A one-week operation to make available packets of cube sugar at FCFA 675 per packet to consumers went underway yesterday, Monday November 29, 2010 in Yaounde. Launched by the Ministry of Trade in partnership with several wholesalers and food distribution shops, the operation aims at finally stopping price speculation that has characterised the sugar market these last months in several cities.
According to Valentin Mbarga Bihina, Director of Internal Trade at the Ministry of Trade, cube sugar in packets of one kilogramme that is preferred by Cameroonian households is available in the market. Government, he said, recently authorised the importation of huge quantities of sugar but these arrived as granulated sugar in bags of 50 kg. To increase the supply of cube sugar, the Sugar Company of Cameroon, SOSUCAM resumed production on November 5, 2010 after a break and now produces over 700 metric tonnes per day with the possibility of achieving 11,000 metric tonnes after a month. “During our last meeting, SOSUCAM disclosed that it already had 6,600 metric tonnes ready for the market,” said the Director of Internal Trade.
The ongoing operation is targeting consumers through displays in shops and open air sales at major junctions and roundabouts around Yaounde. Brigitte Fondjo, the Regional Delegate of FOKOU Company, a partner in the operation, said her company had deployed vast quantities of packets of the new “Dethom” sugar brand throughout its network of supermarkets while a mobile van decorated with banners and sound animation was going around neighbourhoods such as Mokolo, Nkomkana, Carrefour Carrière and Madagascar to sell directly to people. “The Ministry of Trade divided the city into zones. We are incharge of these areas,” she said. At the Yaounde Central Market, another business partner in the “Sugar Week” operation, SOCOPRAL is selling packets of the “Princesse Tatie” brand at FCFA 650 per packet of one kilogramme. “For the first day, we have a stock of 50 cartons each containing 25 packets,” said Colbert Chomnoue, the manager.
After a timid start yesterday, the “Sugar Week” will go into full gear today with efforts made through various media by the Minister of Trade who in a press release hoped that the population will take advantage of the sales.
