Cameroon

Cameroon, the granary of central Africa

Often called the “granary” of central Africa, Cameroon alone accounts for 70% of intra-community trade in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC). With a GDP of USD 39 billion in 2019, the primary sector accounts for 22% of national wealth and over 50% of non-oil export earnings. The farming sector is the country’s largest employer, with more than 40% of the working population (total population estimated at almost 27 million in 2021).

The agricultural economy: between domestic food needs and exports

Cameroon’s agricultural economy is diversified, in line with the considerable agro-ecological diversity of the country: from tubers, roots, plantains, fruits and vegetables in the South and West, to millet, sorghum, rice and livestock products in the North. However, national agricultural production falls short of the basic food needs of the growing urban population, and imports of certain staples (maize, rice, wheat, sugar, meat, fish, milk and refined oils) are regularly increasing. Cash crops play a major role in the country’s economy, particularly bananas, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber and cotton. Lastly, the timber value chain is one of the pillars of the national economy accounting for 5% of GDP and 30% of national non­‑oil export resources.

CIRAD’s main activities and missions in Cameroon

Sustainable management of forest ecosystems, by studying forest dynamics and structure, timber traceability and various forest governance instruments, is a priority line of work involving researchers, concession holders and forestry services. Agroforestry systems based on coffee, and especially cocoa, are another major focus of studies based on agroecology principles combining pest control, use of high-yielding planting material, and the strengthening of innovation services and tools for sustainable crops and the well-being of local populations. This approach also applies to research projects designed to develop major agricultural value chains: plantain, cassava, yam, dessert banana, but also cotton and other crops.

Another priority line of research includes preventing the emergence of zoonotic diseases, taking a One Health approach (for humans, animals and the environment).
Researcher training, institutional capacity building and agricultural advisory services are all relevant to the above-mentioned fields of study.

Research and development areas

• Sustainable forest management;
• Agroforestry system efficiency;
• Development of agricultural, food and agribusiness value chains;
• Integrated management of agro-pastoral resources;
• Prevention of emerging zoonotic diseases (One Health);
• Promotion of innovation systems and farming advisory services.

Cooperation and partnerships

French Cooperation has been historically very active in Cameroon’s agricultural development. It provides assistance to national programmes, promotes the pooling of resources at national and international levels, and supports the research sector (Debt Reduction and Development Contract - C2D). 

Strong commitment to forests and agroforestry systems 

For this aspect, CIRAD devotes its efforts to two research and training platforms in partnership (dP) on central African forests and agroforestry systems in Cameroon.

Agroforestry systems in Central Africa

How can we develop sustainable, high-yielding agroforestry systems that satisfy demand from the agricultural sector, particularly family farms?

Research network on the forests of central Africa

How can we improve polices, strategies and modes of intervention on every level so as to ensure the long-term preservation of the Congo Basin forests and food security for the people who derive a living from them?

A new main project for agroecological transitions

The new project: "Driving agroecological transitions in the Central and Eastern African humid tropics through transdisciplinary agroecology living laboratories" is implemented in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
For more information: Presentation of the CANALLS project on the European Commission website

Main partners 

• Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI)
• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) 
• Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA) 

• Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF)
• Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD)
• University of Dschang (UDs), including the Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences (FASA)
• University of N’Gaoundéré (UN), including the École Nationale Supérieure des Sciences Agro-industrielles (ENSAI)
• University of Yaoundé 1 (UY1), including the École Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique (ENSP) and École Normale Supérieure (ENS)
• University of Yaoundé 2 (UY2)

• African Centre for Banana and Plantain Research (CARBAP)
• Central African Forest Commission/Congo Basin Forest Partnership (COMIFAC/PFBC)
• African Intellectual Property Organization (AIPO)

• Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)
• World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
• International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

• Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP/Compagnie fruitière)
• Société de Développement du Coton du Cameroun (SODECOTON)
• Société camerounaise de palmeraies (SOCAPALM and its subsidiary CAMSEEDS)