Cameroon is on its way to becoming a central player in wheat production within the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC). This approach is part of a large-scale project led by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (MINRESI). Eddy Ngankeu, Technical Advisor No. 2 of MINRESI, reaffirmed this ambition in a recent intervention, specifying that Cameroon intends to position itself as the main supplier of wheat seeds for the sub-region. “The countries of the sub-region are counting on Cameroon,” he declared.
Cameroon has five agroecological zones, a unique advantage that allows it to develop seeds adapted to various climates. This capacity, combined with the expertise of the Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD), strengthens its leading position. Historically, the country already has significant experience in wheat production, notably with the creation in 1975 of the Wheat Development Company (Sodeble), which produced up to 10,000 tonnes per year before its closure.
The West and Central Africa Wheat Collaborative (WecaWheat) has commended Cameroon’s efforts at its latest summit in Abuja. Created in response to the Ukrainian crisis and grain inflation, WecaWheat brings together 52 countries committed to achieving grain sovereignty. Cameroon, with its advances in research and experimentation, has been recommended as an example to follow and could host the organization’s next summit.
With around fifty seeds already developed and an experiment underway on 300 hectares in Wassande, Cameroon aims to control the entire wheat value chain. This strategy aims to gradually reduce costly imports, estimated at more than 250 billion FCFA per year, and to strengthen the food sovereignty of the country and the sub-region.
