Yaounde International Trade Fair on Agriculture and Agro-industry : Putting Homemade Products On The Table

The Yaounde International Trade Fair on Agriculture and Agro-industry opens floodgates of reflection to boost local processing and consumption.

It is well known to many. Cameroon produces what it does not consume and consumes what it does not produce. Apart from this, many other things are said about Cameroon. It is a country of potentials; a country that has not been able to successfully process the raw materials nature has put at its disposal and one that continues to boast of its potentials but remains planted on the spot. Interestingly, everyone seems to be aware of the need to process raw materials at home but no one seems to say with exactitude what ought to be done in order to achieve this goal.

What then must be responsible for this state of affairs is the question on every mind. The organisation of the second edition of the Yaounde International Trade Fair on Agriculture and Agro-industry opens another valve to reflect on how best to dismantle the obstacles therein and boost local processing of the country’s products.

Electric energy supply constitutes one, if not, the most important priority in the drive towards emergence. This is known by everyone including the most indifferent group of Cameroonians. Government itself is quite aware and this certainly explains the zeal towards the building of Hydroelectric Power plants to boost production. Agric processing has as substratum energy supply which must be steady and of course cheap enough to enable producers earn relative benefit from their processed goods.

That notwithstanding, the real issue actors in the agricultural sector raises once one talks of processing their goods at home, is finances. The creation of the Agriculture bank and the bank in charge of small and medium sized enterprises rekindle a lot of hope for many Cameroonians especially those having projects of this nature. However, many have been wondering if the funds in the bank are enough to finance projects presented by actors? C...