Gov’t announces creation of 60 training centers in agriculture

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) Essimi Menyé , has announced the creation of 60 agricultural training centers under the National Cocoa Academy to strengthen the capacity of young Cameroonians in different trades of the agricultural production chain.

"The decrees are expected to be signed soon. We have prepared and sent them to the Prime Minister. With this project, we can train more young people and agricultural elite in various specialties, "said the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In addition, Essimi Menye announced a series of initiatives to strengthen the agricultural sector, one of them was for producers of certain sectors (maize and sorghum) to be able to find buyers for their products.

Self-sufficient country in terms of food in the 80s, Cameroon has gradually shifted to the food importer status.

According to 2012 statistics, agriculture occupies 70% of the active labor force of the country (4.9 million) and contributes only 20% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

A situation which results in the impoverishment of the rural population and major players in the agricultural sector.

Besides the measures announced by the Minister, the Government is implementing a number of projects to strengthen the potential of agricultural production, such as the creation of agro poles, the ongoing creation of an agricultural bank and the support of producers under programs run by the MINADER.

But major challenges remain in that sector including difficulties for producers to access relevant and long-term funding, due to the absence of strong collaterals.

Equally, land legislation which is still problematic, deprives farmers of collateral (land titles required by banks) ensuring access to credit, which would allow them to be able to invest to increase yields provided by the arable lands.

The country also faces lack of qualification and professionalism on the part of the small producers.

All these are causing a loss in value of the production line by significant loss of quantities produced, due to a lack of mastery of the conservation process.