On visit to Cameroon: Africa Rice Centre Director General takes stock of projects in North Region.

Dr Baboucarr had arrived Cameroon at the Nsimalen airport and was welcomed by a delegation of Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD, led by Dr Ehabe Eugene and AfricaRice Board Member, Bridget Biwole.

According to AfricaRice, the visit of the Director General provides an important opportunity to reinforce its “longstanding commitment to supporting Cameroon’s ambitions for a competitive, resilient and sustainable rice sector”. 

“A key foundation for this engagement is the collaboration between AfricaRice and the Mission d’Études pour l’Aménagement et le Développement de la Région du Nord (MEADEN), particularly through the VIVA Bénoué Project,” AfricaRice said.

It disclosed that “through the MEADEN–AfricaRice partnership, AfricaRice is contributing its scientific expertise and technologies to strengthen the rice seed system, support access to improved and adapted rice varieties, enhance capacities of national and local actors, and promote improved production and postharvest practices”.

The visit has given an opportunity for Dr Baboucarr Manneh and other AfricaRice officials to engage with MEADEN and other key partners, appreciate progress on the ground, listen to stakeholders, and explore how the partnership can be further strengthened to accelerate impact for rice farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and communities.

AfricaRice said the visit also reflects its “broader commitment to working alongside the Government of Cameroon and its institutions to translate rice research and innovation into tangible development outcomes — higher productivity, stronger local rice value chains, increased employment and incomes, and reduced dependence on rice imports”.

The visit to the North Region took the AfricaRice DG to Lagdo, the VIVA-BENUOE Project implementation site. He paid a courtesy call to the Divisional Officer of Lagdo Subdivision and then to the office of the VIVA-BENUOE Project Control Team. He also visited the Lagdo Dam. Here, Dr Baboucarr listened to a presentation by the land development team.

The AfricaRice DG then visited the Seed Plots. It should be noted that with AfricaRice support, 12 lowland and 10 upland varieties have been introduced for adaptive trials at the Seed Plots. 

Three irrigated varieties, highly preferred by consumers and with good yields, have been adopted for large scale seed production - CY2, ORYLUX6 and IR841. A visit was also paid to farmers’ fields and also a zone of extension, where a 12 km extension canal is under construction.

Meanwhile, at the Technology Innovation Centre, Dr Baboucarr listened to presentation of activities on seed and post-harvest by Gandebe Maurice. 

The Technology Innovation Centre, it should be noted, has lab equipment, seed processing unit, rice processing facility (GEM), seed storage room, and training rooms with conference facilities.

The DG also visited the site of the Grain Quality Enhancer, Energy Efficient and durable Material, GEM, rice parboiling and milling facility. He also made an appraisal of the drying surface which maintains quality and improves competitiveness., 

On September 8, 2026, the AfricaRice DG and his delegation visited MEADEN and VIVA-BENUOE. It was disclosed that new varieties introduced include CY2, ORYlux 6 and IR841 which have shorter cycles (90 days) and better yields (5-6 t per ha). They aim to replace ITA 300 which has a long cycle five months) and yields of two-three tons per hectare.

The DG handed over certificates to 20 local artisans training on the fabrication and installation of GEM processing facilities.

In the afternoon of September 8, the DG and his delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of the North Region. He was received by the Secretary General at the Governor’s office, Densou Joseph. The DG presented the successes already achieved and the way forward. He also briefly presented AfricaRice. The Secretary General indicated that Cameroon has a lot of potential to produce rice.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the DG and delegation paid a visit to the Senior Divisional Officer of Benoue Division, Oumarou Haman Wali. The visit of the AfricaRice DG is expected to continue today in Yaounde during which he will have a couple of audiences with top government officials and other institutions. 

Tomorrow, he will hold consultations with various development institutions.  The Africa Rice Centre, AfricaRice, is a Pan-African Centre of Excellence for rice research, development and capacity building. 

It contributes to reducing poverty, achieving food and nutrition security and improving livelihoods of farmers and other rice value-chain actors in Africa by increasing the productivity and profitability of rice-based agri-food systems, while ensuring the sustainability of natural resources.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3905 of Thursday September 10, 2026