Cameroon’s government has earmarked FCFA 12.5 billion (US$20 million) to support projects aimed at increasing productivity and modernising the livestock, fisheries and animal industries in 2026, officials said.
The announcement was made on Jan. 27 in Yaoundé during the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA) annual conference of central and regional service heads. The two-day meeting reviewed sector performance in 2025, assessed service delivery, and set priorities for the coming year.
Minister Dr. Taïga, who chaired the conference, said the funding would be used to modernise training centres, strengthen incubation hubs, and establish a more reliable statistical system to monitor production in livestock, fisheries and aquaculture. Officials emphasised the role of accurate data in improving sector management, policy formulation, and programme execution.
“For 2026, we are prioritising increased fish and milk production, continuous training, and the promotion of improved production techniques across the sector,” Dr. Taïga said. He highlighted that Cameroon has achieved import substitution in poultry and pork, noting the country no longer imports either product.
MINEPIA plans to use the funds to enhance data collection and analysis, track project milestones, and measure performance across subsectors. Coordination between central and regional services will be key to implementing initiatives in production, processing, and trade throughout the year.
Data from the National Institute of Statistics indicate that livestock and fisheries contributed 4.8% to Cameroon’s economic output in 2025, providing a baseline for the ministry’s 2026 planning. Participants at the conference were encouraged to develop practical recommendations, strengthen youth training and incubation initiatives, and improve statistical systems to support policy implementation and productivity gains.
The ministry said improved statistical monitoring will underpin future growth, enabling better management of production, processing, and trade across the sector, while supporting national food security and domestic supply.
