Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) is entering a new investment cycle to secure and revive its agricultural operations. Its general manager, Franklin Njie, has launched two national open tenders under an emergency procedure to supply agricultural inputs and equipment, mainly for the Banana and Palms departments. The combined budget exceeds CFA2.45 billion, with a strong focus on inputs critical to yields and export operations.
Banana: CFA2.37 billion for 34 lots of inputs and equipment
For the banana segment, the operation is structured into 34 lots and covers the supply, transport, and handling of key inputs. These include planting materials and growing bags, fertilizers, crop protection products, and packing equipment. According to the tender documents reviewed, the total estimated budget stands at CFA2.37 billion.
Among the main cost items, CDC plans to acquire plantlets for nearly CFA102 million. The package also includes the purchase of more than 1.9 million banana bunch protection bags, both treated and untreated. This is a critical component for quality control and compliance in dessert banana production.
Fertilizers represent another major cost block, notably slow-release urea worth CFA145.4 million and NPK fertilizers estimated at CFA341.8 million. Overall, chemical inputs and fertilizers account for a significant share of the budget, reflecting the high input requirements needed to maintain yields and combat diseases affecting dessert bananas.
The contract also extends to downstream export chain components, through the acquisition of post-harvest protection and packing equipment. These include Banavac polybags, mini-pads (diapiters), adhesives, tapes, and plastic trays, all essential for packing and export logistics.
Palm oil: CFA153.85 million for four “strategic” lots
At the same time, CDC has launched a separate national open tender under an emergency procedure for its Group Palms department. The contract, divided into four lots, covers the supply, transport, and handling of inputs described as strategic. These include glyphosate-based herbicide at 360 g/l, chitted seeds, and small and large polyethylene bags used for nursery operations. The total budget for this tender is estimated at CFA153.85 million.
These procurement operations follow recent financing announcements totaling CFA47 billion and CFA4.7 billion. The funds are intended for the construction of two plants for CDC: a rubber processing unit and a palm oil production facility. The state-owned company operates banana, rubber, and oil palm plantations in Cameroon’s South-West and Littoral regions.
The bank financing currently being finalized forms part of a broader recovery path, marked in particular by the settlement of social debt. On September 17, 2025, following an agreement between the Cameroonian state and a pool of local banks, the government cleared CFA15.7 billion in salary arrears owed to CDC employees. The arrears were part of a total social debt estimated at CFA35.7 billion accumulated between 2018 and 2022.
Amina Malloum
