Cameroon aims for rice self-sufficiencyCEFR B1
24 Mar 2026
Adapted from Laura, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Ariel Nathan ADA MBITA, Unsplash
Rice is a staple in Cameroon and the country imports a large share of its grain. Over the first ten months of 2022 Cameroon imported more than 650,000 tons of rice for FCFA 162.5 billion (USD 282 billion), compared to 580,000 tons in 2021. Rice currently makes up more than half of foreign grain supplies, mainly from India and Thailand.
In May 2023 the government launched a rice self-sufficiency strategy with a budget of FCFA 385 billion (USD 677 million). The policy aims to triple production to 460,000 tons by 2027 and to 750,000 tons by 2030, a volume that would reach a projected 97 percent self-sufficiency.
Farmers in northwest Cameroon, including Félix Mangwa, Ayong Odette and Tanchia Ngwendoline, say rice is now a top priority. The rainy season runs from March/April to October. They report slight income gains for some households and say the policy encouraged more people to grow rice. However, roads become impassable in the rains, paddy prices are often too low, and access to certified seeds, tractors and modern inputs is limited. Poor water management, storage and processing cause post-harvest losses and low-quality rice.
Some organisations provide support, and farmers ask for investment in infrastructure, better storage, formal markets and more mechanisation to build sustainable production.
Difficult words
- staple — main food eaten regularly by many people
- self-sufficiency — ability to meet needs without imports
- policy — official plan or set of actions
- paddy — rice as it grows, before milling and processing
- post-harvest loss — loss of crops or grain after harvestpost-harvest losses
- mechanisation — use of machines to do farm work
- infrastructure — basic systems and services for a country
- certified seed — seeds officially tested and approved for plantingcertified seeds
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think the government can reach 97 percent self-sufficiency by 2030? Why or why not?
- Which investments (for example roads, storage or machines) would help local farmers most, and why?
- How do the rainy season and poor water management affect rice quality and income for farmers?
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