(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon has secured CFA5.9 billion in funding from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to support its rice value chain. The financing is expected to boost productivity, support rice farmers, ensure food security, and help the country achieve self-sufficiency. If production increases as planned, Cameroon could even export surplus rice to regional and international markets, according to the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development. The loan agreement was signed on February 28 in Yaoundé.
Cameroon struggles to meet domestic rice demand with local production and relies heavily on imports. The government aims to increase rice output from 140,710 tons in 2024 to 460,000 tons by 2027, according to its 2025-2027 economic and budgetary plan. However, this will still fall short of demand, which reached 576,949 tons in 2020 and continues to rise. Even with projected growth, the country will need to import at least 110,000 tons of rice in 2027 to cover the gap.
The Rice Value Chain Development Project is designed to help bridge this shortfall. With a total cost of nearly CFA98 billion, the project focuses on improving farmer capacity, developing production areas, increasing incomes for small-scale farmers and agricultural service providers, and improving access to basic social services. It is co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank, the OPEC Fund, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
