Analysis of Agri-Food Trade Structures
To Promote Agri-Food Trade Networks
In the Islamic Countries
95
are reduced.73 A study supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and
Development found that existing innovations in the sector were mainly in the following areas:
 New varieties of crops and livestock (NCV);
 Soil fertility improvement/management/enhancement (SFM);
 Processing and packaging especially for food and cash crops (PP);
 Agroforestry techniques (AT);
 Pests and diseases management (PDM);
 Capacity building of farmers/producers (CBF);
 Non-conventional livestock rearing (NCLR);
 Market improvement (MI); and
 Agricultural shows, open and field days (AS). 74
These findings align with specific developments in cocoa, cork/wood and cotton, three of
Cameroon's dominant agri-food commodities.
Cocoa
Cocoa has been a leading export crop of Cameroon representing 11.56%of total exports in 2016.
Main weaknesses of this sector include “high volatility of farm gate price, stakeholder
uncertainty due to potentially changing policy and several ministries and public agencies
involved in sector policy/implementation without functional coordinating mechanisms.”75
Moreover, poor post-harvest practices result in low-quality cocoa that is subsequently
discounted.76 Insufficient agricultural extension services, insufficient inputs from public
agencies and ministries, a market dominated by a small number of buyers, few donor projects
and sustainability involvement in comparison with other countries, a low organization of
farmers and no financial services all create ample opportunities for policy and program
development.77
The institutional framework for cocoa production in Cameroon includes the National Coffee and
Cocoa Board (NCCB) which "coordinates and facilitates the sector; including control of cocoa
bean quality for export, promoting Cameroon origin cocoa, collecting statistics for
commercialization and representing the industry internationally”.78 Farmers, buyers,
transporters, and exporters are represented by the Inter-professional Council of Cocoa and
Coffee which implements programs to “develop a new generation of farmers, adapt to climate
change, improve access to finance, develop good agricultural practices etc.”79 Other bodies
include the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), the Ministry of Trade
which is responsible for commercialization, and the Ministry of Finance which provides funding
for projects in other ministries. 80 These ministries implement a variety of projects but have
73 Okolle J.N., P.M. Oumarou, A.D. Almeck, F. Ntam et al. (2015) Status of Agricultural Innovations, Innovation Platforms, and
Innovations Investment. PARI project country report: Republic of Cameroon. Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA),
Accra Ghana.
74 Ibid, pp. 6
75 Suedwind Institute. (2016). “Strengthening the competitiveness of cocoa production and improving the income of cocoa
producers in West and Central Africa.”
76 Ibid pp. 31
77 Ibid.
78 Ibid. p.30
79 Ibid.
80 Ibid.