletter n° 202, March 10-16^th 2008, from the French International Development Agency, AFDI).

This aspect does not seem to have been taken into account in the recent action by the Government of Burkina Faso  to mitigate the effects of the high cost of living. To reform customs in order to bring in all taxes payable to the State is a good thing. At the same time  undue harassment  and illicit tax collection, which Burkina’s customs offices continue to impose on importers of goods made in ECOWAS countries, must be stopped. When accompanying a group of members of the National Union of Mini-Dairies of Burkina Faso, I took special interest in the issue of packaging. If you want to save money, one solution is to turn to Ghanaian suppliers. You will find products of equal quality, but at a much lower price than at  the only factory in Burkina Faso which manufactures plastic packaging. Apparently it is taking advantage of its monopoly. But when you try and use supplies from Ghana a good deal of the expected savings is sucked up by  harassment and illicit tax requests. The Government  ought to investigate this, in order to obtain a  lasting effect in its fight against the high cost of living.

Another idea runs along the same lines. We went to see the stall of the UCOBAM – the Co-operative Union of market gardeners of Burkina Faso. We found various kinds of jam (mango, water-melon and straw-berry). The lady in charge of the stall told me that one major problem was the cost of packaging. This is probably a difficulty shared with the  vast majority of food processing operators taking part in the fair. What a pity that no co-ordinated effort had been made to look into the possibilities of reducing costs. UCOBAM orders empty jars directly from Italy. Would it not be possible to set up a central purchasing unit at ECOWAS level (and why not an industrial plant for manufacturing glass jars?) in order to get a better price?

We made a final stop at the UNPCB  (Union National des Producteurs de Coton du Burkina – National Union of Cotton Farmers). What a surprise to find, side by side, a small basket of organic cotton and large basket of  Bt Bollgard II cotton (brand owned by the Monsanto company). A few years ago I produced an article with the headline “GMO cotton or fair trade cotton – it is time to choose!”. Today I feel like saying  “GMO cotton or organic cotton – it is time to choose!” I do indeed fear that the UNPCB,  following the example of  the Government, has already made their choice.

Have they possibly decided  to read the book or see the film recently released about the American company Monsanto,  owner of the Bt Bollgard cotton seed, before making their final decision?

We hope so !

Maurice OUDET