After
six years without congress, the Cashew Farmers Federation over the weekend held
congress where they elected in a new executive held in Brikama.
During
the congress, the farmers raised several concerns and unanimously elected Louis
Silva as president and Amadou Jallow as Secretary General, while the rest were
elected by representatives of all cashew associations in the country.
Elected
president Luis Silva said the congress was long overdue because they missed to
communicate for almost six years, adding that they took it as a wise decision
to restructure the Federation for the best interest of the stakeholders and the
nation.
Mr
Silva emphasized that they are faced with problems, saying there is a need for
them to work together in order to achieve their dreams. “In June 2014,
representatives from all cashew farmers association in the country held a
congress in Jenoi and elected the first executive committee of the federation to
manage our activities. Unfortunately, they failed in all their duties and
responsibilities mandated to them by the general body.”
Dwelling
on their constraints with the former executive, Mr Silva highlighted that the
previous executive failed to register and affiliate with all registered cashew
farmers association and they never conduct meeting or prepare activity reports.
He
disclosed that the ex-executive failed to meet the contract agreement they
signed with Mr. Bah from Holland through GIEPA, which is under court.
According
to him, among other contracts they signed was one that worth over five million
dalasis with GGC to supply them with raw cashew nuts which they never delivered
nor return the money.
Faba
Jammeh, director of trade at the ministry of trade explained the reason why
they sponsor the AGM, saying they know the importance of cashew and is part of
their export list. He added that some years back, they had some cashew problems
and his minister had to go to Guinea Bissau and Senegal to make sure that there
will be easy import and export of cashew.
“We
cannot consume all the cashews we have in the country, so the importation is to
help us. We want to make so that cashew farmers benefit from their product,” he
said, and added “we will help the cashew farmers and inspire them with
knowledge in the cashew business.”
Bakary
Saidykhan of GIEPA, who spoke about exports stated that the Chinese are buying
cashew nuts from The Gambia and selling it in the international markets which,
he said the government should look into and stop it.
“If
you go to the super markets in abroad, you will see made in China, India or
Brazil and the fact is some of those cashews are exported from The Gambia. We
as a nation want to see those cashews are label as made in Gambia. Some of them
do transport it to London, which is costlier there.”
Bakary
Sanyang, representative of Shelter for Life also stated that they have six
years project called ‘lift cashew project’ to help farmers. He added that
because of lack of cash and machine for the farmers, the cashew business cannot
reach its expectations.
“The
Chinese and the Indians come and fake our farmers because one kilo of cashew
bought in The Gambia is one dollar and in the world market, they sell them six
to seven dollars. Our project came to stop that.”
Alpha
Ousman Jallow, executive director of Cashew Alliance The Gambia and the
electoral commission of the congress, expressed delight and thanked the
partners for the continued support.