CAIRO - “The Holy Month of Ramadan Without Yameesh” is a slogan raised by the Association for Consumer Care and Protection (ACCP) in Alexandria. The idea is to boycott Ramadan nuts this year, in order to help revive the economy. This initiative will help an economy suffering from endless sit-ins, demonstrations, delayed production and the suspension of foreign investments. The ACCP, therefore, stresses the need for Egypt to limit imports of luxury commodities, while the effects of the above initiative have yet to be felt. According to ACCP Board Chairman Gamal Zaqzuq, the association has launched a three-pronged attack. Firstly, it has been urging traders, via the head of the Trade Union Chambers, Ahmed el-Wakil, to stop importing nuts, in order to save hard currency that the State sorely needs. Secondly, it has been urging all consumer protection agencies to stop importing Ramadan nuts. Thirdly, it has been calling on everyone to boycott nuts during Ramadan, in order to improve the national economy. Mosaad Mohamed, a trader, sells nuts all the year round in the el-Manshiya district of Alexandria, adds that the prices sometimes rise in the run-up to the holy fasting month. Some of his regular clients have already started to buy nuts for Ramadan. He stresses that his nuts, if refrigerated, stay fresh for up to three years, adding that he hasn't yet started packaging the nuts for Ramadan and hasn't even fixed the prices. At the time of going to press, dried figs cost LE24 per kilo, walnuts LE76 per kilo, local raisins LE18 and Turkish and Iranian raisins, with their attractive golden colour, about LE25. Egyptians prefer the Iranian sort. Mohamed says that the public interest should come before personal interests and he hopes that the traders agree. Another trader called Ahmed Abdel-Rahman says that the purchasing of nuts is an old tradition, even for poor people. “The nuts we are currently selling were imported last year before the January revolution. Some of them are still in customs and we're waiting for them to be released,” he explains. Abdel-Rahman told Al-Messa Arabic newspaper that the prices of nuts have gone up this year. “One kilo of coconut now costs LE20 and one kilo of Turkish almonds LE28, while Iraqi dates, that most citizens like, have written to LE8 per kilo,” he said. Another nut trader disagrees with the proposed boycott, as it only means the prices of nuts will shoot up yet again. “They could double in price, because there would be a greater demand for a far smaller quantity. Greedy traders would be delighted,” stresses Abdullah Mohamed. “The young Egyptians have won freedom for us with their revolution. This freedom should mean citizens being able to buy whatever they want to. Why not boycott dangerous things like carcinogenic fruit and vegetables? “This boycotting of nut imports will only lead to the creation of a black market. We should blame the thugs who have frightened away the foreign investors for the economic problems, not Ramadan nuts.”
