allAfrica.com: Cameroon: Gov't Determined to Boost Agro-Pastoral Production (Page 1 of 2)

Following is a press release issued at the end of the cabinet meeting of 24 April 2008.

"Chief Ephraim INONI, Prime Minister, Head of Government, this Thursday, 24 April 2004, as from 11 am chaired an important Cabinet Meeting in the Prime Minister's Office devoted especially to measures aimed at boosting agricultural and fishery production, with the objective to make food stuffs more available. The meeting was attended by the Vice-Prime Minister; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Ministers, Ministers Delegate the Secretaries of State for Transport and for Basic Education, as well as his close collaborators.

In addition to the special statement of the Head of Government, the agenda featured two statements and a report, namely:

1. The statement of the Vice- Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on "the Emergency Plan to Boost Agricultural Production";

2. The statement of the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries on "the Guidelines for a Sustainable Development and Management of the Cameroonian Fisheries Sector with the objective to achieve Self-Sufficiency in Fishery Products"; and

3. The report of the Minister of the Environment and the Protection of Nature on "the 13th Conference of the Signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change" held in Bali (INDONESIA) from 3 to 15 December 2007.

In his special statement, the Head of Government recalled briefly the international situation, characterized by the world price boost of food stuffs. He continued by recalling that increase in agricultural production is a permanent and long time concern of the Government and had been taken up and reiterated during the Cabinet Meeting of July 2006; consequently, quantitative objectives to increase food stuff supplies were incorporated in the 2008 road maps of the Ministries in charge of Agriculture and Fisheries.

To speed up the process, the Prime Minister announced the setting up of a special revival and assistance fund for the financing of an emergency programme for very short term agro- pastoral production.

He prescribed an immediate synergy among the various stakeholders of the agricultural sector towards a substantial increase in food production as from the current agricultural season. He said the Government will strive to turn the prevailing crisis into an opportunity to profoundly transform our agriculture which should meet domestic demands and become a real exporter of food stuffs. The Head of Government also called on the populations to change their eating habits, by relying mostly on local food stuffs.

Taking the floor for the first statement, the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that the development strategy for the rural sector adopted in 2005 contained solutions to the present crisis situation, given that its main objective is the increase in agricultural production.

He noted that alongside the medium and long terms measures, his ministry will during this year strive to develop the strategic sectors, by laying emphasis on the settling of young farmers.

In this respect, plans are underway to provide 20 to 50% assistance for the purchase of fertilizers, pesticides and small farm implements, 75 to 100% subsidies for planting material, 80% assistance for processing and storage as well as mechanization by setting up equipment pools in the five agro-ecological zones and, a 15% subsidy on the purchase costs of tractors.

At the end of his statement, the Head of Government called on the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to, in collaboration with the other relevant services and, without delay, launch the major agro-industrial projects.

Furthermore, he enjoined the Minister of Finance to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the 2008 finance law which extend VAT exemption to all agricultural, livestock and fisheries products as well as to fertilizers inputs. The Minister of Commerce was thus instructed to quicken the process to liberalize the marketing of fertilizer inputs.

The floor was then given to the Minister in charge of Fisheries who presented a progress report of the activity in Cameroon. The report revealed that despite our 360 km coastline and the major inland water ways and rivers, national fishery production is below expectations, this because of the lack of interest on the part of Cameroonians, mostly young people, lack of financing, the high cost offishing activities, depletion of seafood and high sea piracy. This has created a fishery products deficit of about 150 000 tons amounting to 60 000 million per year.

He continued by outlining the efforts taken by the Government to off set this trend which focus on the supervision and organization of fishermen into CIG; material (net, rope etc) and financial support in the form of micro credits for the purchase of boats and outboard propeller units for more than CFA F 300 million; development of landing places, rehabilitation of fisheries centres, reinforcement of sea security, etc.He dwelt particularly on the setting up of a control system which will help to fight the illicit exploitation of fishery resources and the fraudulent exportation of products which amounts to close to 60 000 tons yearly.

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