Agriculture in Cameroon
Two decades after pledging to allocate 10% of its national budget to agriculture under the 2003 Maputo Declaration, Cameroon has yet to meet this target. Despite the sector’s critical role in economic growth, rural development, and food security, the country consistently allocates less than 3% of its state budget to agriculture. This chronic underfunding has stunted progress in a sector vital to the livelihoods of millions of Cameroonians.
In 2003, African leaders, including representatives from Cameroon, signed the Maputo Declaration during an African Union Summit in Mozambique. The declaration aimed to revolutionize agriculture across the continent by committing at least 10% of national budgets to the sector. This investment was envisioned as a pathway to boost productivity, reduce poverty, and enhance food security.
Yet in Cameroon, the vision remains largely unfulfilled. Agricultural funding has consistently fallen short, with allocations below 3% of the national budget. This has hampered efforts to modernize farming practices, develop infrastructure, and empower smallholder farmers—the backbone of the sector. While some African nations have made significant strides in meeting the Maputo targets, Cameroon’s agricultural potential remains underutilized.
Cameroon’s failure to adequately fund agriculture has had profound consequences:
If Cameroon’s agricultural sector remains underfunded, the consequences could worsen:
To unlock the potential of its agricultural sector and meet its Maputo commitments, Cameroon’s government must take decisive action:
Cameroon’s agricultural sector holds the key to its economic transformation, food security, and rural development. Yet without strong political will and bold investment, the country risks falling further behind its peers. Honoring the 10% Maputo commitment is not merely a policy obligation—it is an urgent necessity for securing Cameroon’s future. By prioritizing agriculture, Cameroon can unlock sustainable growth and prosperity for its people.
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