Cameroon has signed a 246.7 million FCFA (376,708 euros) protocol agreement with the Africa Rice Centre (AfricaRice) to strengthen key areas of the country's rice value chain and support the drive towards greater national rice self sufficiency.
The agreement was signed on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), with Secretary General Mbong Grace representing the Minister, Gabriel Mbairobe, at the ceremony.
The two year initiative brings together AfricaRice and the Rice Value Chain Development Project (RVCDP), with co-financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and AfricaRice. It is designed to transfer technology and technical expertise to Cameroon while improving the capacity of farmers, processors and local equipment manufacturers.
The agreement comes as the government continues to scale up investment in the rice sector under the RVCDP, which is seeking to raise domestic production and reduce the country's dependence on imported rice.
At the signing ceremony, Mbong Grace said modernising agricultural value chains remains a government priority as Cameroon seeks to reduce food imports and increase the income generated by local production.
.png)
She urged those responsible for implementing the agreement to ensure that its benefits reach the people working along the rice value chain.
The Secretary General stressed that the agreement should translate into practical improvements for farmers, processors and artisans, rather than remain at the level of institutional cooperation.
Implementation will be coordinated through a joint Technical Working Group based in Bamenda and will use the Reverse Linkage mechanism to transfer agricultural knowledge, technology and expertise.
One of the main areas of intervention will be the country's rice seed system. The programme will support improvements in seed production, quality testing, storage and the conservation of rice genetic resources. Better access to quality seed is expected to provide farmers with stronger foundations for improving yields.
.png)
The second area focuses on processing and value addition. The partnership will introduce and strengthen post harvest technologies and skills aimed at reducing losses and improving the quality and marketability of locally processed rice.
The agreement will also take the unusual but important step of strengthening local manufacturing. Artisans will be trained to fabricate specialised rice processing equipment, including rice threshers and GEM parboilers.
This component is intended to reduce dependence on imported machinery while giving local artisans an opportunity to build businesses around agricultural equipment.
The fourth pillar provides institutional technical support to key agricultural institutions, including the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and the Upper Noun Valley Development Authority (UNVDA).
.png)
RVCDP National Coordinator Muluh Gregory Nguh expressed appreciation to AfricaRice and the Islamic Development Bank for supporting the partnership, while Project Agronomist Fuchi Thomas presented the scope of the protocol and its planned interventions.
AfricaRice Director General Dr Baboucarr Manneh commended the efforts of Cameroon to strengthen food security and acknowledged the support of the Islamic Development Bank.
He reaffirmed AfricaRice's commitment to working with Cameroon to improve the rice sector, signalling continued technical cooperation beyond the signing ceremony.
.png)
The partnership therefore adds a new layer to the government's rice development strategy. While the broader Rice Value Chain Development Project is investing in production, irrigation, infrastructure, markets and farmer capacity, the new agreement focuses heavily on the technology and expertise required to make those investments productive.
Its success will ultimately be measured by what happens beyond the conference hall: whether farmers gain access to better seed, whether post harvest losses fall, whether processors produce better quality rice and whether Cameroonian artisans can supply affordable equipment to the sector.
With Cameroon seeking to sharply increase domestic rice production and reduce its import bill, the 246.7 million FCFA agreement places technology, skills and local capacity at the centre of the next phase of that effort.
By Hilltopvoices Team with Reports
Tel: +237 694 71 85 77
0 Comments