(Business in Cameroon) - South-West based state aerial crop treatment firm UTAVA, which stayed out of business between 2019 and 2020, needs new contracts to avoid complete cessation of activities, explains the CTR (Technical Commission for the Rehabilitation of Public and Para-public sector Enterprises). Indeed, in 2020, the company’s main operating areas (Mafanda Estade, Ndongo Estade, SPHP, and Boh Plantations) generated no revenues.  

Therefore, in its 2020 report on state and parastatal companies’ performance, the CTR suggests Utava should exploit new promising markets by acquiring a second aircraft. The said promising markets are namely Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP), Société sucrière du Cameroun (Sosucam) and Société d'investissement pour l'agriculture tropicale (SIAT), notable agribusiness firms in Cameroon. 

The project to acquire a second aircraft for Utava has been in hibernation for years now due to a lack of financial resources. For the time being, the only operating aircraft is the AIR Tractor (AT 602) registered under the number TJ-ABN. During the tumultuous 2019-2020 period, Utava managed to keep its certificate of airworthiness but its insurance, air operator certificate, maintenance unit certificate, the pilot’s license, and its air mechanic’s license have all expired. 

In 2020, Utava benefited from several supports including an operating subsidy of XAF317 million and debt waivers amounting to XAF295,673,823. Thanks to those supports, it achieved a positive net result (XAF327,659,481) and its equity increased by 236%. However, according to the CTR, the aerial crop treatment firm is burdened by the personnel expense of its staff under a partial unemployment plan. For the CTR, the said employees’ productivity was nil in 2020, yet the personnel expenses made up 852% of the turnover.  

S.A.

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https://www.businessincameroon.com/agriculture/0110-11924-cameroon-to-equip-aerial-treatment-firm-utava-with-a-second-plane