Cameroon prepares major reform of its wheat market

The Cameroonian government plans to launch a three-year program starting in January 2027 to restructure the country’s wheat sector. The total budget is estimated at 30.9 billion CFA francs (about 53.8 million USD). The announcement followed a working meeting held in Yaoundé with stakeholders from the sector, chaired by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Gabriel Mbaïrobé.

The reform plan is built on three main pillars: certified seed production, support for wheat farmers, and the development of storage, processing, and marketing infrastructure. According to participants, the initiative aims to build a complete value chain “from seed to market” in a country that remains heavily dependent on wheat imports to supply its milling and food industries.

The program envisions the use of around 4,500 hectares to produce approximately 9,000 tonnes of certified seeds. Ultimately, this is expected to support commercial production of about 180,000 tonnes of wheat over the duration of the plan. The main production zones have been identified in the Far North, North, Adamawa, West, and Northwest regions.

This is not Cameroon’s first attempt to strengthen domestic wheat production. The new initiative will build on the Wheat Production and Processing Project implemented by the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), which cost the government around 10 billion CFA francs (about 17.4 million USD).