Food Producers Seek to Boost Output

In a bid to meet up with the ever-increasing food demand as well as adopt effective measures to counter shortages in food supply, actors and stakeholders of the agricultural, fishery and animal husbandry sectors met in Douala on Wednesday. The one-day come together organised by the National Employers' Syndicate (GICAM) was the third sectoral meeting aimed at addressing issues plaguing these areas of activity. The session was chaired by GICAM's Vice President, Armel François.

Through talks and presentations by representatives from the different sectors, the participants were drilled on the existing realities, successes and shortcomings as well as perspectives per activity. The first presentation was on poultry activity in Cameroon, the second on maize cultivation and the third one focused on fishing which is still dominated by foreigners.

The presenters were unanimous on a number of factors. The first was a remark on the gap between limited supply and growing demand, the absence or inaccessibility to finance for sustainability, the need to pre-empt future shortages, amongst others. It was reiterated that in a bid to realise Cameroon's dream of an emergent economy by 2035, consolidate peace, stability and sustainable development, boosting the agro-pastoral sector is a prerequisite.

At press time, other presentations shortlisted by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Madam Monique Ouli Ndongo included the National Coordinator of Agropoles, Jean Claude Medou, amongst others. The overall objective brainstorm on the role of the private sector in fostering economic growth. As such, participants were expected to examine the opportunities offered by Agropoles, make proposals per sector with lasting solutions to constraints that plague them, in view of promoting secondary agriculture.