The Covid-19 spares no sector of activity and no structure in Côte d'Ivoire. Anader is therefore affected by this crisis. As a corporate citizen, it has a duty to respect the control measures decreed by the government. A number of protective measures to ensure the health of workers and beneficiaries of our actions have been taken both at head office level and in the various regional departments and our areas. The crisis committee initially opted for a work-study system in order to minimize the number of Agents present on the company's premises. Some offices have even been rearranged to respect social distancing. Currently, our teams are hard at work to enable workers to appropriate telework in accordance with the decision of the Ivorian government. In terms of our agricultural advisory support activities for producers and their organizations, provisions have been made in terms of the number of participants in training sessions, extension tools, respect for social distancing, hand washing. In terms of collaboration with our partners, meeting opportunities have become rare. Virtual exchanges are preferred when possible. Some of our partners have decided to suspend activities in the current health context. What we respect.

What are the real threats hovering over the agricultural world that constitutes your field of intervention?

The threats hanging over the agricultural world are of three types: community health, the drop in production and the difficulties in marketing production due to the drop in demand. With regard to community health, it is to be feared that the measures enacted by the government are not rigorously applied; which will result in facilitating the spread of the virus in rural areas. The decline in agricultural production would be a consequence of the decline in producers' production capacities, advisory support and monitoring of agricultural activities following the Covid19 crisis. This drop in production coupled with marketing difficulties would impact producers' incomes and the level of food security.

In your opinion, are there any dangers to the harvest forecasts for the country's major agricultural speculations, in particular coffee, cocoa, cotton, cashew, etc.? If so, what could be the repercussions on the Ivorian economy in general and the well-being of village producers in particular?

The assessment of harvest forecasts for the major crops of coffee, cocoa, cashew and cotton is the responsibility of the Coffee-Cocoa Council and the Cotton and Cashew Council. However, as a technical agricultural advisory support structure, Anader believes that if vigorous information and awareness actions are not taken and the virus spreads in rural areas, it would be harmful for the country in terms of decline in export earnings, decline in food production with the consequence of a threat to food and nutritional security.

How is Anader organizing itself to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic?

In order to fight effectively against the coronavirus disease, the Anader set up from the start of this epidemic, a crisis committee which meets once a week to take stock of the situation at headquarters and in the regions. This committee has enacted a number of protective measures to ensure the health of workers both at headquarters and in the various regional departments. Among these measures, we can cite, among others, the training and information of personnel on the disease by the company doctor at head office and in the other regional departments by the partner doctors, the setting up of washing points for hands on our sites, the provision of masks and gels to agents, the regulation of workshops and outreach tools in the field, the dissemination of barrier measures through posters... The use of videoconferences is favored over detriment to direct contact.

You have set up a system of more than 1100 field agents distributed in the hamlets and villages, as part of the fight against Covid-19. What exactly are they doing there?

Don't forget that Anader is, in rural areas, the secular arm of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and that of Animal Resources and Fisheries, and therefore of the State of Côte d'Ivoire. As such, and as part of the fight against Covid-19, we are disseminating and amplifying the barrier measures enacted by the State in rural areas in order to prevent the spread of the disease. Anader has conducted several awareness and information campaigns in several localities of the country. In addition, the Agency has made Covid-19 and barrier measures a theme that it has integrated for the benefit of farmers and their families. The structure also submitted to the authorities a vast awareness plan by making available its field system made up of 1,100 agents spread over the territory. We believe that through this device, information and awareness will be able to integrate households in the most remote regions. As part of our agricultural advisory mission, we are continuing our advisory support actions in compliance with the measures enacted by the State and also ensure facilitation for the regular supply of food products to rural and urban markets.

And how is this awareness campaign on the ground evolving?

This campaign is going well. We regularly organize video conferences with our regional directors to inquire about the situation. The echoes that reach us reassure us. Handwashing tends to become a habit even in rural areas. Agricultural activities are monitored with the support of Anader.

The Ivorian government plans to support the country's main agricultural sectors, including coffee, cocoa, cotton, cashew, etc. for an amount of 250 billion FCFA. How did you take this news?

We welcomed this news with satisfaction. The Anader is ready to respond to Minader's requests. Already, at the request of the supervisory authority, we have developed emergency projects in the market gardening, cassava, yam, corn, animal production, etc. sectors. who could benefit from this funding.

How will this financial windfall be allocated to producers?

The answer to this question falls within the domain of the Government and the technical ministries, in particular the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development; Animal and Fishery Resources.

What objective criteria will be taken into account to compensate and satisfy all the actors of the agricultural world on the extent of the Ivorian territory?

The Government and the technical ministries in charge of agriculture and animal production could answer this question.

Last question, how is Anader preparing for the resumption of its post-Covid-19 activities?

In truth, the Anader has never stopped working. Activities have certainly slowed down, but our field agents have continued to work in the field where they provide support to producers. If tomorrow, the threat of the spread of covid-19 recedes, we will resume our activities with all the fullness.