The Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) has reached a milestone performance in the Banana sector by exporting a record 3, 347 tons of banana in January 2024 since resuming activities in June 2020. This outstanding performance is thanks to its workers who have been constantly complaining of poor treatment by the management, thereby multiplying a number of strike actions demanding months of unpaid salaries. The recent protest staged by workers of the state-owned company was in April 2023 when the Alliance of CDC Workers declared 10 days of industrial action. The aim was to raise awareness of their sufferings to the national and international communities.
This is the third time the company’s banana export goes above 3,000 tons since resuming activities some four years ago after the 3,103 tons exported in December 2022 and the 3,302 tons exported in December 2023.
According to figures from the National Banana Producers Association (ASSABACAM), the Banana sector exported a total of 22,521 tons in January 2024
with the CDC recording its best performance despite the security challenges that have crippled the company for the past years.
Here are details of January 2024 banana exports per company :
Upper Penja Plantations – 16 875 tons
CDC – 3 347 tons
Mondonie Banana company – 946 tons
Boh Plantations – 1 353 tons
The January 2024 performance is a decrease as compared to December 2023 which saw an export of 25 503 tons, making a difference of 2 982 tons.
Worthy to note is the fact that the CDC’s activities were halted in September 2018 due to the socio-political crisis rocking the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
Source: Cameroon News Agency
British companies are keen on investing in Kisumu County to leverage on the region’s huge economic potential in agriculture and the blue economy.
The British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, said Kisumu was the gateway to Uganda and Tanzania, presenting huge opportunities for the local and regional market.
Wigan, who paid a courtesy call on the Kisumu Governor, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, in his office, Thursday, said the UK government was keen on supporting interested UK companies to invest in Lakeside County.
His mission, he added, was helping British companies to undertake public-private partnerships in consultation with the National and County government, to tap into existing opportunities in the area.
This, he said, was aimed at unlocking permissions and financing options for the interested firms, adding that the move was set to create job opportunities for the residents.
Kisumu Governor, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, welcomed the gesture, saying it would impact positively on the ongoing socio-economic tra
nsformative programmes in the area.
‘We highly welcome private investments by the British companies, and we are eager to facilitate the processes through the British Government and my Administration, ‘ he said.
The County government, he added, has already developed a framework to engage the UK government, adding that more engagements were lined-up to fast-track the process.
Already, the County government, he said, has signed a Sh31 billion public-private partnership with a UK firm, adding that consultations are ongoing with the National government, to kick-start the project.
Hinged on agriculture and climate finance, the multi-billion project, he said, would have immense economic benefits for the County.
Source: Kenya News Agency