Cameroon Grants CFA60M to Youth Cooperatives for Rice, Onion Production

Members of youth-led cooperatives in Cameroon’s North and Far North regions have received 60 million CFA francs in financial support to strengthen investments in the rice and onion sectors, two value chains considered strategic for food security and import substitution efforts in the country.

The funding was distributed on July 13 in Garoua under a memorandum of understanding signed between the Commodity Value Chain Development Support Project Phase II (PADFA II) and the Programme for the Consolidation and Sustainability of Agropastoral Activities (PCP-ACEFA). The ceremony was attended by the Regional Delegates of Agriculture and Rural Development for the North and Far North regions, alongside the National Coordinator of PCP-ACEFA, Dr. Bouba Moumini.

According to program officials, the grants are intended to help young producers increase production capacity, improve incomes and strengthen the economic viability of their cooperatives. The support targets rice and onion producers, sectors that have been prioritized by government and development partners due to their importance in domestic food supply and rural employment.

The funding is part of broader efforts to improve agricultural productivity in northern Cameroon, where rice and onion cultivation supports thousands of households and contributes significantly to local economies. Through investments in production infrastructure, storage facilities, access to finance and market linkages, PADFA II seeks to improve the competitiveness of both value chains.

 Strategic crops for food security

Rice remains one of Cameroon’s most consumed staple foods, making domestic production a key economic issue. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), rising food imports, including rice, have represented a significant burden on the country’s trade balance, prompting initiatives aimed at increasing local production and reducing dependence on imports.

PADFA II, financed by IFAD and the Government of Cameroon, is designed to support approximately 32,000 rural households across the North, Far North, West and North-West regions. The program works with farmer cooperatives to boost rice and onion production, improve access to markets and strengthen resilience among smallholder farmers.

Project documents indicate that PADFA II plans to support the development of 2,570 hectares of production areas, including 1,970 hectares for rice and 600 hectares for onions, while also improving storage and marketing infrastructure.

Meanwhile, PCP-ACEFA, which has operated nationwide since 2008, reports that more than 6,700 agricultural projects have received subsidies worth over CFA 26.4 billion. The program says its advisory services currently support more than 255,000 family agro-pastoral farms, with beneficiary evaluations showing production and income increases of between 20% and 30% after several years of support.

Mercy Fosoh