Cocoa farmers to pay income tax

Government through the Directorate General of taxation (Dgi), has demand that cocoa producers pay tax on income.

"The producer of cocoa supports asserted that all sectors from production to export will be affected by this new directive. The levy on exportation moved at the end of the year from 54 F, to 150 F per kilogram, while the price of cocoa itself has just reached 1,380 F per kilogram.

With all these effects, if more producers should pay tax, it will be too much pressure on the peasant", assured Emmanuel Baleba, representing producers, producer himself and also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the cooperative society of the Nyong and Kelle cocoa producers.

According to a tax inspector, Mr Abu Sartin, this decision was taken by his superiors and he said, "the law is the law and even if it is hard, it must be applied. In all countries, any person who carries out an activity which derives an income is subject to income tax. And in the case of Cameroon and cocoa farmers, the State could require farmers to pay tax for many years.

In any case, this measure has not yet been applied, and no farmer has so far paid any tax."