With COVID 19, the Ivorian economy is strongly impacted by restrictive measures. The Pineapple and Mango sectors, spearheads of the National Export Strategy (SNE) and the Ivorian economy are no exception.

“Let us remember that these speculations in general, the mango and the pineapple in particular are perishable products which navigate in an environment where the logistics and conservation system are less efficient. Thus, they are part of the sectors strongly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis with the increase in post-harvest losses,” maintains the Secretary General of the National Export Council (CNE), Serge Martial Bombo.

Since 2018, Côte d'Ivoire has exported 35,000 tonnes of pineapple and 33,000 tonnes of mango on average. For the year 2020, the forecasts were respectively 45,000 tonnes for pineapple and 42,000 tonnes for mango.

However, he notes, “the exogenous shock due to the COVID-19 crisis has had a strong impact on these sectors. Indeed, the health crisis has been a reality in Côte d'Ivoire since March 2020 (…) In terms of impact, the COVID-19 crisis would lead, in this year 2020, to a reduction in pineapple and mango exports. in Côte d'Ivoire to reach 23,000 tonnes and 25,000 tonnes respectively, i.e. a drop of 12,000 tonnes for pineapple and 8,000 tonnes for mango” warns Mr. Bombo.

Beyond production losses, it will also be necessary to note market share losses (international, sub-regional, local), a partial shortage of phytosanitary products, a reduction in export logistics (Aircraft and Ships), a reduction of transport trucks for the local market and an increase in selling prices on the local market.

To overcome these difficulties and develop these sectors, coherent solutions or measures and recommendations will have to be implemented.

According to the expert, these include: government support, improvement of the cold storage and conservation system and BIO conservation, increase in transport units, market diversification, improvement of specialized transport, training of export players, establishment of certification systems and creation of labels, creation of a platform of certified plant material, training in compliance with agricultural technical itineraries, adoption of good agricultural practices, varietal diversification (pineapple and mango), improvement of the value chain, creation of unique production structures, adoption of organic farming, improvement of the marketing system for all levels (market studies, prospecting, representation), the creation of an agricultural bank, specialized insurance.

As a reminder, the Government has set up the support fund for small and medium-sized enterprises of 40 billion FCFA, the support fund for large companies, of 30 billion FCFA) and the support fund for the agricultural sector of 50 billion FCFA. FCFA.

In view of the importance and the strategic nature of these two speculations for the Ivorian economy, they were able to be endowed with an amount of 6 billion FCFA distributed as follows: 1 billion FCFA for pineapple and 5 billion FCFA CFA for mango.

This endowment, he hammered, will therefore contribute to the revival of the sectors through the strengthening of the production, infrastructural (conservation centers, logistics, etc.) and technical (Certification, label, training, etc.) capacities of the sectors and improvement of the business environment (regulations, relaxation of taxation, etc.).

The National Export Strategy (SNE), adopted in 2013 by the Ivorian government as part of the National Development Program (PND 2012) is a document resulting from a wide consultation of public and private actors and which aims to maximize the Côte d'Ivoire's export potential and increased export market share.

Indeed, it deals with six (6) priority sectors, namely Cashew, Rubber and plastics, Cotton, textiles and clothing, Tropical fruits, Cassava and derivatives and Information and communication technology.

At the request of the State, the Coffee-Cocoa sector is taken into account by the Strategy as well as a specific section for its sustainability through reflections, studies and analyzes in order to identify other value chains with high potential. (Other Export Products).

The NES also addresses five cross-cutting functions related to access to finance, export skills development, quality and packaging management, trade promotion and information, and transport and trade facilitation. trades.