South West: Agriculture minister launches cassava value chain dev’t project examination, validation.

Minister Mbairobe was speaking while launching deliberations during a three-day workshop in Buea, South West Region, to enable stakeholders appreciate the project. This is as they finalise the project that will positively impact agricultural and food security issues in the country. The workshop which kicked off Wednesday 14 June ends today June 16 June.

“…let us all take together the solemn commitment to work resolutely so that the draft examined and validated meets our expectations. I do not doubt given the diversity of skills here present, that these challenges will be met,” Mbairobe said. 

He challenged stakeholders to propose a final document that meets the expectations of all stakeholders involved as funders and beneficiaries. 

“Crystallise your attention to come out of this work with a complete document which meets the aspirations of the beneficiaries, the vision of the government, technical and development partners eager to gather the necessary means for the effective implementation of this project,” he noted. 

Upon maturation, the project aims to increase cassava production from the current 5.5 million tons to 10 million tons by 2030 and yields between 25 and 30 tons per hectare. Further, 150,000 tons of bread flour per year, opening up of production basins, development of by-products and integration into markets. 

In terms of economy, it will result in the creation of an institutional and physical environment favourable for the development of the sector; the development of an inclusive credit system to ensure the long-term financing of the sector; the creation of jobs in the targeted areas as well as equity between men and women, and the development of agricultural entrepreneurship.

P2DCVM aims to promote the mechanisation and transformation of 80% of the production of project beneficiaries into by-products: flour, starch, chips, garri, fufu, starch, pastry and its leaves as a vegetable, livestock feed and organic manure to meet the demand of agro-food, pharmaceutical, textile industries and household needs in Cameroon and the sub-region.

The implementation of the project will enable the development of the cassava sector with the creation of at least 80,000 jobs, strengthening of the capacities of more than 800,000 producers and more than 1,600 extension workers supported by researchers. It is also intended to develop an additional 50,000 hectares of cassava, acquisition and installation of efficient production, and post-harvest and processing equipment.

Cassava value chain dev’t part of gov’t import substitution policy

The development of the cassava value chain, according to Minister Mbairobe, is part of a bigger government push to enforce its import substitution policy. The policy entails emphasis placed on increasing the local supply of mass consumption of agricultural products like; maize, sorghum, soybeans, potatoes, cassava, plantain etc.

“…the government intends to put more vigour on the import-substitution policy as the main lever for strengthening its economic sovereignty for more endogenous growth, with emphasis placed on greater use of local production factors and the promotion of the consumption of "made in Cameroon products” the minister said.

Minister Mbairobe said the choice of cassava is thanks to its position as one of the most consumed food crops in Africa in general and Cameroon in particular. Cassava remains the third most widely consumed agricultural product after wheat and rice. 

“The market for cassava-derived products is vast and continuously growing" Cassava occupies an important place in the diet of the population in Cameroon as it is cultivated and consumed in different forms in the ten Regions and is the subject of exchanges with countries of the sub-region,” added.

SOWEDA expresses readiness to boost cassava production

The General Manager of the South West Development Authority, SOWEDA, Dr Besong Ntui Ogork, in his address, appreciated government for the project and expressed the readiness of his institution and other stakeholders in the region to use their expertise in supporting the laudable initiative. 

“South West based institutions such as SOWEDA, IRAD Centre Ekona and others that have been instrumental in the development of the crop through various research and extension initiatives are keen to participate in this new national initiative for the development of the cassava value chain which will be a springboard for industrial exploitation of the sub-sector,” Dr Ntui Ogork stated.

The South West Region annually produces close to 1 million tons of cassava, consumed in various processed forms such as garri, water fufu, flour-based meals, miondo, and bobolo and its leaves as a vegetable consumed with other starchy foods. 

The region thus supplies Douala in the Littoral Region and neighbouring countries such as Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon with the by-products. This warrants the region to benefit from the lofty project.

SOWEDA and its project has distributed close to 7 million improved cassava cuttings of the 80 series, that is, 8017, 8034 and 8061 to farmers. They have also supplied women Cooperatives and Common Initiative Groups with 300 graters and presses for cassava processing, while 20 small processing units for local cassava products are currently under construction.