Introduction Of The Cameroonian Agricultural Terrain

Cameroon is a country located in Central Africa with a total land area of 475,440 km2 and a population of about 30 million inhabitants. It is bordered by Nigeria to the West, Chad to the Northeast, the Central African Republic to the East and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo to the South. Cameroon's coastline lies on the Bight of Bonny, which is part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Cameroon is sometimes described as "Africa in miniature," because it exhibits all the major climates and vegetation of the continent: mountains, desert, rain forest, savannah grassland, and ocean coastland. Cameroon can be divided into five agro-ecological zones (Table 1) distinguishable by dominant physical, climatic, and vegetative features. The climate varies with terrain, from tropical along the coast, to semi-arid and hot in the north. The coastal belt is hot and humid; it includes some of the wettest places on earth, such as Debundscha, located at the base of Mt. Cameroon, which has an average annual rainfall of about 10,287 mm. Agriculture is the backbone of Cameroon's economy, employing 70% of its workforce and providing 44% of its gross domestic product and 30% of its export revenue. Cameroon produces several agricultural commodities for export and domestic consumption. The most important of these, which vary by agro-ecological zone (see Table 1), are cocoa, coffee, cotton, banana, rubber, palm oil, sugarcane, tobacco, tea, pineapple and peanuts for cash crops, and plantains, cassava, corn, millet, sorghum, yams, potatoes, sweet potatoes, dry beans, and rice for food crops. Animal husbandry is practiced throughout the country and is particularly important in the northern region.

Table 1: Major crops cultivated and animal species reared in each agro-ecological zone

PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURE IN CAMEROON

Very few countries, particularly in the developing world, have experienced rapid economic growth without agricultural growth either preceding or accompanying it (Anderson and Lorch, 2001). This is because agricultural growth is a catalyst to broad based development. At a micro level for instance, it provides eventual savings for entrepreneurial development in the informal sector. At macro level, it provides raw materials, which is a strong base for industrial development. Cameroon plays a leading role in meeting the food needs of the population of the CEMAC zone and even neighbouring Nigeria. Neglecting the agricultural sector is tantamount to creating a situation of food crisis in the sub-region. This will eventually create poverty and unemployment among small farmers who hitherto depended on revenue from the agricultural sector for survival, as is the case in Cameroon.

Although government has indicated its interest in encouraging the agricultural sector in most of its policy documents and official pronouncements, such lip-service must give way to concrete action, and this must be done before long. The downward trend in the investment in the agricultural infrastructures and institutions has to be redressed and reversed. The State has the duty to make the agricultural sector in Cameroon attractive and competitive, as was the case before the late 1980s. The surest way out is accelerated investments in food technology, and research on how to improve basic road infrastructures and effective market mechanisms, to uplift the purchasing power of the non-agricultural population, and develop a strong agric extension and technical service.

A new class of extension workers needs to emerge, which will allow rural people to take initiatives and think about their problems and appropriate solution. This means that there should be fundamental changes in the way they work. These extension agents need to be willing to learn from the villagers by also becoming listeners and facilitators of the development process. There is greater need for the State to train agricultural technicians at all levels to accomplish this objective. This is because extension plays a major role in farmers’ decisions on whether and how to use agricultural inputs or adopt innovations.

The need for these actions to be taken is real and urgent today considering the growing demand for food as the population keeps increasing. The population of Cameroon, which is currently growing at a rate of 2.3% (Economic Commission for Africa, 2001), present a crucial equation for policy-makers in this country. This, of course, requires concerted efforts, which cannot exclude actors like NGOs and private initiatives in the search for a possible way out. NGOs have, in many cases, shown that they can be depended upon for concrete results. This can easily be explained by their grass root approach to issues ( Fonjong 2001) and, in some cases, the fact that they command the resources and the will to make things happen. The examples of Heifer Project

International (HPI) in the animal sector, Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) in rehabilitating basic infrastructures, and other NGOs in the North West Province, give one reason to count on the potentials of NGOs in affecting the much-desired changes. The bottom line, however, is that government has the duty to harness all these efforts and co-ordinate them for effective delivery. For the benefits from agriculture go beyond achieving food security at local levels alone. Rural co-operatives societies if streamlined along traditional village organisation lines, like the examples of Groupement villageois in Benin and the Ujamma system in Tanzania, are possible outlets for far-reaching results.

In fact, as the economy of Cameroon enters a recovery phase (from a long period of economic crisis), a second thought on the state of these infrastructures is non-negotiable if the current government propaganda on poverty alleviation, economic development and environmental protection is to be taken seriously. This is simply because rudimentary agriculture cannot assure food security in the country today. One of the most evident entry points could be supporting existing NGOs on the field and embarking on long-term measures like the restoration of existing infrastructures, and putting in place of new ones. Integrated rural development strategy along the lines of the ‘McNamara revolution’, that emphasised on the improvement of agricultural inputs through innovation diffusion, if adopted can open a new and wider horizon for agricultural development in Cameroon.

In this case therefore, there is need to advance the living conditions of the rural people so as to enable them stay back in the villages and increase productivity and output. Political speeches alone without concrete actions will certainly not do this. Agriculture innovations should be well thought out before their implementation. Government should be able to count the long-term human and financial cost of such innovations to ensure that once started, the process should be sustained. This is because innovation that is not sustainable particularly among rural population, who in most cases are conservatives, is worst than inaction. It leads to disappointment, disillusion and cost in labour. The risk here is that, once such innovation is abandoned it is difficult to return farmers into it. This, of course, blocks the population from accepting any new innovations in the future, particularly if they had suffered heavy loses in the previous attempt. The way forward for Cameroon thus is that Innovations and reforms in the agricultural sector that will lead to the modernisation of the sector must be backed by good policies and a political will from the State that is capable of sustaining field actions, once introduced, to always gain the blessings of the farmers.

Key challenges, emerging needs and potentials in the agricultural sector

Key challenges to the development of the agricultural sector in Cameroon include:

Production shortages in all major crops (rice, cassava, plantains, corn, potato and sugar as such low yield and low export, and a serious decline in the countries trade balance. Below are some of the major problems and faced by the country coupled with viable solution that investors of good will can bring in return to numerous tax exonerations Together with Ghogomu and Partners Law firm

Potential areas for investment in Cameroon

Based on the general approach presented in Hussmann et al (2015) and in pursuit of efficiency and effectiveness, German investment into the agricultural and food sector is suggested in African countries that:

• Show actual progress in sustainable agricultural productivity, driven by related innovations, as indicated by comprehensive productivity measurement and innovation actions on the ground;
• Have a track record of political commitment to foster sustainable agricultural growth, as indicated by performance under CAADP; and
• Prioritize actions for hunger and malnutrition reduction and show progress, but where agricultural and rural development and nutrition interventions are likely to make a significant difference, as indicated by public policy and civil society actions.

Results of the assessment for Cameroon

Expected agricultural growth performance:

Cameroon has increased its agricultural growth to over 6% (CAADP target) in only one year between 2005 and 2014 (www.resakss.org).

Total agricultural factor productivity in Cameroon has improved by only 7% between 2001 and 2008 (Fuglie and Rada, 2011), yet, development in the agricultural and food sector is not sufficient.

Government commitment:

Cameroon does not have a good track record of political commitment to foster sustainable agricultural growth, as indicated by its low level of activity in the CAADP process and having completed only two out of the eight steps in the CAADP process (www.resakss.org).

Cameroon has not shown a strong willingness to invest in the agricultural sector. In no single year has the country invested more than 10% of total government expenditures (CAADP target) in agriculture in the 2005-2014 period (www.resakss.org).

Food and nutrition security progress and needs:

Cameroon is prioritizing actions for the reduction of hunger and malnutrition and shows an improvement in undernourishment of about 18% between the years of 2001 and 2011, which is above the 10% threshold level (FAO, 2014).

Program of Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation (PARI)

Nevertheless, Cameroon still has a Global Hunger Index (GHI) score value of 12.6, reflecting a serious level of hunger (von Grebmer et al., 2014)10. This makes investments into the agriculture and food sector in Cameroon urgent in order to reduce the high numbers of food insecure people.

Nevertheless, Cameroon has strong potential for agricultural development, and this includes the country’s large land resources. Cameroon has fertile lands covering 25% of its surface area, most of which have never been exploited. Due to the different agro-ecological zones, different agricultural activities can be pursued based on careful selection of sites. Rice can be grown in practically all regions of the country, and there is a long tradition of rice production among the local populations in the Great North, Northwest and West of the country. Lots of fruits are produced, but are wasted during peak seasons due to lack of processing channels. There are lots of water resources that could be used for irrigation, and there is a huge market for food products in the region, especially from CEMAC and Nigeria. Finally, labour is also readily available and cheap. The selection of value chains to focus on is also determined by market access, i.e. transport intensive products should be promoted in areas that are well connected to markets, whereas remote areas should focus on low volume and livestock value chain segments.

Agriculture and food production

Cameroon has immense agricultural potential and is already a world-leading producer of cocoa. Other significant crops include coffee, bananas, palm oil, cotton, rubber and cassava. However, the vast majority of farmers are smallholders, and there are opportunities for large-scale commercial operators to increase agricultural yields through modern processes especially now given the crises that has rocked the country recently. The government will be forced into accepting investors who will just help alleviate the lives of the people so as to keep them out of protest and anti – government sensitization

Cameroon’s geographic location makes it the link between west and central Africa – makes it a strategic trade hub with the potential to become a food exporter to the region. Development of the deep-sea port in Kribi is expected to assist the flow of goods to and from the country and take the pressure off the Douala port, which is infamous for its long delays.

Oil and gas

Cameroon is the sixth largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa and the country sits on five sedimentary basins, providing significant opportunities for exploration companies. However, it should be noted that exploitation of oil and gas is still at it very primary stages with much still to be done with reserves already known. There are even potential to build a downstream oil and gas base and set up petrochemical plants for urea, ammonia, methanol, fertiliser and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as establishing electricity generation facilities. “These are very bankable projects that ensure great returns and stand to create more jobs in the country,”

“There is a huge need for power in order to meet government’s industrialisation goals. Furthermore, new projects coming up – like the floating LNG project by Golar and Perenco – present huge opportunities for service companies in the country.”

there are also untapped areas for both onshore and offshore exploration and development in the Douala/Kribi-Campo Basin, Limbe crick as well as Logone-Birni, Mamfe and Garoua where there exist vast reserve of oil and Gas minerals. The Country also processes large reserves of cement making minerals for which reason the entry of about 7 cement producing companies in the country within the last 8 years

Hospitality and tourism

Cameroon has rich cultural heritage sites with terrain that ranges from tropical along the coast to semi-arid in the north. It is often described as ‘Africa in miniature’ due to an array of cultures, climates and terrains. Its wildlife also offers opportunities for safaris and big-game hunting.

However, Cameroon’s tourism potential is largely unexploited As such prospects for an interested entrepreneurs to develop businesses such as tour and transport services.

In addition, there is also a need to build quality boutique hotels to cater to foreign travellers and tourists. According to most people, there is only one world-class boutique hotel in Douala.

“So there is actually a lot more that can be done to boost the tourism sector.”

Affordable housing

“There has been no real effort to build low-cost housing [on a large scale] in Cameroon… for low income and [emerging] middle-class families and not just projects for high-net-worth individuals,” .Its clear that while the demand for low-cost housing is vast, these type of projects require innovative entrepreneurs who can work with banks and construction services to develop unique solutions.

Formal retail, fast-food chains and entertainment

An estimated 98% of Cameroonians shop at traditional or informal markets, and can buy products at wholesale prices at large open-air markets in major cities – such as Douala’s Marché Mboppi. There are few formal retail chains, although French supermarket group, Carrefour, plans to expand in the market.

Its clear to see that Cameroon’s business community and emerging consumer class is looking for a modern shopping experience.

There is also an opportunity to introduce fast-food chains (such as KFC) and entertainment facilities (such as cinemas and theatres). Here, investors have potential to be a first mover in the market.