The Cameroonian government is considering co-financing a programme to incubate about 20 young entrepreneurs in the plantain sector as part of efforts to boost agricultural production, expand market access and increase youth participation in agribusiness, officials said.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting in Yaounde between Cameroon’s Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bassilekin III, and Samuel Tony Obam Bikoue, national president of the Association of Actors in the Plantain Banana Sector of Cameroon (AFBPC).
Talks focused on a project titled “One Youth, One Plantain Plantation Oriented Towards a Market, a Bank Account and a Future,” an initiative designed to support young entrepreneurs entering the plantain value chain.
According to sector representatives, the programme seeks government backing to co-finance the incubation of young project leaders while equipping them with the skills and financial tools needed to build sustainable agribusiness ventures.
The initiative is expected to train around 20 young participants in modern plantain cultivation techniques while also providing technical support, mentoring and assistance in developing commercially viable plantation businesses.
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Organisers say the programme is structured to link new plantations directly to market outlets, ensuring that production responds to demand and improving the organisation of the plantain supply chain.
Beyond production training, the project also aims to help participants gain access to financing and formal banking services, a key challenge for many young farmers in Cameroon.
Sector stakeholders say integrating banking access into the incubation process will encourage financial inclusion and help participants manage their agricultural businesses more effectively.
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Plantain remains one of the most widely consumed staple foods in Cameroon and plays a significant role in both rural livelihoods and urban food markets. The crop is cultivated across several regions of the country and supports thousands of smallholder farmers involved in production, transport and trading.
Despite its importance, industry stakeholders say the sector still faces structural challenges, including limited access to financing, weak value-chain coordination and insufficient support for young entrepreneurs seeking to enter agriculture.
The proposed programme aims to address some of these gaps by combining training, market access and financial services into a single incubation model.
According to Samuel Tony Obam Bikoue, the initiative is intended to promote the professionalisation of plantain production while encouraging more young people to view agriculture as a viable business opportunity.
He said the project would support participants in developing plantations structured around clear commercial outlets, helping to reduce market uncertainty and improve profitability.
Officials said the programme could also contribute to broader economic goals, including job creation, food security and the development of rural enterprises.
By promoting youth-led agribusiness ventures, authorities hope to encourage more structured agricultural value chains while generating employment opportunities in rural areas.
During the discussions, Achille Bassilekin III indicated that the proposal aligns with government efforts to strengthen youth entrepreneurship and modernise agricultural production systems.
Cameroon has in recent years promoted several initiatives aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and encouraging young people to engage in productive sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing and digital services.
Agriculture remains one of the country’s largest employers, particularly in rural communities where access to formal jobs is limited.
Stakeholders say targeted incubation programmes could help bridge the gap between young entrepreneurs and opportunities within agricultural value chains by providing training, mentoring and access to financial services.
If approved, the plantain incubation programme could serve as a pilot model for similar initiatives in other agricultural sectors.
For industry actors, the project represents a potential step toward transforming the plantain industry into a more structured agribusiness ecosystem capable of generating jobs, improving productivity and expanding market opportunities.
Authorities say discussions on the proposal are continuing as the government evaluates possible forms of financial participation in the initiative.
