The Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) launched the harvest campaign for basic wheat seeds on January 23, in Wassandé, in the Adamawa region. The site previously hosted the Wheat Development Corporation (Sodéblé), which went bankrupt several decades ago. According to official information, a total of 600 tons of basic seeds are expected from this operation.
These seeds will then be made available to seed multipliers, who are responsible for producing large volumes of certified seeds. The certified seeds will be distributed to farmers through the Ministry of Agriculture. According to IRAD, the volumes expected from Wassandé in the coming days will bring total basic seed production at the site to 1,600 tons over a little more than three years.
This initiative is part of the government’s decision to revive local wheat production in response to imports considered structurally costly for the country’s trade balance. In July 2022, the head of state authorized the phased release, over five years, of a total budget of CFA10 billion. Allocated to IRAD based on available funds, this financing has made it possible to restart the production of basic and certified seeds at several sites, as well as their distribution to wheat producers.
However, the overall assessment of the program, launched more than three years ago, has yet to be released. The initiative nonetheless continues to fuel hopes of reducing imports, even as wheat purchases reached CFA214 billion in 2024, up 20% year on year, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
BRM
