Cameroon is considering suspending corn imports after local producers complained they are struggling to sell their harvests despite continued demand from industrial buyers, officials said Thursday.
Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana has urged the government to halt new import permits and temporarily suspend previously authorised shipments in an effort to support domestic farmers facing mounting market pressure.
In a letter sent on May 8 to Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe, the trade minister argued that limiting imports would help local producers clear existing stocks and stabilise the market.
The proposal follows an interministerial meeting chaired by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute on May 7, where officials examined what authorities described as a contradiction between rising imports and weak sales of locally produced corn.
Officials said the government was increasingly concerned that imported grain was undermining local producers at a time when Cameroon has spent years trying to boost domestic agricultural output.
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The debate highlights broader tensions between efforts to ensure affordable supplies for manufacturers and the need to protect local farmers from cheaper foreign competition.
Corn is a strategic crop in Cameroon, widely used in food processing, animal feed and beverage production, making it a key commodity for both households and industry.
Despite government programmes aimed at improving self-sufficiency, imports have continued to rise sharply in recent years.
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According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, Cameroon’s corn imports surged by 229% in 2023 to nearly 40,000 tonnes, representing spending of around CFA7.8 billion.
Imports increased further in 2024 to more than 81,000 tonnes before easing slightly in 2025 to about 72,500 tonnes, with import costs still exceeding CFA10 billion.
Industry operators say imported corn remains more attractive to processors because it is generally cheaper than locally produced grain.
Market data showed imported corn traded between 200 and 234 euros per tonne in May 2026, equivalent to roughly CFA131,000 to CFA155,000.
By comparison, domestic corn prices ranged between CFA140,000 and CFA255,000 per tonne depending on quality, season and location, according to agriculture ministry figures.
Analysts say the price gap reflects structural weaknesses in Cameroon’s agricultural sector, including low productivity and limited access to improved seeds and farming inputs.
Official data showed average corn yields in Cameroon reached only 1.8 tonnes per hectare in 2023, far below the global average of 5.9 tonnes and significantly lower than South Africa’s estimated 6.4 tonnes per hectare.
Lower yields have contributed to higher production costs, making it difficult for local farmers to compete with imported grain from larger and more mechanised agricultural producers.
Industry estimates place production costs in Cameroon at roughly CFA428,000 per hectare, a level sector operators say remains uncompetitive compared with producers in Europe and the Americas, where agricultural subsidies and advanced farming systems help lower costs.
The issue has become increasingly sensitive as authorities seek to strengthen food security and reduce dependence on imports while also supporting local agro-industrial development.
In 2021, beverage group Castel launched a CFA18 billion corn processing plant linked to programmes intended to support local farmers and increase domestic production.
However, sector participants say challenges including limited mechanisation, high input costs and weak rural infrastructure continue to constrain output growth.
Analysts say any decision to suspend imports could temporarily support local prices but may also increase costs for manufacturers dependent on steady corn supplies.
The government has not yet announced a final decision, but discussions are expected to continue as authorities balance the interests of farmers, industrial buyers and consumers in a market facing persistent structural challenges.
