(Business in Cameroon) - Corn demand in Cameroon is expected to stand at 2.8 million tons this year for a domestic production of 2.2 million tons, the agriculture ministry (Minader) indicated in a sector outlook presented Feb 28 in Yaoundé during a cabinet meeting.

According to the department, demand is on the rise but the sector is facing difficulties which include, among others, the isolation of production areas, issues in accessing land, high cost of fertilizers and pesticides, weak availability of improved seeds and insufficient mechanization.

To increase local corn production, Minader is planning to include the private sector in large-scale production, elaborate new varieties of seed, ease access to agricultural inputs, provide farmers with machinery and build infrastructure for post-harvest processing.  

During the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute instructed the Minister of Economy to submit urgently proposals on the resources that could be mobilized in 2019 for the acquisition of ploughing equipment and improved maize seeds.

S.A