Cameroon develops cassava hubs to reduce wheat imports

Cameroon is promoting cassava as a substitute for wheat to cut imports and expand opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Authorities are focusing on cassava-based flour to enhance food security and strengthen women-led cooperatives in processing and trade.

The Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts (MINPMEESA) is establishing agro-industrial hubs in key cassava-producing regions. These hubs will provide farmland, seed multiplication fields, small processing units, and training for women’s groups. The government has announced plans for up to 20 hubs, though only a few are currently operational. A pilot site in Mbangassina, in the Centre region, has allocated land to women’s cooperatives, with construction of a processing unit underway.

Cameroon imports approximately 800,000 tonnes of wheat annually, costing CFA 178 billion (US$288 million) in 2023, according to Business in Cameroon. Cassava, widely cultivated across the country, could serve as a cost-effective alternative. Officials state that incorporating up to 15% cassava flour into bread and pastries could reduce imports and support local farmers. Each cassava hub is expected to employ hundreds of women directly, with additional jobs created in logistics and trade, potentially generating over 10,000 jobs overall.

Despite ambitious plans, challenges persist: cassava flour quality varies, complicating its use in bakeries, and large-scale processing and storage infrastructure remains limited. Financing hub development is also a hurdle. Cameroon’s earlier cassava substitution policies showed mixed results, highlighting the need to address technical, market, and consumer issues concurrently. Cameroon aims to access AfCFTA markets if consistent quality and competitiveness can be achieved.

This is not the first attempt to replace wheat with cassava in Africa. Nigeria’s efforts since 2002 to incorporate cassava flour into bread production have been highly controversial. Although claims linking cassava to increased diabetes rates were debunked by studies showing cassava’s lower glycemic index compared to wheat, challenges with flour quality, logistics, and costs sparked significant resistance from producers and consumers.

Tags: wheat, cassava, Cameroon