At audience with AfricaRice DG: Scientific research minister says wants rice grown like maize by every family.

Dr Baboucarr Manneh was accompanied to the audience by the Deputy Director General of Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD, Dr Francis Ngome; Director General of Mission d’Études pour l’Aménagement et le Développement de la Région du Nord, MEADEN, Abdoulaye Serno; AfricaRice Board Member, Bridget Biwole, and other officials of AfricaRice.

Speaking during the audience, Minister Tchuente said the government attaches a lot of importance to rice production and is ready to make sure the country’s potential in rice production is fully exploited.

She noted that the efforts of AfricaRice in enhancing rice production in Cameroon is of utmost necessity. The minister noted that there must be a change of mindset to up rice production and ensure that in the next few years, the country would no longer import rice.

She regretted that despite the country’s potential to produce rice in huge quantities, Cameroon still continues to import rice, but noted that with the Head of State, President Paul Biya’s import-substitution policy taking root, rice importation should, not long from now, be a thing of the past.

Gov’t unrelenting in enhancing agricultural research 

The minister said the government is not relenting in its efforts to enhance agricultural research. 

“The Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD, and research efforts are being maintained and updated. IRAD has done all to ameliorate research in the rice sector, producing improved seed varieties,” she disclosed.

She revealed that there is now a special status for researchers, “which is very motivating”. “The government has also made a lot of efforts to recruit more researchers. Even in terms of research budget, there has been a significant increase,” she said. 

The minister then promised that the government is ready to accompany AfricaRice in its efforts to increase rice production in Cameroon.

She held strongly to the stance that rice in Africa in general and Cameroon in particular, should be produced for local consumption and not for exportation at the moment. 

‘Cameroon has capacity to produce rice in quantity & quality’

When he took the floor, the Director General of AfricaRice, Dr Baboucarr Manneh, said Cameroon has the capacity to produce rice in great quantity and quality. He lauded the collaboration with IRAD, noting that technology developed in the rice sector needs to be put into action. 

The Director General briefed the minister on AfricaRice investment projects in the northern parts of Cameroon, especially the VIVA Benue project, citing some of the successes and progress.

Dr Manneh said with AfricaRice investment projects in the north of the country, “we have had good results and these results now need to be expanded”. He bemoaned the fact that importing rice from Asia is giving jobs to Asian countries at the detriment of African countries.

While praising the government’s efforts and support, he urged for more annual budgeting for agriculture in general and rice production in particular.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director General of IRAD, Dr Francis Ngome, said the institution actively manages, develops, and distributes improved rice varieties tailored to maximise yields and climate resilience across Cameroon's agro-ecological zones. Dr Ngome also said IRAD also engages in transformation to make the quality of rice complete in the market.

He disclosed that IRAD has also valourised rice waste by developing technology to use the waste in producing biochar to fertilise crops and grow edible mushroom. Dr Ngome added that the institution has also trained women in the north to use rice waste in cooking.

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:3912 of Thursday September 17, 2026