For decades, Cameroon has depended heavily on imported rice to feed its growing population, spending hundreds of billions of francs CFA annually on foreign supplies. Today, the government is betting on a different future, one built on locally produced rice, empowered farmers and modern agricultural infrastructure.
That vision once again came to the fore in Bamenda on Thursday july 2, 2026 as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe, chaired the seventh Steering Committee Meeting of the Rice Value Chain Development Project (RVCDP), bringing together government officials, development partners and project managers to assess progress on one of Cameroon's most ambitious agricultural programmes.
The meeting comes at a defining moment for the project. According to project sources, annual production capacity has already increased from about 2,000 tonnes to 6,000 tonnes, while the medium-term objective is to produce 100,000 tonnes of rice within the next four years, significantly reducing the country's dependence on imports.
Opening the meeting, the minister described rice as a strategic commodity whose importance extends beyond agriculture to national food security and economic sovereignty.
He noted that the project was designed to address constraints across the entire rice value chain, from seed production and land development to processing, marketing and value addition.
Beyond increasing production, the programme seeks to transform rice farming into a competitive agribusiness capable of supplying domestic markets while creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people and women.
Progress presented during the meeting points to significant milestones already achieved.
The project has signed strategic agreements with research institutions to supply improved foundation seeds, while 121 seed multipliers have been trained to multiply certified seeds for distribution to farmers. Authorities are also monitoring the development of 2,000 hectares of rice fields, alongside the construction of warehouses, market infrastructure and access roads that will improve movement of farm produce.
Capacity-building programmes for farmers have equally continued across project intervention areas, with recent training sessions conducted in Maga in the Far North Region.
"We have collectively made bold strides towards achieving the objectives of this project," the Minister observed adding that "the improved certified seeds will now be made available to rice farmers in the production basins, while investments in infrastructure and farmer training are laying the foundation for sustained productivity."
Headquartered in Bamenda, the Rice Value Chain Development Project represents one of the largest agricultural investments currently being implemented in Cameroon. Financed through a consortium led by the Islamic Development Bank, alongside the OPEC Fund for International Development, BADEA, the Kuwait Fund and the Government of Cameroon, the project carries an estimated investment exceeding 133 billion FCFA.
Its interventions extend across the North West, West and Far North regions, targeting every stage of the rice value chain.
The project plans to develop 5,000 hectares of irrigated rice fields, distribute improved seeds and mechanised farming equipment, strengthen processing facilities, rehabilitate access roads, construct warehouses and social infrastructure, expand water supply systems and improve electricity access in production areas.
It also seeks to strengthen public-private partnerships, facilitate access to finance for producers and support young agricultural graduates entering the rice industry.
These interventions form part of the broader National Rice Development Strategy 2022–2030, through which Cameroon hopes to achieve near self-sufficiency in rice production.
The ambition is driven by economic realities.
Official statistics indicate that Cameroon continues to import large quantities of rice every year. Although the national rice import bill declined from 264.4 billion FCFA in 2022 to 200.8 billion FCFA in 2023, imported rice still dominates domestic consumption, with India and Thailand supplying the overwhelming majority of the country's imports.
Current national production remains significantly below demand, leaving a structural annual deficit estimated at about 450,000 tonnes.
For government, reversing that trend demands accountability, effective implementation and continuous oversight.
"Our responsibility is to evaluate progress objectively, identify challenges and provide the strategic guidance needed to maximise value addition for local rice producers and consumers," Minister Gabriel Mbairobe told members of the Steering Committee.
If implementation continues at the current pace and production targets are achieved, the country could substantially reduce its dependence on imported rice, strengthen rural economies and move closer to agricultural self-sufficiency while improving the livelihoods of thousands of farming households.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices web
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