Dr. Taïga, Cameroon’s Minister of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries, inaugurated the Cameroon Cooperative Farm (FCC) in Bamendjou, located in the West Region. This agro-industrial complex, valued at 6 billion CFA francs (approximately USD 10.6 million), was initiated by Dr. Pascal Talla, a Cameroonian surgeon residing in Switzerland. His investment responds to the Head of State’s call for the diaspora to invest in productive sectors.
The facility includes two production buildings that house 80,000 laying hens, which can produce 75,000 eggs daily. Additionally, the farm features a self-sufficient feed manufacturing unit with a capacity of 4 tons per hour, a chick hatchery capable of accommodating 40,000 chicks, a poultry slaughtering unit, and a satellite facility in Bamena dedicated to producing egg trays.
Lowering Costs and Boosting Local Production
Designed as an integrated project, the FCC aims to reduce the poultry sector’s reliance on imported inputs and enhance its resilience against price fluctuations. The farm also seeks to empower local producers by supplying the market with quality chicks and feed.
“We chose this sector because it supports agriculture, the local market, and food security all at once,” said Dr. Pascal Talla, highlighting the project’s social and economic mission.
The farm has benefited from the 2013 law, revised in 2017, which provides incentives for private investment. This law grants tax and customs exemptions for projects considered strategic.
According to Minister Taïga, this initiative aligns perfectly with the government’s import-substitution policy. “This unit will further strengthen our poultry sector’s self-sufficiency. Everything we consume is now produced locally,” he stated. With the rising demand for poultry products, such integrated units could help stabilize the market, which is often susceptible to price volatility due to factors such as feed shortages, chick supply issues, or outbreaks like avian influenza.
Caution from Past Setbacks
While the Bamendjou farm is generating excitement, recent history advises caution. In 2011, the Société des Produits Avicoles du Cameroun (SPAC) invested 5 billion CFA francs in a slaughtering facility in Bafang, but it went bankrupt just months after its launch. As explained by the Minister of Finance in Parliament in 2022, this failure was due to unsustainable production costs.
The success of the FCC will, therefore, depend on its ability to remain competitive, secure stable markets, and control costs in an unpredictable environment.
Despite facing repeated challenges from avian flu outbreaks, Cameroon’s poultry sector has demonstrated resilience. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS), broiler production increased by 18% in 2021, reaching 52,600 tons. Poultry now accounts for 19% of the country’s total meat supply, making it the second-largest source of animal protein. The introduction of strategic projects like the FCC could bolster this momentum, provided that past mistakes are avoided and sustainable models are established, supported by well-organized and competitive value chains.
