2. Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008
746
budget survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture
in 1984 indicated an average annual consumption
of 11.5 kg rice per capita for the entire country,
rice accounting only for 5.2% of the food expenditure
of households . Since then, rice consumption in the
[5,6]
country has risen tremendously, at about 8% per
annum and today, 95% of the population eats rice at
least once a week . Domestic production has never
[7]
been able to meet the demand, leading to considerable
imports which today stand at about 400 thousand
tons yearly and account for 87% of the country needs .
[8]
Given the fact that Cameroon is endowed with
important land and water resources for food production,
rising rice imports are arousing growing concern all
over the country. Consequently immediate action and
long-term efforts are needed to alleviate the past and
increase rice production in Cameroon. The Dar Es
Salaan declaration is categorical on this. It insists
that food sufficiency in general and rice self-sufficiency
in particular, will only be achieved when domestic
production is integrated as a priority at the
national level .
[9]
This paper is motivated by the fact that the
Cameroonian Government has recently expressed the
need to restructure its rice sector. In the framework of
crop diversification and income generation, rice is seen
as a potential crop for the country to put an end to
hunger, generate income for the poor and by 2015 be
able to achieve the United Nations Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) of reducing extreme poverty
by half. Despite the widespread concerns and interests
on the issue however, there is no comprehensive
literature available providing information on the past and
current situation of rice production in the country. So
there is a need to gather all information on the subject
and made it available to policy makers. In this study, the
evolution of rice production in Cameroon since the
colonial era is reviewed. An effort is also given to
understand the underlying reasons for the actual low
production level.
Zones of Rice Cultivation in Cameroon: The Republic
of Cameroon is administratively divided into 10
provinces covering four geographical regions: the
western lowlands, which extend along the Gulf of
Guinea coast; the western highlands, which consist of
forested volcanic mountains, including Mount
Cameroon; the central region, which extends eastward to
the border with the Central African Republic; and the
northern region, which is essentially a vast tropical plain
that slopes down to the Chad Basin. Rice is grown
mainly in two agro-ecological zones, the Western
Highlands (North-West and West Provinces) and the
Northern region (North and Far-North Provinces), but
it's also found on smaller areas in the Centre, South-East
and East Provinces. The major rice cultivation projects
in the country are in Maroua and Kousseri in the Far-
North Province and Ndop in the North-West Province
(Figure 1).
The Northern Region: North Cameroon is situated at
1,100 m above sea level. The climate is tropical, usually
described as sudano-guinean, with a characteristic
unimodal rainfall pattern . Two major seasons are
[10]
prevalent, the wet season which runs from April (mean
precipitations of 128.8 mm) to October (107.2 mm) and
the dry season from November to March. Mean relative
humidity and temperature are 0.673 and 22.0 C,
o
respectively. Minimum and maximum temperatures are
10 and 34 C, respectively. Average annual rainfall is
o
800-1200 mm falling mainly between early May and
late October. The hottest months are from November to
January. Natural vegetation is woody savannah .
[11]
Livestock is important in the region, particularly for the
migrant cattle herders, the Fulani. Cereals occupy 80%
of the total area under cultivation while cotton and
peanut account for 12% and 5% respectively. Rice
cultivation covers 25% of that area . The Far-North
[6]
Province has the highest rice production area in
Cameroon and account for 85% of total production
(Figure 2). The Société d’Expansion et de Modernisation
de la Riziculture de Yagoua (SEMRY) is charged with
the supervision of the whole operation of rice in the
province and has established three stations in the region,
namely SEMRY I (Yagoua), SEMRY II (Maga), and
SEMRY III (Logone et Chari in Kousserie). Rice is also
grown along the Lagdo valley in the North Province by
the Toupori, Guiziga and Matal, but in minor
importance. Cameroon officials estimate that
approximately 1,000 ha of land is cultivated to rice by
some 11,000 traditional food farmers in the region .
[4]
The Western Highlands: Rice production in the
Western Highlands is concentrated in the North-West
province, but it's also found on smaller areas in the
West Province. The Western Highlands lies between
latitudes 5°20' and 7° North and longitude 9°40' and
11°10' East of the Equator, with a surface area covering
1/6 of the country’s land area (17,910 km ). Altitudes
2
range from 300 to 3000 m above sea level. The climate
of the region is characterized by two main seasons: a
dry season from November to mid March and a rainy
season from mid March to October. The annual average
rainfall varies between 1300-3000 mm with a mean of
2000 mm. Minimum and maximum temperatures have
means of 15.50°C and 24.5°C, respectively; although
temperatures can rise above 30°C. The region is
dominated by high volcanic mountains with fertile soils
(hydromorphic, volcanic and ferralitic), an area which
has traditionally been the most densely populated part of
3. Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008
747
the country. The agricultural population is estimated at
72% with 160,025 households. The main vegetation is
Savannah . Modern rice production in the North-West
[2]
is concentrated within the Menchum Valley and the
Mbo plain and is administered by the Upper Noun
Valley Development Authority (UNVDA). The major
rice farming villages in the region are Bamunka, Bamali
and Babungo in Ndop .
[12]
Stages in rice production in Cameroon: The latest
statistical information available shows that Cameroon
represents about 0.3% of Africa rice production. In
2005, an estimated 17 thousand ha was under rice
cultivation with a total production of 53 thousand tones
of paddy rice (Table 1).
Colonial Era, 1930-1960: Rice is an old crop in West
and Central Africa. Archaeologists suggest that the
African rice (Oryza glaberrima) was domesticated in the
Niger River Delta about 3,500 years ago. Diligent
Africans carried it westward to Senegal, southward to
the Guinea Coast, and eastward to as far as Lake Chad.
It is believed that Cameroonian rice cultivation started
during the same period. Between the 15 and the 17
th th
centuries, the Asian rice (Oryza sativa) was introduced
to West and Central Africa by Arab traders and
Portuguese navigators, and gradually displaced African
varieties in lowland rice-growing areas . The first
[13]
recorded tests of rice cultivation in Cameroon dates back
to the 1930s in the Far-North Province . In 1950, the
[14,15]
Station de Riziculture de Pouss was created with one
mission: rice cultivation in the Far-North Province.
Because of the difficulties in bringing the amount of
water needed, it was transferred to Toukou, then
Vournaloum on the bank of the Logone River in 1953
where the ecology was better. Unfortunately, infestation
with Pachydiplosis oryzae reversed the crop’s initially
strong inroads among the local population. A more
ambitious attempt was initiated in 1954 by the
creation of SEMRY and gave a strong input to the
cultivation of rice in the region . Dams and
[15,16]
dikedam on the Logone River and its tributaries brought
large areas under irrigation. For example, a 27 km
dikedam between Pouss and Guirviding formed a
reservoir covering 34,000 ha at high water level and
14,000 ha at low water level . By 1960, the tall
[17]
traditional varieties covered the entire rice area with a
total production of 3,205 tons (2,617 ha) compared to
300 tons (500 ha) in 1953 .
[15]
Independence, 1960-1986: Strongly encouraged by the
government, the post-independence era saw a significant
boom in rice production. By 1980, three rice research
and development institutes were established in the
country: SEMRY in the Far-North Province, UNVDA in
the North-West Province and the Société de Développent
de la Riziculture dans la Plaine de Mbo (SODERIM) in
the West Province (Figure 1). UNVDA established in
1970, evolved from the failure of an earlier project that
begun in 1967, the Bureau de Développement de la
Production Agricole (BDPA) . In Santchou district,
[18,19]
another government parastatal, the Mission de
Développement de la Riziculture dans la Plaine de Mbo
(MIDERIM) was created in 1974 for the supervision of
rice production and marketing in the area. The same
year, MIDERIM was transformed into a development
corporation under the name SODERIM . The first
[20,21,22]
FAO records for rice in Cameroon indicates that 7,000
ha were harvested in 1961 with a yield of 0.48 t/ha
(Table 1). Harvested area increased to more than 10,000
ha in 1962, 17,000 ha in 1972, and 28,000 in 1982.
The 1970s witnessed a rapid adoption of new varieties
for irrigated environments. By 1978, an area of about
8,000 ha has already been put under cultivation in Ndop,
with an average output of 2.3 t.ha-1. The development
of rice production in the region led to the development
of virtually unused areas, and provided income for
people who focused on fishing in the past. Rice proved
to be not only a cash crop, but also a food crop .
[19]
Total rice production in the country increased between
1971 and 1985 reaching about 107,000 tones of paddy
rice, the greatest harvested acreage to date in the history
of rice production in Cameroon, with an average yield
of 4.74 t.ha-1. SEMRY provided 85% of it, the
remaining provided by SODERIM and UNVDA and
almost half was exported to Nigeria and Chad. In
addition, 17,900 family farms had an output of 7,330
tons of paddy rice in 1985 .
[4,6]
Economic Recession, 1986-1995: Throughout the
1980s economic stagnation was the norm in the region.
The decline of the Naira (the Nigerian currency) and the
restriction of goods exchange between Cameroon and
Nigeria in 1984, led to a sharp decline in rice
production. SEMRY lost its main market with a stock of
paddy rice representing a financial asset of more than 9
billion CFA francs . This was worsened by
[6,23]
competition from imported rice as a result of changes in
the world commodity market. For example, in 1988, one
kg of foreign rice was sold at 150 CFA francs in Douala
and Yaoundé markets, while locally produced rice was
158 CFA francs for 5% broken and 181 CFA francs for
whole paddy . The consequences were felt
[6,24,25]
throughout the country. The area under modern and
traditional rice felt from about 32,000 ha in 1978 to
10,000 in 1995 while production decreased from 76,000
to 35,000 tons. The highest national average production
during that period was reported in 1989 with 62,000
tons for 11,000 ha (5.47t.ha-1). In Ndop, about
4,985 tones of rice were produced in 1995 which was
4. Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008
748
Table 1: Area cultivated, rice output and yield in Cameroon, 1961-2005
Year Production (000 t) Area (000 ha) Yield (t.ha-1)
1961 4 7 0.48
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1965 13 11 1.21
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1970 14 17 0.83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1975 30 24 1.26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1980 46 20 2.34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985 107 23 4.74
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 55 11 5.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995 62 16 3.53
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 61 20 3.01
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005 53 17 2.94
SOURCE: FAOSTAT[8]
Fig. 1: Sites of rice production in Cameroon
insignificant compared to the 1980 output . By 1990,
[12,26]
mechanised rice subsidies were virtually eliminated.
Because of the subsequent devaluation of CFA franc in
1994 and a significant simplification of the fiscal system
by the Government in the framework of its Structural
Adjustment policies (SAP), promoting extensive
agriculture became unfeasible . Subsidies were
[4]
completely removed and most agricultural development
projects collapsed. The failure of SODERIM to obtain
good results, led to its shutdown in 1988 . Taken
[7]
together, all these factors inevitably forced farmers to
abandon rice production.
Economic Recovery, 1995-2005: Eventhough data in
the post-1995 period are uneven and patchy because of
the collapse of most governmental institutes
5. Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008
749
involved in the collection of information, it is however
instructive that over 1995-1999, the sown rice area
experienced an impressive expansion and doubled
from 10,000 ha to 20,000 ha. This was favoured by a
vast restructuration of the national economy and relative
economic prosperity. The total rice production
increased from 35,000 tons to 67,000 tons, while yield
remains constant (3.5-3.6 t.ha-1) (Table 1). This
stagnation in yield is explained by traditional
technologies and decreased use of fertilizers and
pesticides . Sadly, the 2000s have witnessed a
[7]
significant decrease in production and yield. The work
of the rice is still manual coupled to the fact that rice
has not undergone improvements in terms of new
varieties . The story of UNVDA and SEMRY is
[9,27]
pathetic. The two corporations are in a coma, curving
towards their grave. The Government has stopped
funding and withdrew its expertise, leaving the
corporations to lean solely on her selves.
Rice crop management in Cameroon:
Rice Ecosystems: Figure 3 shows the harvested areas
from different ecologies in Cameroon during the last
five years. The dominant rice environments are irrigated
rice (87%) and rainfed lowland rice (9%). The rest is
almost entirely cultivated under upland condition (3%)
where the sole water supply is rainwater .
[28,29]
Mechanised rice cropping has been a key component of
irrigated system in the Far-North, the North, the North-
West and the West Provinces, while manual rice farming
was used for rainfed lowland and upland.
Land Preparation: The cropping calendar for rice in
Cameroon is indicated in Table 2. Initial cultivation
usually starts in June or July. The ground is prepared
earlier and involves operations such as land planning or
land forming. In the 1960s, many fields were prepared
following several tillage and smoothing operations prior
to harvest. Today, only few tractors, disc ploughs and
landplane are still used by SEMRY and UNVDA.
Cultivation methods are still very rudimentary among
the majority of rice farmers . In the Far-North Province,
[2]
some farmers use animal for draught power, while in the
Western Highland, this has never been a tradition;
farmers still using handheld hoes and cutlasses. Initial
working of stubble or pasture is usually done with a
heavy ace and soil depth of 5 to 10 cm can be
obtained .
[30]
Sowing: The majority of Cameroon rice has typically
been planted with hands on prepared seedbeds. In most
cases, rice is planted twice yearly . Sowing occurs near
[31]
the onset of the rainy season in June/July. A second
planting, much smaller than the first, takes place in
January and is important for the supply of seed for the
June planting. Late sowing usually results in delayed
and slow harvest due to cool temperatures and rain .
[22,32]
Seed are usually drilled at about 70-100 kg.ha-1 under
ideal conditions in order to provide a uniform stand of
about 15 to 20 plants.m-2. Transplanting and dry
seeding followed by a germination flooding are all
methods used to sow rice in Cameroon. Occasionally,
growers have their seeds pre-germinated before sowing.
Some farmers prime rice seeds in water for 24 h, and
then dry them for a further 24 h before sowing .
[28,33]
Rainfed rice production is practiced mainly by women
on small plots. Rice is sown into uncultivated annual
pastures or burnt rice stubble. Transplanting of rice
seedling through the dead mulch of a cover crop like
Brachiaria ruziziensis, Mucuna pruriens or Crotalaria
retusa, is also used . In the Western Cameroon,
[27,32]
however, no differences in grain yield was reported
among no-till, minimum till, and plow-till methods when
rice was grown on vertisols with a high moisture
retention capacity . Rice-rice system is generally
[34]
practiced in irrigated areas while upland rice is usually
grown as an intercrop with sorghum, niebe, muskwari,
and other crops .
[32,35]
Irrigation and Water Management: In modern rice
farms, the requirement for water is met mainly by
irrigation, and to a small extent, by rainfall. The support
to irrigated production however, has been greatly
reduced during the recent past and most of the
infrastructures are in a deteriorating state. Generally,
about 15 to 16 ML.ha-1 of irrigation water is required.
Rice is grown under permanent flooded conditions for
all or most of its production season. Permanent water is
normally applied when the rice is from 5 to 10 cm
tall . The length of the vegetative season and the
[31,34]
pace of rain are key factors in rice production in the
Western Highlands where most rice farms traditionally
depend on rainfall. Here only one crop per year is
planted in June. Swamp rice is cultivated in the low-
lying areas, where soils are easily flooded at the heart of
the rainy season .
[12,36]
Fertilization: Historically, basal fertilizers were applied
at a rate of 50-120 kg N.ha-1, 60-150 kg P205.ha-1, and
20-60 kg K20.ha-1 . Today, it is common to apply
[16,37]
urea (50-100 kg.ha-1) onto the soil surface at sowing
because it is convenient and cheap. NPK is also used by
some farmers at 100-200 kg.ha-1. Generally 19 to 21 kg
N.ha-1 are needed to produce one tonne of brown
rice . Balanced fertilization with N, P, K, S, and Zn
[4,32]
in many rice fields is essential for production of high
yielding rice. In most traditional rice farms however,
rice is grown following the slash-and-burn shifting
cultivation almost without any application of chemical
fertilizers. This often leads to a lack of greenness or a
6. Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008
750
pale green leaf colour. Other deficiency symptoms
include stunted growth and poor, if any, yield. Some
farmers have for years tested organic and green manure
on their farm .
[38]
Weeds Management: The type and number of weeds
likely to be encountered in rice field in Cameroon are
greatly influenced by management practices. Graminae
and Cyperaceae are weed species by far the most
aggressive competitors with rice . In most rice farm,
[22,37]
flushing and raining usually result in build-up of
grasses, broadleaves and sedges, requiring herbicide
application. Virtually all of the 20,000 ha of rice sown
in Cameroon in 1960-1983 was chemically treated for
weed control at some stage. Today weeds control is
essentially manual and usually delayed, resulting in
serious yield reduction. Weeding generally occurs
between August/September for the main season and
March/April for the off-season . Control methods in
[29]
modern farms include spraying of glyphosate prior to
sowing, Bentazon (Basagran) and Cyhalofopbotil
(Clincher) when the plant has 2-3 leaves and Oxadiazon
(Ronstar) and Pendimethane (Stomp) 40-60 days after
sowing . Burning the previous year’s rice stubble
[29,32]
before seeding is practiced by many farmers to make
their farms fertile. It was however noticed that the ash
left after burning can reduce the effectiveness of
barnyard grass control herbicides .
[38]
Pest and Diseases Management: A large number of
pathogenic fungus, bacteria, virus, mycoplasm and
nematodes infect rice plants in Cameroon .
[14,39,40]
Generally, disease severity is less pronounced under
irrigated conditions than in the uplands and varies
remarkably among the different rice-growing areas. The
relatively low occurrence of diseases in the Far-North
Province is probably a result of high soil fertility or
higher wind velocity and lower humidity than in the
other areas. In the Western Highlands, the climate is
more conducive to diseases. Rice blast (caused by
Magnaporthe grisea), sheath rot (caused by Sarocladium
oryzae), and glume discoloration (caused by several
pathogenic fungi including Cochliobolus miyabeanu) are
the major limiting pest of rice in the Mbo and Ndop
plain locations . IR46 is the most susceptible variety to
[40]
blast. Resistant lines include CICA8, ITA300,
BKN77033-3-3-323 and WITA4 . Bacteria like
[41]
Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae, Burkloderia
glumae, B. plantarii, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
and X. oryzae pv. Orizicola, have also been reported
on rice seeds in Cameroon . Isolates SRB-G, SRB-
[42]
T, Ca5 and Ca30 of Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV)
also occurs .
[43,44]
Unlike Asia, where stem borers, leafhoppers and
other insect pests cause severe yield losses, there are
only few pests of significance in the rice growing areas
of Cameroon. Gall midge is reported to occur, but it is
not considered a major pest . Those pests and
[45,46,47,48]
diseases are controlled only through rice stubble
management and rotation with non-host crops. The
irrigated rice production is most structured and
supported to some extent with pesticide supply .
[28]
Harvesting: The first planting is harvested in
November/December and the second in May/June.
Fields are drained about 7 to 10 days prior to harvesting.
Harvesting is done either manually using a sickle, or by
mechanical means. Rice husks are either burnt, or kept
at strategic places around the farms for cattle
consumption. Stubble can be incorporated to provide
nitrogen for a following crop. Farmers use fallow to
rejuvenate the soil .
[49]
Storage and Processing: After the harvest, the panicles
are left in the field for 2 to 3 days, and then pilled up.
The operation can be done in the field or in a threshing
floor. Although harvests are pilled up in the field, cattle
in the dry season always pose a risk to store rice in the
field. About 97% of the rice is transported by head
porterage from the farm to the house. Traditional storage
in jute bags is typically on the bamboo ceilings or
earthen floors of houses. The most important factor for
storage is that the grains are dried to 12% moisture or
less. Sun drying is generally satisfactory. It was found
that in Cameroon, rice milling is a ‘cottage industry’
mainly carried out by small-scale workshops with an
average hourly capacity of 200 kg of milled rice .
[34]
Distribution: There are two basic types of marketing
chains in Cameroon: the first is almost entirely in the
hands of SEMRY and UNVDA, which go directly to the
farm and buy rice from farmers and the second, is local
in which small quantities of rice are brought to rural
markets .
[12,15]
The field realities in Cameroon reveal that women
are mainly involved in activities such as sowing,
weeding, threshing, winnowing, crop processing (drying,
milling, de-stoning) and distribution. Men, on the other
hand are involved in land preparation, field levelling and
clearing the rice field. Both man and women
undertake activities like tilling, transplanting and
harvesting. Most of the farmers make use of family
labour. As a result, work in the rice fields is very labour
intensive, requiring about 10 hours daily. Sometimes,
hired labour is employed .
[7]
Rice Varieties Released in Cameroon since 1950: Rice
was first grown commercially in Cameroon in 1950
after the creation of La Station de Riziculture de Pouss.
In 1951, some 15 varieties were introduced from France,
8. Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008
752
Table 5: Continued
IRAT300 (na), IRAT13 (na) IRAT Lowland Upland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BKN7033-3-3-323 (128), Cisadane (140-145), IKong Pao (115-120), WITA4 (na) NA Irrigated
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taichung 128 (na), D11417 (na), TSX176 (na) NA Lowland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B22 (90-100) Madagascar Lowland Upland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gambiaka Kokum (na) Madagascar Irrigated
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOFIFA 152 (na), FOFIFA 154 (na) Madagascar Upland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CIRAD 141, Lajeado (140), SBT1, SBT25, SBT33, SBT36, SBT65, SBT175,
SBT953, SBT9535 (fragrant, 130-145), Agronorte 147 (110-120), Agronorte 182 (110-120),
SBT43, SBT48, SBT63, SBT98, SBT200, SBT282, SBT1142 (130-145), SBT68, SBT79,
SBT70, SBT94, SBT147, SBT182 (115-125), SBT265 (135-155), Primavera (135) Brazil Lowland Upland
SOURCE: Chaudhary et al., Singh et al. , FAO , Charpentier , Seguy .
[53] [41] [28] [29] [32]
Fig. 2: Average rice production and area harvested in major rice growing regions in Cameroon. Estimated
from Birie-Habas , Deuse , MINAGRI , Engola , Ndame and Briltey , FAOSTAT , Lotsmart and
[37] [22] [5,3] [6] [4] [8]
Mbah .
[12]
among them Rinaldo Bersani, Gros Buffet de Guyanne,
Maroua, Neang Veng, M32, M23. Most of them were
gradually discarded, while Maroua and Neang Veng
became the basis of the industry for more than 10 years.
An early maturation variety, Puang Ngon was selected
in Garoua by La Ferme Toukou and released for
commercial production in 1960 (Table 3). The other
varieties released during the same period were never
successful .
[15,16,36]
Over the period 1965-1985, some 800 varieties have
been tested in Cameroon and about 10 were chosen for
the various ecological zones. Their origins and
characteristics are listed in Table 4. Most of them were
targeted to irrigated environments. In 1970, several
hundred of IR8 were planted in Western Cameroon, but
due to a variety of problems, they have mostly
disappeared. The UNVDA created in 1971 used the first
six years of its existence to experiment on the various
varieties of rice suited for the Ndop ecological zone .
[18]
A breeding program for rainfed varieties was started in
the Mbo Plain in 1970 when a plant breeder was
appointed to the Institute of Agricultural Research for
Development (IRA). Selection within several varieties
from Côte d’Ivoire and Madagascar subsequently
produced IRAT10, IRAT79, IRAT114, IRIM209 and
IRIM208, which became the main varieties in the
region . Until 1980, some Oryza glaberrima
[20,22,36,37,50]
varieties are still grown by some farmers in upland and
rainfed lowland environments . Also, improved
[44,51]
versions of Asian rice were promoted in Cameroon in
the 1960s and 1970s as part of efforts to import Asia’s
“green revolution” to the continent. That hope quickly
9. Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008
753
Fig. 3: Share of rice ecologies in Cameroon, 2005
died, however, as the Asian varieties failed to thrive in
on-farm trials, because they were not adapted to the
Cameroonian environment .
[9,13,50]
The advent of semi-dwarf varieties had a sharp
impact on the rice production in Cameroon. As of 1975,
perhaps 17,000 ha of High Yielding Rice Varieties
(HYRV) were being grown. Of the new varieties, 50%
came from crosses made at the Institut de Recherches
Agronomiques Tropicales (IRAT), 20% at the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 11% at the
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
and several of the rest have parentage from various
organisations and countries (Table 4). In 1975, an
estimated 400 to 500 ha of IR20, IR24 and Jaya (from
India) were being grown in Yagoua. Other varieties
included Taichung 178 and D11417 (origin uncertain).
Some IR8 was still planted. IR22 was tried but was
wiped out by neck blast. IR46 was introduced by IRRI
in 1980 and became the most popular variety in
Northern Cameroon, occupying more than 10,000 ha in
1983. IR46 is remarkable for its ability to yield well
over the whole rice area and when grown under adverse
conditions. An IITA line, ITA 212, which is early
maturing, was also spreading in the same region. Near
Bamenda and the Mbo Plain, the predominant varieties
were Tainan 5, ITA212, ITA222, and CICA8. Two other
lines with superior grain quality, IR7167-33-2-3 and
B2161-MR57-1-3 (Indonesia) were also released in the
region. The country recorded an average yield of 4.5
t.ha-1 from 1983 to 1986. Those varieties became the
basis of the industry .
[28,41,52,53]
Between 1986 and 2000, a number of improved rice
varieties were also released for cultivation like
CISADANE, IR42, IRAT 13 . The Développement
[28,41,53]
Paysannal et Gestion des Terroirs (DPGT) has also
helped introduce several lines between 2000-2004
(Table 5). The project operates under the umbrella of the
Société de Développement du Coton (SODECOTON).
Some thirty varieties have been supplied for trial in
upland and rainfed lowland ecosystems in the Logone
Plain of North Cameroon. Most of those varieties are
early maturing. SBT33, SBT281, SBT1141and B22 have
yielded 2.5-3 t.ha-1 in Kaele and 3-6 t.ha-1 in Karal and
Yaere. Other promising varieties include Gambiaka
kokum and Fofofa 154 from Madagascar, Agronorte 147
and Agronorte 182 from Brazil . WARDA is coming
[29,32]
up with eight promising varieties which will be
distributed to farmers for trial .
[9]
Conclusion: In Cameroon, rice is grown in three
ecological zones: the forest, the savannah and the arid
regions. The production saw a steady growth between
1960 and 1985, both in terms of cultivated areas and
grain yields. But between the period from 1986 to 2005,
the production trends showed a decline mainly because
of the economic crisis of 1987 and the devaluation of
the national currency in 1994. The observation on the
evolution of cultural techniques indicates that rice in
Cameroon is largely produced under irrigated conditions.
Despite this, a considerable proportion of smallholders
still depend on rainfall and the planting season of rice in
most locations occurs at the start of the rainy season.
But even though the traditional peasantry is an historic
provider of the national rice supply, the Cameroonian
Government has done relatively little to stimulate
smallholder production. The traditional rice sector, in
particular, has been seriously neglected. One positive
sign is that farmers are becoming more and more
interested in rice production and have a new opportunity
to revitalize their production using improved varieties.
10. Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008
754
While it is too early to predict how the new varieties
will affect the rice-producing areas of Cameroon, there
is much cause for optimism. The development of high-
yielding varieties however, will not alone boost
Cameroon’s rice production. Looking forward, a key
challenge is to analyze the major constraints of rice
production in Cameroon and the opportunities and future
challenges ahead to better address consumer’s needs.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author is grateful to James Aipa and Chris
Paulus for insightful comments and suggestions.
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![Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 4(6): 745-756, 2008
© 2008, INSInet Publication
Corresponding Author: Piebiep Goufo, Faculty of science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon,
College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, P.R. China.
Email: piebieb@yahoo.fr
745
Rice Production in Cameroon: a Review
Piebiep Goufo
Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon, College of
Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, P.R. China.
Abstract: In Cameroon, rice cultivation dates as far back as the colonial era. Since its independence in
1960, Cameroon has enjoyed better rates of growth in the rice sector than most other countries. The
record, however, is one of stability rather than growth. The production showed a spectacular evolution during
the period from 1960 to 1985, in terms of cultivated areas and grain yields. However, rice prices dropping
in the nineties, followed by an economic crisis and the devaluation of the local currency, the CFA in 1994,
Cameroon went from self-sufficiency in rice production to dependence on imports and, eventually, food aid.
The support to irrigated rice production has been greatly reduced during the recent past. One also observed
a decline in fertilizers, pesticides and tractors use, poor input responsiveness of local varieties and slow
release of improved varieties. Today, rice production is almost in the hands of the smallholder or peasant
sector which produces an overwhelming 93% of total output. In 2005, the production supplied only 13% of
Cameroonian consumption. Since the difference in demand is made up by imports which are continually
increasing, special attention needs to be given to developing rice production in the country.
Key words: Cameroon, rice, production systems, production zones, varieties
INTRODUCTION
Cameroon is the most populous country in Central
Africa, with a population of over 18 million people.
Despite being the fifth biggest oil producer in Sub-
Saharan Africa, the backbone of its economy is
agriculture. With agro-processing an important part of
Cameroonian’s industry, agriculture is the livelihood
basis for over 60% of the population and accounts for
about 23% of the Gross Domestic Product and two-
thirds of the labour force. The staple foods eaten by the
people of Cameroon vary from region to region,
depending on climate, and what is grown locally. The
major food crops are yam, cassava, plantains and
bananas. Other staple food crops include oil palm,
maize, groundnuts, beans and potato in the South and
East, and millet, sorghum, rice and maize in the North.
These staples represent the main source of calories and
proteins and an important part of the expenditures and
incomes of households .
[1,2]
Since the 1970's, demographic growth has led to a
sharp increase in food demand in the country which in
turn has brought about quantitative and/or qualitative
deficiency in agricultural production. The Cameroonian
population has increased almost 4-fold since the
independence in 1960 with an annual growth rate of
2.5%. Despite the expansion of agricultural production
over the past 15 years, particularly of maize and
cassava, the country has not been able to achieve self-
sufficiency in food production and the progress has been
insufficient to solve the problem of chronic malnutrition
of about one million people in the country. Cameroon
had a relatively high population growth rate of 2.8% in
the period 1995-2005. The trend of food production was
however, a downward one and is today estimated at
2.2%. That inevitably led to a decrease in food
production per capita. For instance, the rate of self-
sufficiency for cereals decreased from 97% in 1961/63
to 88% between 1971 and 1973, 84% between 1981 and
1983 and only 59% for the 1988/90 period. Per capita
annual consumption of cereals in Far-North Province
was 110 kg in 2000; this figure is far below 150 kg per
person recommended by UNICEF . Although the data
[3,4]
does not take into consideration total production and
consumption within the country, it is however
indicative of the food insecurity that threatens the
population. About 40% of Cameroon population live
below the national poverty line and spend about one-
third of their income on food. Moreover, 14% of the
children were underweight in 1990-2005 . Based on
[1]
these factors, it is a reasonable assumption that the food-
insecure population has increased both in absolute and
relative term.
Of all the staple crops in Cameroon, rice has risen
to a position of pre-eminence, becoming the most
rapidly growing food source for millions of people. The](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/0046352b60861f1df3000000-150420104733-conversion-gate01/85/0046352b60861f1df3000000-pdf-1-320.jpg)
![Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008
746
budget survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture
in 1984 indicated an average annual consumption
of 11.5 kg rice per capita for the entire country,
rice accounting only for 5.2% of the food expenditure
of households . Since then, rice consumption in the
[5,6]
country has risen tremendously, at about 8% per
annum and today, 95% of the population eats rice at
least once a week . Domestic production has never
[7]
been able to meet the demand, leading to considerable
imports which today stand at about 400 thousand
tons yearly and account for 87% of the country needs .
[8]
Given the fact that Cameroon is endowed with
important land and water resources for food production,
rising rice imports are arousing growing concern all
over the country. Consequently immediate action and
long-term efforts are needed to alleviate the past and
increase rice production in Cameroon. The Dar Es
Salaan declaration is categorical on this. It insists
that food sufficiency in general and rice self-sufficiency
in particular, will only be achieved when domestic
production is integrated as a priority at the
national level .
[9]
This paper is motivated by the fact that the
Cameroonian Government has recently expressed the
need to restructure its rice sector. In the framework of
crop diversification and income generation, rice is seen
as a potential crop for the country to put an end to
hunger, generate income for the poor and by 2015 be
able to achieve the United Nations Millennium
Development Goal (MDG) of reducing extreme poverty
by half. Despite the widespread concerns and interests
on the issue however, there is no comprehensive
literature available providing information on the past and
current situation of rice production in the country. So
there is a need to gather all information on the subject
and made it available to policy makers. In this study, the
evolution of rice production in Cameroon since the
colonial era is reviewed. An effort is also given to
understand the underlying reasons for the actual low
production level.
Zones of Rice Cultivation in Cameroon: The Republic
of Cameroon is administratively divided into 10
provinces covering four geographical regions: the
western lowlands, which extend along the Gulf of
Guinea coast; the western highlands, which consist of
forested volcanic mountains, including Mount
Cameroon; the central region, which extends eastward to
the border with the Central African Republic; and the
northern region, which is essentially a vast tropical plain
that slopes down to the Chad Basin. Rice is grown
mainly in two agro-ecological zones, the Western
Highlands (North-West and West Provinces) and the
Northern region (North and Far-North Provinces), but
it's also found on smaller areas in the Centre, South-East
and East Provinces. The major rice cultivation projects
in the country are in Maroua and Kousseri in the Far-
North Province and Ndop in the North-West Province
(Figure 1).
The Northern Region: North Cameroon is situated at
1,100 m above sea level. The climate is tropical, usually
described as sudano-guinean, with a characteristic
unimodal rainfall pattern . Two major seasons are
[10]
prevalent, the wet season which runs from April (mean
precipitations of 128.8 mm) to October (107.2 mm) and
the dry season from November to March. Mean relative
humidity and temperature are 0.673 and 22.0 C,
o
respectively. Minimum and maximum temperatures are
10 and 34 C, respectively. Average annual rainfall is
o
800-1200 mm falling mainly between early May and
late October. The hottest months are from November to
January. Natural vegetation is woody savannah .
[11]
Livestock is important in the region, particularly for the
migrant cattle herders, the Fulani. Cereals occupy 80%
of the total area under cultivation while cotton and
peanut account for 12% and 5% respectively. Rice
cultivation covers 25% of that area . The Far-North
[6]
Province has the highest rice production area in
Cameroon and account for 85% of total production
(Figure 2). The Société d’Expansion et de Modernisation
de la Riziculture de Yagoua (SEMRY) is charged with
the supervision of the whole operation of rice in the
province and has established three stations in the region,
namely SEMRY I (Yagoua), SEMRY II (Maga), and
SEMRY III (Logone et Chari in Kousserie). Rice is also
grown along the Lagdo valley in the North Province by
the Toupori, Guiziga and Matal, but in minor
importance. Cameroon officials estimate that
approximately 1,000 ha of land is cultivated to rice by
some 11,000 traditional food farmers in the region .
[4]
The Western Highlands: Rice production in the
Western Highlands is concentrated in the North-West
province, but it's also found on smaller areas in the
West Province. The Western Highlands lies between
latitudes 5°20' and 7° North and longitude 9°40' and
11°10' East of the Equator, with a surface area covering
1/6 of the country’s land area (17,910 km ). Altitudes
2
range from 300 to 3000 m above sea level. The climate
of the region is characterized by two main seasons: a
dry season from November to mid March and a rainy
season from mid March to October. The annual average
rainfall varies between 1300-3000 mm with a mean of
2000 mm. Minimum and maximum temperatures have
means of 15.50°C and 24.5°C, respectively; although
temperatures can rise above 30°C. The region is
dominated by high volcanic mountains with fertile soils
(hydromorphic, volcanic and ferralitic), an area which
has traditionally been the most densely populated part of](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)