Chamber Of Commerce to open cassava factory in Bali

The Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Mines, has embarked on a plan to construct a modern cassava factory at Njenka in Bali Nyongha, Mezam Division, Northwest Region.

The factory that will go operational before the end of this year would transform cassava into several forms for local and foreign consumption as well as create thousands of jobs.

The President of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts, CCIMC, Christophe Eken, visited Njenka on January 27 to ascertain whether the site is suitable for a cassava factory.

Earlier, Eken had attended a workshop in Bamenda where a study on dairy production in the Northwest, West, Littoral, and Southwest Regions was presented.

According to the study, researchers noticed that growth without development coupled with a massive increase in food imports, despite Cameroon’s production potential, characterises the agro-pastoral sector, which employs nearly 70 percent of the country’s workforce.

The study indicates that during the 2014 fiscal year, Cameroon imported rice worth FCFA 150 billion, wheat FCFA 160 billion, frozen fish and FCFA 33 billion worth of dairy products. It recommends that it is high time Cameroon invested heavily in the agro-pastoral sector to avert embarrassment.

Potential forecasts for dairy products in tons stood at 431,800 in 2015. In 2016, the projection stands at 446,913, by 2017, and 2018, 2019, respectively it will be 462,554, 478,744 and 495,500.

To match demand with supply, Cameroon needs to beat the margin of 59,000 tons of fresh milk.

The report states that domestic dairy production faces three challenges; compensating imports, filling the margin and covering the growth of the demand over time.

The representative of the Mbororo Cultural and Development Association, MBOSCUDA, Musa Ndamba, regretted that Government has not given adequate attention to livestock production as they have done to cocoa, coffee and rubber.

“We the Mbororos do not have equal representation even in matters that concern us like this programme. At least, 90 percent of the stakeholders in this business are the Mbororos who are living in enclaved villages without roads, water and electricity. So, provide us with these facilities if you want us to think on the same wavelength,” said Musa.

While praising the efforts of the National President of Chamber of Commerce to visit the of the cassava plant in Bali, the Northwest Regional President of Chamber of Commerce, Boniface Njankenji, promised to collaborate with the population and the local administration for the success of the cassava venture.

Said he; “As far as livestock production is concerned, we in the Northwest are not doing badly. For instance, TADU Dairy Project has been making us feel great, because the natural milk transformed into yogurt is of top quality and we feel proud.”

He announced the imminent construction of a giant slaughterhouse in Bamenda after that of Ngaoundere.

However, his preoccupation was with the post-harvest loss of agricultural produce due to lack of storage facilities.

One time diplomat, Tracey Tawa, requested for heavy investment in dairy production in the Northwest. He said Government subvention to livestock farmers is too low.

Tawa narrated how Government has neglected to complete the Ring Road and the state in which it is now, each cow that is transported from Nkambe to Bamenda loses 20 kilograms “before you continue to Douala and Yaounde. The cow must have lost considerable weight.”

He said the Ring Road should be tarred so that cattle can be moved down south in trailers.

The Director of TADU Dairy Project, Lawerence Shang, identified problems plaguing the livestock sector in the Northwest to include inadequate electricity and water.

“It is pathetic to tell you people that since there is a permanent power shortage in Kumbo, especially at TADU Project, we spend FCFA 50.000 on fuel every day. How can you become competitive with others or emerge without energy, let alone access to markets for agro-pastoral produce?” Shang asked.

The mission of the Chamber of Commerce is to encourage development action in all sectors of the national economy.