Government Defends Bill To Protect, Promote Pendja White Pepper, Oku White Honey

 By Njong Shey

The Cameroon Minister of Mines, Industries, and Technological Development, Fuh Calistus Gentry, has defended a bill that enables the promotion and protection of Cameroon’s local produce. These local products are those naturally inhabited in certain areas that make them unique to Cameroon.

They are Pendja white pepper, Oku white honey, Cameroon red cocoa, Ndop, Mbouda avocado, Bafia pineapple, and Ndolè.  On Friday, Minister Calistus, before members of parliament, argued that to ensure the protection of these products, parliament should urge the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, to proceed with Cameroon’s accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications.

The committee defending this law was chaired by the Honourable BANMI Emmanuel DINGHA, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

This act was adopted on 20 May 2015 in Lisbon and aims to promote and enhance local production.  “In addition to Pendja white pepper and Oku white honey, which benefit from a protected geographical indication, Cameroon also aims to protect products such as Cameroon red cocoa, Ndop, Mbouda avocado, Bafia pineapple, and Ndolè.” Minister Fuh Calistus said.

“A geographical indication is a piece of information or guidance that identifies a product as originating from a specific place or destination.” He added.

By signing up for the Geneva Convention, he stressed that Cameroon would be able to benefit from the many economic spin-offs of enhancing and promoting its local products.

As of now, the ministry has already set up a support mechanism for producers to market high-quality, competitive products that meet international standards.  Cameroon, located in West Africa, has so many unique local products that, if nurtured, would not only create jobs but generate wealth.