Cameroon, May 2023

The Cameroon NRDS2 validation workshop

Background and objectives

Due to the pandemic of COVID-19, the Cameroon NRDS 2 development process had been delayed. It was relaunched in September 2022, with a national proofreading workshop that resulted in a first draft of NRDS2. Amendments for improvement suggested by the CARD Secretariat have been taken into consideration by core members of NRDS Taskforce team during a retreat organized by the “Cellule des Analyses Prospectives et des Politiques Agricoles (CAPPA)” of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) from 18 to 20 January 2023. This version was then finalized after the CARD Secretariat’s final observations. It is this latest version that was submitted to the validation workshop. Attended by around 90 rice value chain stakeholders at national and regional levels, the validation workshop was held in Yaoundé on May 17, 2023.

The overall objective of the workshop was to: (i) present the orientations and actions of the NRDS2 draft document with the aim of a good appropriation by rice stakeholders; and (ii) ensure that the document with enrichment proposals is considered and validated at the national level, as the only reference for all interventions related to rice sector over the period 2023-2030. The draft document had been sent to all participants 10 days before the validation workshop.

The specific objectives of the workshop were to: (i) review both the draft NRDS2 document and the draft proposal for creation of a platform for promoting collaboration within the rice sector in Cameroon; (ii) ensure for the NRDS2 document that the amendments and contributions of participants during the previous workshop are taken into account; (iii) proceed with the adoption of the NRDS2 document; and (iv) define the way forward for the NRDS2 document.

It is important to note that the draft proposal for creation of a platform is the first written thoughts on this structure presented by MINADER as a step towards the establishment of an inter-professional body of the rice sector, thus contributing to a better governance of this sector in Cameroon.

Opening ceremony

Firstly, there were the speeches of the representatives of the CARD Secretariat, JICA, FAO Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa and FAO Representation in Gabon. Afterwards, the Minister officially opened the validation workshop. He thanked the CARD Secretariat and JICA for their valuable support. According to him, the NRDS2 is a clear and forward-looking strategy, taking appropriate approaches whose objective is to modernize production and achieve a rate of 97% in rice self-sufficiency by 2030. He also hoped that 40% of the financing requirements will be met by the private sector and stressed that the Government would work towards a better rice farmers’ access to inputs and machinery.

Following the Minister’s key notes, the opening ceremony was concluded with the presentation of the NRDS2 draft document by the NRDS Focal Point (FP).

Results of the validation workshop

In the light of the above-mentioned objectives, the results registered are both for the final version of the NRDS2 draft document and the document on the rice platform.

1. Results with regard to the final version of the NRDS2 

There were several questions from participants. Some concerned requests for clarification which were satisfied, while others were related to improvements to the document. The main improvements suggested to be made are: (i) addition of a concrete strategy to further attract interests of the private sector for their involvement in the rice value chain; (ii) to focus and encourage the mechanization of post-harvest operations, including particularly the Centre d’Etudes et d’Expérimentation du Machinisme Agricole (CENEEMA), a public company attached to the MINADER and responsible for promoting the mechanization of agriculture; and (iii) further elaboration of the section on the Monitoring and Evaluation System. For the latter, a consensus was made that the upcoming CARD M&E Baseline Study should fill the gap. For all other suggestions for improvements, the concerned participants were asked to write down their contributions and send them quickly to the NRDS FP.

The NRDS2 strategy document was then formally adopted subject to taking into account the different recommendations for improvement. After the incorporation of these recommendations, the final version will be considered as an official document, and a component of the “Stratégie de Développement du Secteur Rural / Plan National d’Investissement Agricole (SDSR / PNIA) 2020-2030.” 

2. Results with regard to the rice platform 

For the creation of the rice platform, the main steps identified are: (i) the establishment of working groups including all relevant actors and line ministries; (ii) the preparation of the draft statutes; (iii) the identification of operational activities; (iv) the sensitization of the various actors at national / regional level; and (v) the first General Assembly, including the adoption of the statutes and the election of the bureau. 

Way forward for the NRDS2 document

The way forward is the following :

1. Incorporation of all proposed improvements: At latest in 2 weeks from Monday May 22, 2023.
2. Share the final version of the NRDS2 document with the core team members for final approval.
3. Multiplication of the document (hard paper and electronic version) that will be sent to all stakeholders, and
4. Elaboration of Concept Notes and Fund Matching with the CARD Secretariat’s support.