Cameroon Allocates CFAF12.5 Billion to Cut Milk, Fish Imports

Cameroon has allocated CFAF12.5 billion in 2026 to the livestock and fisheries component of its agropastoral and fisheries import-substitution program, as the government seeks to expand domestic production and reduce reliance on imported food products.

Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries Minister Dr. Taïga formalized several financing and implementation agreements in Yaoundé on August 20. The ceremony brought together the Cameroon Bank for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, or BC-PME, the Mission for the Development and Equipment of Urban and Rural Lands, or MAETUR, and six public agencies supervised by the ministry.

The agreements are part of the Integrated Agropastoral and Fisheries Import-Substitution Plan, known by its French acronym PIISAH. According to the PIISAH sector coordination unit, CFAF9.6 billion of the ministry’s 2026 allocation had already been committed by the time of the ceremony.

An amendment to the ministry’s agreement with BC-PME provides CFAF6.5 billion in additional resources for the dairy and fish sectors. The financing is intended to improve access to credit for producers and other operators involved in the two value chains.

Financing Expands as 2025 Performance Shows Gaps

The additional resources come as the government seeks to translate budget commitments into stronger domestic production. Figures presented by PIISAH sector coordinator Souaibou Djimoni showed that between 2024 and 2025, domestic fish and milk production increased by only about 1% to 2%, while fish imports rose by 29% and milk imports increased by 11%.

The MINEPIA component of PIISAH was allocated CFAF11 billion in 2025. According to the government’s 2026 budget report, CFAF9.41 billion had been committed and authorized by September 30, 2025, equivalent to a financial execution rate of 85.5%. At the August 20 ceremony, the ministry’s assessment put the program’s physical execution rate at 30%, highlighting a gap between financial commitments and implementation on the ground.

The ministry identified faster loan disbursement, stronger feasibility studies, better production statistics and closer project monitoring among its priorities for 2026. Taïga also called for agreements between implementing agencies and final beneficiaries to link financing more closely to actual production results.

Agencies Receive New Performance Targets

Six performance contracts worth nearly CFAF9 billion were also signed with agencies supervised by the ministry. The agreements cover the Livestock Development Corporation, SODEPA; the National Veterinary Laboratory, LANAVET; the Mission for the Development of Small-Scale Maritime Fisheries, MIDEPECAM; and livestock development commissions in Adamawa, the North West and the Far North.

SODEPA received the largest allocation, at nearly CFAF5 billion. The funding will support activities including breeder operations and the acquisition of pregnant improved-breed dairy heifers.

LANAVET was allocated about CFAF1 billion to strengthen animal health and sanitary security. The Adamawa livestock development commission received CFAF1.045 billion, while the North West and Far North commissions were allocated CFAF347 million and CFAF407 million, respectively. MIDEPECAM received CFAF200 million under the performance contract.

The contracts establish measurable targets and make the agencies responsible for delivering agreed results. According to the ministry’s 2025 performance assessment, the six agencies recorded an average score of 51%, ranging from 76.6% for the North West commission to 36% for the Far North commission.

Activities reported as completed under the plan include the vaccination of 14,000 dairy animals, the acquisition of milking and silage equipment, the construction of fish markets in Mouanko and Youpwe, and the purchase of 18 fish-feed production units.

A separate five-year renewable agreement with MAETUR covers land security, development studies and site preparation for modern livestock farms, aquaculture projects and fisheries infrastructure. MAETUR will also participate in the ministry’s framework for planning and supervising projects.

The agreement extends the infrastructure component of the import-substitution program. It follows a convention signed with the Port Authority of Kribi in June 2026 to support aquaculture development in the Kribi port industrial zone.

Mercy Fosoh