Cameroon is pushing forward its second-generation agricultural policy by distributing tractors to agropoles in the Centre Region, aiming to sharply increase maize and cassava production as part of a broader plan to industrialise the sector.
On March 31 in Yaoundé, the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) handed over the tractors to agricultural organisations operating in Ntui and Nkolmetet.
The initiative is designed to accelerate private sector-led production and processing, raise output volumes, and improve productivity in key staple crops.
It also aligns with national efforts to modernise farming, reduce labour intensity, and expand agro-industrial capacity, Business in Cameroon reported.
In Ntui, located in the Mbam and Kim Division, the agropole received an 80-horsepower tractor to complement two previously allocated tractor kits.
With 120 hectares already developed, maize production at the site is expected to rise from 274 tonnes to 1,650 tonnes annually.
In Nkolmetet, in the Nyong and So’o Division, the agropole, already active in cassava cultivation, received two tractors of 100 and 80 horsepower, equipped with a plough, sprayer, and ridger.
With 20 hectares developed, output is projected to increase from 600 to 800 tonnes per year, alongside expanded processing into cassava sticks, starch, and bread-grade flour.
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MINEPAT Inspector General Jaël Christine Mbamband said the government expects the equipment to deliver measurable production gains and support the shift toward semi-mechanised, intensive farming systems.
The distribution forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen agricultural value chains by linking production with processing and market supply.
“These machines are an additional support to everything we already receive from the government. These tractors will enable us to move from traditional agriculture to semi-mechanised intensive farming. We will improve our yields and even our productivity,” said Célestin Lucien Ndzana, a beneficiary and agropole official.
Beyond higher production, the tractors are expected to ease operational challenges, improve efficiency in land preparation and cultivation, and make agriculture more attractive to younger workers and women.
By increasing mechanisation, authorities aim to tackle structural bottlenecks in production while supporting downstream industries that rely on maize and cassava derivatives.
The programme underscores the economic importance of agricultural transformation in Cameroon, where boosting domestic production and processing capacity remains key to reducing import dependence, stabilising food supply chains, and supporting rural economic activity.
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Image Credit: Niger State Government
