Cocoa exports from Cameroon fell by more than 40 percent week-on-week in the wake of violent anti-government riots which cut off roads in the world's fourth biggest producer, senior industry officials said on Thursday.
Crowds of youths fought police and soldiers in several towns and cities last week when a strike by taxi drivers turned violent, paralysing transport across the central African country, including in key cocoa-growing zones.
"Because of the strike, all activities at the main port of export, Douala, were completely grounded for four days, that is from Monday to Thursday," said Michael Ndoping general manager of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board.
Apollinaire Ngwe, president of a second industry body, the Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Board (CCIB), said the unrest had prevented many buyers in urban centres from travelling to production zones to purchase beans.
"The unrest took such a violent proportion that no buyer could take the risk of hiring trucks and travelling with huge sums of money to rural areas," he said. "Moreover, those big buyers who could take the risk were blocked by the lack of finances as all banks were closed during the four-day strike." Ndongo Essomba, whose company is one of Cameroon's five leading cocoa exporters, said rioting had delayed the transport from the Centre province of several of his trucks carrying around 26 tonnes which were due to be exported from Douala.
Comments
Comments are closed.