Cameroon’s aquaculture sector is taking decisive steps to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imports through a 10-day intensive training course launched on 2 December 2025, titled “From School-Leaving Certificate to Dinner Plate.”
Organised by the Support Centre for the Development of Aquaculture and Hydroculture in Cameroon (CADAHC) in partnership with the Support Program for the Development of the Livestock Sector and Livestock Value Chains (PADESCE), the programme brings together 26 participants for hands-on instruction in modern fish farming and processing.
It aims to boost local production and add value through products such as fish sausage, according to Business in Cameroon.
The training focuses on two critical parts of the aquaculture value chain: intensive production of table fish, notably tilapia and catfish, and processing harvested fish into longer-lasting, marketable products.
The first phase covers intensive and semi-intensive pond systems, including water-quality management, species selection, health management, and feeding regimens.
The second phase introduces fish sausage processing to diversify products beyond fresh or smoked fillets, extend shelf life, and provide producers with higher margins.
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At the opening ceremony, the director of CADAHC praised participants for their commitment and assured them of the centre’s support in becoming “major players of their own success.”
The initiative forms part of a broader CADAHC-PADESCE contract aligned with the government’s strategic focus on aquaculture as a pillar of national food security and import substitution.
Despite this focus, Cameroon’s aquaculture production remains modest. According to the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA), national output is below 20,000 tonnes annually, far short of the 400,000-tonne demand.
World Bank data shows production at 14,854 tonnes in 2023. This gap has led to heavy imports of fishery products, straining the trade balance.
The government aims to increase fish production from 225,000 tonnes in 2024 to 600,000 tonnes by 2027, a 166.7% rise under its integrated fish import-substitution plan.
The CADAHC-PADESCE training aligns with this goal by enhancing technical capacity, supporting industrialisation, boosting supply, retaining value locally, and reducing dependence on imports as part of the state’s broader development strategy.
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Image Credit: Reuters
