• Gabon launches a CFA6.8 billion ($12 million) credit fund for agriculture and poultry projects.
• Program combines loans with technical and managerial support for agripreneurs.
• Initiative supports the government’s plan to cut food imports and expand local production.

The Bank for Commerce and Entrepreneurship of Gabon (BCEG) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development signed a partnership this week to support agricultural and poultry projects across the country.

The agreement establishes the Agricultural Credit Fund at Reduced Rates (CATR), backed by CFA6.8 billion, or about $12 million. The fund aims to make financing more accessible for project developers in the sector.

The initiative targets farmers and poultry producers who often struggle to secure the capital needed to launch or expand their activities. It includes an integrated support mechanism for agripreneurs, combining technical expertise, financial structuring, access to credit and operational monitoring.

Technical and financial support

Under the partnership, the Ministry of Agriculture will assess the technical viability of projects and provide technical guidance to producers. BCEG will mobilize its lending capacity and banking expertise to support project developers. According to the bank, around 30 applications are already under review.

Beyond credit access, the program also includes a support component. BCEG will provide managerial and financial training, while the ministry will deploy a specialized unit responsible for delivering technical training to beneficiaries.

The partnership comes as Gabon seeks to reshape its agricultural policy to increase domestic production and cover more than 50% of the country’s food needs.

Although about 40% of the rural population depends on agriculture, the sector remains marginal in the national economy, contributing less than 5% of GDP.

The country still imports about 60% of its staple food products, including cereals and meat. Authorities aim to modernize and industrialize national agriculture to better meet domestic demand while reducing reliance on imports. The government also plans to end broiler chicken imports by 2027 by strengthening local production.

Sandrine Gaingne