(Ecofin Agency) - The Cameroonian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Essimi Menyé, officially launched the fruit tree growing development Project, on 28 July 2015 in the capital Yaoundé. This project, we are told, requires total financing of FCfa 178.5 billion, of which a part will be provided by the FAO during the pilot phase, while the government will raise the bulk of the funds.

According to the initiators, this tree growing development project aims to increase the number of orchards in the production areas located principally in the central regions (departments of Lekie and Mbam and Inoubou), of Adamaoua (departments of Vina and of Mayo Danay), of the Far North (department of Diamaré) and the North (departments of Bénoué, and Mayo Louti).

The co-operatives, Common Initiative Groups (CIGs) and industrialists who set up orchards, will receive multi-form project support, for the purpose of creating processing units. The goal being, the project sponsors stress, to make Cameroon a fruit juice exporter by the year 2025.