• Cameroon and Japan advance rice programme improving yields and seed quality to cut reliance on costly imports.

• PRODERIP Phase III shows results as certified seeds, post-harvest upgrades and farmer training boost local competitiveness.

• Government targets 460,000 tonnes by 2027 and 750,000 tonnes by 2030 to reduce a 700,000-tonne supply gap.

Cameroon’s drive to expand irrigated and rain-fed rice production has reached a significant milestone, with officials confirming that the Japan-supported programme is progressing as planned and is already generating measurable improvements in local supply. The update follows a mid-term review meeting held on 9 December in Yaoundé between Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe and Hiroshi Hiraoka, Principal Adviser at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The meeting formed part of an ongoing assessment of the Irrigated and Rain-fed Rice Development Project (PRODERIP), a bilateral initiative launched in 2011 and now in its third phase. The current phase, which began in 2023 and runs until 2027, seeks to improve the competitiveness of locally produced rice in a market dominated by imports. Cameroon consumes between 800,000 and 900,000 tonnes of rice annually, while local production averages 140,000 to 150,000 tonnes, leaving a structural deficit of more than 700,000 tonnes. This gap results in an import bill exceeding 240 to 300 billion FCFA per year over the last five years, according to the World Bank and the National Institute of Statistics.

A JICA mission led by Hiraoka has been in Cameroon since 13 November, visiting project sites and holding consultations with 11 national and local institutions. According to JICA, Phase III of PRODERIP places strong emphasis on seed purification and the distribution of certified varieties. This technical foundation is essential, as national yields remain low: irrigated rice fields produce on average 4–6 tonnes per hectare, while rain-fed systems average 1.5–2.5 tonnes per hectare, far below the potential observed in benchmark production zones supported by JICA, where yields can reach 6–7 tonnes per hectare under optimal conditions.

Post-harvest management is another priority. The appearance of local rice—particularly its whiteness and grain uniformity—remains less appealing than that of widely imported Asian varieties. The programme is therefore reinforcing interventions in drying, milling, and quality management, in collaboration with government agencies and private-sector operators. Early improvements are visible, with higher-quality local rice increasingly appearing in domestic markets, according to JICA’s progress reports.

PRODERIP also continues to support smallholder farmers through training, technical guidance and continuous field monitoring. These efforts are geared toward expanding rain-fed rice cultivation on suitable plateaus in the Western, Northwestern, Far North, and Adamawa regions, while strengthening rural communities' capacity to adopt improved practices. JICA reports that approximately 8,000 farmers have benefited from training programmes since Phase I, with cumulative improvements in seed purity and yields contributing to gradual market penetration.

A joint document synthesising the mission’s conclusions from field visits and institutional consultations has been finalised. It will guide cooperation between JICA and the Ministry of Agriculture over the next two years. Officials expect the framework to accelerate the modernisation and sustainable development of Cameroon’s rice sector, which remains strategically important for both food security and reducing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

Government projections published by Business in Cameroon indicate that authorities aim to increase production to 460,000 tonnes by 2027 under the Medium-Term Economic and Budgetary Framework (2025–2027). The long-term national target is 750,000 tonnes by 2030, a level that would reduce the import gap by nearly 70%. Achieving this would significantly ease Cameroon’s reliance on global markets, which is significant given periodic export restrictions in major supplying countries such as India.

With PRODERIP demonstrating tangible progress and the government setting ambitious production targets, Cameroon is positioning itself to transform its rice economy gradually. However, absolute competitiveness will depend not only on technical gains but also on private-sector investment in milling, logistics, and input distribution—areas where opportunities remain underexploited.

Mercy Fosoh