(Business in Cameroon) - Cameroonian economic operators spent FCfa 31 billion in 2015 to import milk, revealed Gildas Bertrand Ayi, Head of the Dairy Industry department at the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries; a ministry which, in January, declared 2016 as being the “year of the milk”.

This revelation was made on 15 June 2016 in Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital, during the opening of a forum with the theme: “development challenges in the local dairy production”. This meeting was set up, we learned, to explore the ways and means to boost the dairy production in the country.

Indeed, according to recent statistics, Cameroon has a production deficit of over 170,000 tons per year, as the national production peaks at approximately 125,000 tons only, for a demand estimated at 297,000 tons. At the roots of this situation, experts highlight, is the low yield of the species of cows reared by producers, better access to the main production areas, etc.

With the deficit registered in the local dairy production, and considering the high costs of imports, local processors are exploring new solutions. At Camlait, for example, FCfa 3 billion were invested in setting up a soy-based yogurt production unit.

According to Paulin Toukam Zuko, CEO of Camlait, the production costs of soy-based yogurt are 50% less than those made from conventional milk. Therefore, this food company is relying on these locally-produced soy-based products, to achieve 65% of its turnover for the mid-term.

BRM