Cameroon has signed a US$162 million (€150 million, about 98 billion XAF) agreement with Israeli agribusiness firm Ekobell to develop three large-scale rice production and processing agro-poles in the country’s northern regions, a move expected to boost domestic rice output by 18 percent.
The agro-poles will be located in Sirdjam, Pola and Mbé. The project is designed to expand rice-growing areas, strengthen processing capacity, and reduce the country’s reliance on imported rice.
Over three years, the programme aims to develop 10,000 hectares of high-yield, rain-fed rice cultivation, producing an estimated 46,700 tonnes of paddy rice, equivalent to roughly 31,289 tonnes of milled rice. The initiative is projected to generate about 40,000 direct and indirect jobs, including around 8,000 rice farmers involved in cultivation activities linked to the agro-poles.
The deal is backed by the Israeli government’s export credit agency and supported by financing from Ekobell’s financial partner. Authorities say the project builds on studies conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and is co-financed by the African Development Bank under a programme aimed at improving water resource use for agro-pastoral and fisheries activities in Cameroon’s Far North.
A key component of the project is the establishment of Agricultural Support Centres (ASCs) to boost productivity and profitability for family farms. The centres will provide mechanisation services, agronomic guidance, access to certified agricultural inputs, and drying and storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses. They will also act as guaranteed buyers of paddy rice, stabilising incomes for participating farmers.
Mechanised equipment, including power tillers, mini-harvesters, threshers, and rice milling machines, will be introduced to modernise cultivation methods and raise yields.
Gabriel Mbairobe described the agreement as a major step toward strengthening domestic rice production and achieving national self-sufficiency.
“The implementation of this important project requires appropriate institutional support and the signing of this contract marks a decisive step for its execution,” Mbairobe said, adding that the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development would soon discuss financing conditions. He noted that the broader goal is to achieve full rice self-sufficiency by 2030, eliminating the need for imported milled rice.
Idan Pinhas said the programme combines improved seeds, mechanised agriculture, and modern cultivation techniques to increase productivity, with yields expected to reach four to five tonnes per hectare.
He added that a training and technology-transfer component is included, enabling Cameroonian personnel to manage the project independently once it is transferred to the state.
“This initiative will ensure that local staff are trained to operate the agro-poles effectively when management transitions to the state,” Pinhas said, highlighting the long-term sustainability of the programme.
Analysts say the project could significantly boost domestic rice output, strengthen food security in Cameroon, and provide a model for large-scale mechanised agriculture in the region.
