Cameroon’s Rice Development Project on Track to Boost Local Supply, Reduce Imports

By A.J.

Cameroon’s flagship rice development initiative is making steady progress, officials confirmed this week, offering hope that the country can significantly reduce its costly dependence on imported rice and better satisfy domestic demand.

During a mid-term review meeting held on Tuesday, December 9, in Yaounde, Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe and representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assessed the advancement of the Rice Development Project (PRODERIP), now in its third phase.

The project, supported by technical and financial partners, aims to transform Cameroon’s rice sector from basic production to a competitive, value-added industry capable of satisfying local needs.

Rice has long been a staple in Cameroon but also a heavy burden on the national economy. In 2024 alone, rice imports cost the treasury an estimated 320 billion francs CFA, a figure officials are striving to slash by expanding domestic output.

Current local production remains far below national consumption, with annual demand estimated at around 650,000 tonnes while marketed supply stalls near 150,000 tonnes.

According to the mid-term report discussed in Yaounde, the project’s third phase has shifted its focus toward strengthening competitiveness.

Technical assessments led by JICA have highlighted seed quality and yield performance as key levers for growth.

Officials are now working to stabilize irrigated rice yields at above five tonnes per hectare and to increase rain-fed yields to 2.5 tonnes per hectare.

A core strategy underway involves “varietal purification” to ensure uniform grain quality, helping local rice better compete with imported varieties.

The review also identified shortcomings in post-harvest processing, noting that inadequate drying and milling capacity has reduced the appeal of locally grown rice and encouraged the export of unprocessed paddy to neighbouring markets with more advanced processing facilities.

To address this, Cameroon is strengthening partnerships with private-sector operators to modernize industrial equipment and improve processing standards within the country.

Looking ahead, the government’s economic framework sets ambitious targets for the sector.

Authorities aim to increase rice production to 460,000 tonnes by 2027 and eventually reach 750,000 tonnes by 2030, a volume that could dramatically reduce import dependence and bolster food security.

As Cameroon continues to scale up investment and technical support for rice cultivation and processing, the success of the project may prove pivotal in reshaping the country’s agricultural landscape and easing the strain on foreign exchange reserves driven by food imports.