By Christopher Ambe Shu
Cameroon, with a population of over 18 million people, has favorable agricultural conditions. Over 70% of this country’s labor force is in the agricultural sector. And, according to 2006 estimates, agriculture contributes 45.2% to the Cameroon’s GDP.
But unfortunately the agricultural sector is not as developed as expected, leaving many people in poverty and hunger.
That is why the Government is now determined to open five more institutes of agriculture, to add to existing ones, in the country’s five agro-pastoral zones.
Dr. Iroume Roger Noël, of the Department of Scientific Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Scientific Research, who led a mission to Buea, on October 22, for a workshop to collect data on the agro-pastoral profile of the region, said Cameroon wants to greatly improve its agricultural production.
Peter Nde, representative of Southwest Regional Governor, chaired the Buea workshop, which held at CEFAM Conference Hall, bringing together agric and livestock experts, leaders of NGO, government officials, and local traditional rulers.
“The project of creation of five institutes of agriculture falls within the framework of government strategy geared towards the development and modernization of agriculture in order to optimize agro-pastoral production in Cameroon,” he said.
Dr Iroume disclosed that, the institutes would be based in Liongo-Buea for the humid forest with monomodial rainfall distribution; Batouri for the humid forest with bimodal rain fall distribution; Mbouda for the highlands; Marma for the Guinnee savannah and Doukoudje for the soudano-sahelian zone.
Dr. Iroume said the institutes, considered pilot centers, would be well equipped. They will offer full-time training and short courses designed “to fit specific requests of all those seeking to update their skills in a particular area of agro-pastoral techniques”. No specific time when the institutes will go operational was made known. But government officials insist their creation is an urgent need.
Prime Minister Philemon Yang chairs the steering committee of the project implementation.
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