US SOYBEAN MEAL IMPORTED TO SUPPORT IVORIAN FARMERS
Sonal (Société Nationale D’Alimentation), a platinum member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cote d’Ivoire (AmCham), is making significant contributions to Ivorian farming through its participation in a USDA monetization program. The program enables African countries to receive U.S. agricultural products at competitive prices, which helps Ivorian farmers who appreciate the quality of U.S. soybean meal.
Each year, the USDA holds tenders and auctions of agricultural products for Africa. These quality products are used to feed poultry, livestock, and other animals. Sonal has been able to import nearly 20,000 tons of soybean meal through this program, benefiting Ivorian farmers who rely on high-quality feed for their animals. This is a significant achievement, considering that U.S. soybean meal is generally more expensive than what they receive from other sources.
In addition to soybean meals, Sonal imports other foodstuffs such as fish, rice, corn, and many others from different parts of the world. The company has state-of-the-art equipment for all aspects of the value chain, from ship arrival to product unloading to food storage. Sonal imports approximately 70,000 tons of soybean meal each year for Ivorian farmers.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Cote d’Ivoire participated in a tour of the African Pelican, the ship carrying U.S. soybeans, parked at Quay C1 in the Autonomous Port of Abidjan. This tour demonstrated the commitment of the United States of America alongside Côte d’Ivoire in terms of trade and shared prosperity. The AmCham team was able to collect the necessary information to understand the positive impact of the USDA program and the role that Sonal is playing in supporting Ivorian power supply.
The USDA monetization program is an excellent example of how private and public sectors can work together to achieve common goals. Sonal’s participation in the program has made a significant contribution to Ivorian agriculture, and the company’s commitment to providing high-quality foodstuffs is commendable. The Ivorian farmers are benefiting from Sonal’s efforts to bring U.S. soybean meal to the country, and the USDA program is helping to ensure that the quality products are available at affordable prices.
In conclusion, we would like to thank Radwan Fawaz (General Manager of Sonal) for his foresight and the USDA for its commitment to support Ivorian farmers. The partnership between the private and public sectors has allowed Ivorian agriculture to flourish, which should serve as a model for other countries looking to improve their agricultural sector.
