Cameroon has signed new investment agreements aimed at boosting cassava processing and palm oil production, as the government steps up efforts to reduce food imports and narrow a widening supply gap in key agricultural commodities.
The deals, formalised in the capital Yaoundé, bring together the agriculture ministry and private sector partners to scale up output in two sectors where domestic demand continues to outstrip supply.
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriel Mbairobé said the agreements reflect a broader push to modernise the country’s agricultural base and strengthen local value chains.
“The signing of these conventions reflects our shared commitment to building a dynamic, inclusive and competitive agricultural ecosystem,” Mbairobé said.
Under the cassava agreement, the Cameroon Growth Value Chain Network Centre will support large-scale production and processing, targeting annual output of 500,000 tonnes of cassava flour and 400,000 tonnes of starch.
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The initiative includes the development of 45,000 hectares of farmland in central Cameroon, coordinated with the state-backed New Agro-Industrial Company of Cameroon.
Cassava is a staple crop in the country, but production has struggled to keep pace with demand. Despite an estimated 600,000 producers cultivating more than 300,000 hectares, the sector recorded a deficit exceeding 31 million tonnes in 2025, according to official data.
Authorities aim to raise total cassava output to 10 million tonnes by 2030, while shifting the sector towards higher-value processing to reduce reliance on imports of finished products.
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Simon François Yonga Bakala, national coordinator of the CRFC, said the programme could have significant economic spillovers, including job creation and increased tax revenues.
By 2030, the project is expected to generate around 50,000 direct jobs and more than 150,000 indirect jobs, while expanding the tax base by over 1.7 trillion CFA francs (US$2.8 billion), he said.
The government also hopes the initiative will revitalise rural areas by encouraging youth participation and improving incomes for smallholder farmers, particularly women who dominate informal agricultural trade.
In parallel, authorities have signed a second agreement with Cameroon Soap Manufacturing Company (SCS Alid) to address a structural shortfall in palm oil production.
Cameroon faces a deficit of around 300,000 tonnes of palm oil, with demand expected to rise further in the coming years due to population growth and expanding industrial use.
The project, to be developed in the Yoko subdivision, is expected to produce more than 216,000 tonnes of crude palm oil, including over 150,000 tonnes of refined output. It will also involve the cultivation of millions of oil palm seedlings and the processing of more than one million tonnes of palm nuts.
Palm oil is a critical input for food production, cosmetics and manufacturing, making it a strategic priority for import substitution.
Both agreements fall under Cameroon’s Economic Recovery and Structuring Plan, which targets key crops including cassava, maize, palm oil and soya in an effort to boost domestic production and reduce external dependence.
Analysts say the focus on agro-processing marks a shift from traditional farming policies towards a more industrial approach, aimed at capturing value locally and strengthening export potential.
However, challenges remain, including limited infrastructure, access to financing, and the need for consistent policy implementation.
If successfully executed, the projects could help ease food price pressures, create jobs and support economic growth in one of Central Africa’s largest economies.
For now, the government is betting that closer collaboration with the private sector will accelerate the transformation of agriculture into a key driver of development.
