By Etienne Nfor Liboh
The Government of Cameroon has reaffirmed its commitment to the rice sector, the ongoing fight against food insecurity, and its import substitution policy. This was underscored by the adoption of a FCFA 24 billion investment plan for 2026 during the sixth steering committee meeting of the Rice Value Chain Development Project (RVCDP) on December 30, 2025.
The meeting, chaired in Bamenda by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe, saw the committee approve the budget to fund priority activities. These include opening farm-to-market roads, procuring agricultural inputs, rehabilitating infrastructure, and purchasing modern production equipment. The investment will also support land development and the expansion of rice production in three key basins: the Ndop Valley in Ngoketunjia Division in Northwest Region, Santchou in the West Region, and Maga in the Far North Region.
While urging the various stakeholders to work diligently, the Minister described the project as a key pillar of government policy under President Paul Biya. It aims to increase rural incomes, reduce poverty, and support post-conflict reconstruction in the Northwest and Southwest Regions. “It works hand in hand with reconstruction efforts through the rehabilitation of schools, health centers, and water infrastructure,” he added.
The establishment of farmer cooperatives and unions has been identified as a sustainable support mechanism. To date, with project support, 4.5 tons of basic seed have been distributed to 139 seed multipliers, covering 1,200 hectares and targeting an output of 8,000 tons of rice.
Minister Mbairobe emphasized that mechanization remains central to achieving Cameroon’s rice production targets. “We have a significant production gap to close. The machines donated to NOWERICA will not only support land development but also enable technical teams to carry out effective field operations,” he stated.
Progress indicators recorded by the RVCDP as of December 2025 include contracts worth 10.5 billion francs signed for swamp rice development, an execution rate improvement from 9.8 percent to 28.8 percent, and a disbursement increase from 2.6 percent to approximately 9 percent over the past year. The project continues its collaboration with financial partners, with the Saudi Fund for Development expressing interest in co-financing.
The steering committee meeting also featured the presentation of end-of-internship attestations to 15 young professionals. Furthermore, heavy-duty equipment valued at FCFA 2.4 billion was formally handed over to the Northwest Rice Cooperatives Association (NOWERICA).