Cameroon Targets More Local Rice as RVCDP Meets in Bamenda
By Wirngo Peter Tardzenyuy www.eagleeyeafrica.blogspot.com +237670040473 BAMENDA, 2 July 2026 Cameroon is pushing to grow more rice locally and cut imports, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriel Mbairobe said Thursday during the 7th Steering Committee meeting of the Rice Value Chain Development Project (RVCDP) at Ayaba Hotel in Bamenda. Mbairobe said the main challenge facing the rice subsector is the limited availability of irrigated land. Cameroon currently has about 4,500 hectares under irrigation, while RVCDP is expected to develop an additional 3,000 hectares. The government's long-term target is to expand irrigated rice production to 70,000 hectares with support from development partners. "Rain-fed rice is also getting support through improved seeds, fertilizer and land preparation," he said. He added that a rice processing plant with an annual capacity of about 100,000 tonnes has already been established to boost local processing. The Minister recall...