The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) has formalised a public-private partnership with the Cameroon Cooperative Credit Union League (CamCCUL) to expand financial services for rural producers, which could have implications for agricultural productivity and economic growth.
The agreement establishes a Decentralised Rural Credit Project (PCRD) to expand financial access and support agricultural investment across the country. The agreement was formalised in Yaounde by Gabriel Mbairobe, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Jonas Tieutchou, Director-General of CamCCUL, with officials from both institutions in attendance.
Credit and savings closer to rural producers
Under the partnership, MINADER and CamCCUL will jointly implement the PCRD to improve farmers’ access to credit and savings services tailored to rural realities. The project is designed to bring financial services closer to producers through decentralised, inclusive and sustainable mechanisms, with a focus on smallholders, youth and women in rural areas. The framework targets financing for farm inputs, crop diversification, rural infrastructure and agricultural value chains, while also promoting savings as a resilience tool against economic shocks and as a source of investment capital.
According to project officials, the partnership also seeks to reinforce institutional synergy between the State and cooperative microfinance institutions, strengthen local capacities through training, and deepen collaboration with the banking sector. CamCCUL’s nationwide network of legally recognised microfinance institutions is expected to play a central role in delivering credit and mobilising savings at the community level.
Billions in credit and savings projected.
CamCCUL estimates that more than FCFA 1.2 billion in credit will be extended to beneficiaries under the PCRD, alongside the mobilisation of over FCFA 1.5 billion in savings. The funding is expected to support farm production, livestock activities and related rural enterprises, while reinforcing the financial sustainability of participating microfinance institutions.
Minister Mbairobe said the PCRD was conceived to address persistent financing constraints faced by rural producers, noting that limited access to adapted financial products remains a significant bottleneck for small-scale farmers and cooperatives. He stated that the ministry will provide non-repayable financial support to strengthen the technical and institutional capacities of CamCCUL and its beneficiaries, as well as low-interest agricultural loans delivered through the cooperative network.
Agriculture’s weight in the economy
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Cameroon’s economy. World Bank data indicate that the sector contributes about 20 per cent of national GDP and employs close to 60 per cent of the working population, making it the country’s largest source of jobs. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports that smallholder farmers account for the bulk of food production, underpinning national food security while supplying export crops such as cocoa, coffee, cotton and bananas.
Despite this weight, access to formal finance in rural areas remains limited. The World Bank’s Global Findex Database shows that financial inclusion rates in rural Cameroon lag those in urban areas, with savings and credit often relying on informal mechanisms. The PCRD is positioned to address this gap by leveraging cooperative finance to expand the reach of regulated microfinance services.
Alignment with national strategy
Mbairobe said the partnership aligns with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (NDS30), which identifies agriculture as a primary driver of structural transformation, import substitution and poverty reduction. He added that improving rural access to adapted financial services is essential to increasing productivity, generating income and supporting national food security objectives.
“The convention fits perfectly with the National Development Strategy, which encourages the strengthening of sectors with high social and economic impact, based essentially on agriculture,” Mbairobe said. He called on all stakeholders to prioritise transparency, respect mutual commitments and comply with regulations governing microfinance institutions, including standards set by the Central African Banking Commission (COBAC).
CamCCUL General Manager Jonas Tientchou said the agreement would support the network’s ongoing five-year restructuring programme, with an emphasis on expanding assistance to rural areas and improving financing for agricultural projects. PCRD National Coordinator Emmanuel Ebune described the partnership as timely, stating that project teams will monitor on-the-ground funding to farmers and related activities to ensure effective implementation.
Mercy Fosoh
