VZCZCXRO5607
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1202/01 3051532
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011532Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1824
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEADWD/DA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001202 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR LAURIE ANN AGAMA 
AMEMBASSY DAKAR PLEASE PASS TO WATH 
AMEBASSY ACCRA PLEASE PASS TO WATH 
COMMERCE FOR SALIHA LOUCIF 
 
E.O. 12598:  N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD PGOV GV
SUBJECT: GUINEA COOPERATIVE PLANTATION EYES AGOA BENEFITS 
 
REF: CONAKRY 01156 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY. On October 16, a representative of the West African 
Trade Hub in Dakar, Marlene Gummo, gave a presentation at the AGOA 
Day held in Conakry.  The next day, she toured a fruit and vegetable 
plantation in the Kindia region of Guinea.  The plantation is 
literally 'growing', and hopes to be able to take advantage of the 
provisions of AGOA for export to the U.S. END SUMMARY. 
 
-------------------------- 
Co-op Plantation in Kindia 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) On October 17, Marlene Gummo of the West African Trade Hub 
in Dakar, along with Embassy staff visted a cooperative plantation 
in Dantouman, Kindia.  Hosted by the co-op director, Ms. Sylla 
M'Balou Fofana, the visit illustrated the region's importance as one 
of Guinea's key agricultural areas, which is known for its fruits 
and vegetables, especially bananas, pineapples, and papayas. Prior 
to the plantation visit, Ms. Sylla participated in  the October 16 
Conakry AGOA Day where she also organized an exhibition displaying a 
wide variety of products, including produce and local fabrics. 
 
¶3.  (U) Following a warm reception by Ms. Sylla and members of her 
cooperative, Ms. Gummo toured the plantation, which was established 
in 2000 near the ruins of a French colonial banana plantation that 
is being rehabilitated.  While the plantation has ten hectares, only 
5 hectares are currently cultivated:  three hectares of bananas and 
two hectares of pineapples.  Other seasonal crops such as rice, 
beans, peppers, corn, and peanuts are grown as well, but on an 
informal basis.  Fifty-five local villagers work on the plantations 
on a part-time basis.   These workers receive a significant portion 
of their livelihood from these plantations and divide their time 
between the plantation and their own family plots. 
 
¶4.  (U) The Government of Guinea agricultural research center in 
Foulayah, Kindia provides technical assistance, seedlings and 
training to the Co-op.  Chemical fertilizers are used, but no 
pesticides.  Ms. Sylla said that experimentation with organic 
methods will begin in 2008. 
 
¶5.  (U) Currently, the plantation's products are only sold 
domestically.  However, in order to take advantage of AGOA, 
production is increasing and Ms. Sylla said the target is to start 
exporting bananas and pineapples by 2012.  Financially 
self-sufficient, the cooperative does not have any loan liabilities. 
 According to Ms. Sylla, they plan to set up a micro-finance 
framework to support its members. 
 
¶6. (U) Prime Minister Kouyate visited the Co-op plantation this year 
and promised to improve access to the area.  The road needs serious 
repairs while colonial-era bridges need to be replaced in order to 
allow trucks to collect produce at harvest.  Currently, trucks are 
unable to access the plantation during the rainy season, which lasts 
from June through October. 
 
¶7.  (U) At the end of the visit, Ms. Sylla expressed interest in 
getting training on U.S. sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) norms in 
order to better prepare her products for the US market.  She also 
requested training on techniques to grow bio and organic products 
and to have contacts of US agencies for a 'fruitful' collaboration. 
 
 
--------------------- 
Social Responsibility 
--------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) The Co-op assists farmers in educating their children, 
especially young girls, and also provides adult education.  It holds 
sensitization sessions on other issues  such as environmental 
protection and health. 
 
--------------------- 
SATELITE AGOA NETWORK 
--------------------- 
 
¶9.  (U) COMMENT.  After attending an AGOA Day in Kindia last month, 
Ms. Sylla was instrumental in organizing the local satellite AGOA 
Network and currently is the local coordinator.  This dynamic female 
entrepreneur is adding new vigor into the National AGOA Network, as 
demonstrated by the quality and quantity of products she exhibited 
in the recent Conakry AGOA Day. While her current operation is 
small, she is the head of the local 150 person strong AGOA Network 
in the Kindia area, all of whom are hoping to emulate her efforts. 
The benefits provided by AGOA have inspired this region to upgrade 
their operations, and products with the aim of exporting to the U.S. 
 
CONAKRY 00001202  002 OF 002 
 
 
END COMMENT. 
 
CARTER