(Business in Cameroon) – On December 1 during his speech at the National Assembly, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute announced that Cameroon’s total meat production for 2024 is expected to reach 235,960 tons. This represents a decrease of 74,040 tons, or 23.8%, compared to 310,000 tons in 2023, according to the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries (Minepia).
In 2024, cattle farming remains the top producer, with 94,300 tons of beef. This is followed by poultry (50,836 tons), pork (39,676 tons), goat meat (28,885 tons), and sheep meat (22,263 tons), as noted by the Prime Minister. However, Joseph Dion Ngute did not mention the factors behind the decline in meat production, despite the government’s investments in the livestock sector.
A general decline in production is observed across all sectors. Specifically, the cattle farming sector saw a decrease of 35,869 tons in 2024, with 94,300 tons produced, down from 130,000 tons the previous year. Industry experts point to the deterioration of grazing lands and drying water sources in the North region, one of the main cattle farming areas, as contributing factors. Additionally, insecurity and livestock theft have negatively affected the sector’s production.
To boost production, the government plans to build industrial cattle slaughterhouses in Douala and Bamenda, in the Northwest region. According to the Prime Minister, the government is also relying on the National Seed Production Center in Wakwa, located in the Adamaoua region, which is the main livestock area in Cameroon. This facility is expected to produce over 500,000 doses of cattle semen and 300 embryos annually.
