Cocoa Farmers in Cameroon Receive huge quality premiums

H.E Paul Biya, President of the Republic of Cameroon loves agriculture. He believes the soil in Cameroon is very fertile and urges Cameroonians to return to the soil and cultivate crops as the yields can make a difference in all homes.

In an attempt to promote agriculture and appreciate the efforts of the hard working farmers who did not only produce good grade 1 cocoa, but ensured their produce performed well in the international markets, for the second edition put together a whopping sum of FCFA 1,824,541,440 (One Billion Eight Hundred and Twenty Four Million Five Hundred and Forty One Thousand Four Hundred and Forty Francs to 26,225 farmers across Cameroon.

The mission started on November 3rd 2022 in Monatele in the Lekie Division and ended on December 28th In Buea in Fako Division. A joint commission presided over by The Minister of Trade, H.E Luc Magloire Atangana Mbarga, with committee chairman, Michael NDOPING, General Manager of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board, The Cocoa and Coffee Inter-Professional Council and Le Fonds de Développement des filières Cacao et Café (FODECC) (The Paymasters) during an 8 week period toured 22 divisions of Cameroon.

The cocoa producing basins who received these quality premiums were: Lekie, Nyong et Mfoumou, Haute Sanaga, Nyong et Kelle, Sanaga Maritime, Bouma et Ngoko, Lom et Djerem, Haut-Nyong, Mefou et Afamba, Dja et Lobo, Mvila, Nyong et So’o, Valee et Ntem, Ocean, Mefou et Akono, Menoua, Nkam, Haut-Nkam, Nde, Moungo, Mbam et Inoubou, Mbam et Kim et Fako.

Key Figures to keep in mind for these premiums:

Period – 2018/19 and 2019/20 Cocoa Seasons

Total Tonnage Qualified – 45,613,536 kilograms

Number of Beneficiaries - 26,225 cocoa farmers

Amount Disbursed - FCFA 1,824,541,440