Analysis of Agri-Food Trade Structures
To Promote Agri-Food Trade Networks
In the Islamic Countries
97
Cote d’Ivoire, and Mali which share similar ecological and market structure characteristics. Most
solutions to the challenges they face encompass multi-country simultaneous actions.
In 2012, with the market innovation, the government introduced The Economic Program of
Spatial Planning for the Promotion of Medium and Large Enterprises in the Rural Sector in
Cameroon (Agropole).93 The Agropole Program aims to support and align the interventions of
sectoral ministries and public and private institutions concerned with the promotion of agro-
forestry and pastoral enterprises of medium and small size. Key objectives of the Agropole
program include the identification and management of production basins through the
development of accompanying socio-economic infrastructure in these sites; and
technical/financial monitoring of services and projects. Thus, the implementation framework
prioritizes human and institutional capacity building94
In this vein, the Cameroonian government also introduced the Livestock Development Project
(PRODEL). Funded by the World Bank, the project targets three strategic priority livestock
segments of production that are important for security/national supply and for their
comparative advantage on the regional markets. They are: pastoral systems, mixed crop-
livestock systems and commercial systems. Targeted species are cattle, small ruminants (sheep
and goats), pigs, and poultry.95 Key project areas include: (i) Improvement of livestock services
access and delivery; (ii) Improvement of pastoral productivity, access to markets, and resilience
of pastoral communities; (iii) Support to livestock value chains development and (iv) Project
coordination, management, communication.96 A focus on enhanced livestock value chains
matches data from this case study which reveals that edible agri-food products of animal origin
are the top exports for OIC countries who also belong to CEMAC. Moreover, the success of this
projects has essential benefits for rural households in Cameroon's most impoverished areas and
is therefore crucial for poverty reduction priorities.
The Cameroon government has not only focused on enhancing comparative advantage but has
also targeted value chain development in some of its vital sites of import dependence through
the Agricultural Competitiveness Improvement Project (PACA). PACA is a World Bank-financed
project with a seven-year time frame. Launched in 2010, it sought to develop rural infrastructure
facilities, and invest in value chains such as maize and rice cultivation. Rice, in particular, was a
target of these measures because it remains a crucial site of import dependence. Cameroon
received 429,864 tons from its trading partners in 2008.97 There is evidence of PACA’s success
by some metrics. At its close in December 2016, the Implementation Completion Report (ICR)
found that average marketed quantities of rice, maize, banana, plantain, poultry/pork all saw
increments between 2009 and 2014.98 The project was able to ensure even farmers had access
to improved irrigation/technologies, training and capacity building in the technical aspects of
farming practices.99 However, it was noted that the initiative’s design focused more on the
production side of targeted value chains, and should have put more effort on strengthening
93 Canada- Cameroon Chamber of Commerce. (2012). “Programmes De Agripoles”.
agropoles
94 Ibid.
95 The World Bank. (2016). International Development Association Project Appraisal Document on Proposed Credit to
Republic of Cameroon for Livestock Development Project.. Report No.PAD 1664
96 Ibid., pp. 10.
97 G. Nkwain. (2013) “Rice: Solving Demand/Supply Inequality.” Business in Cameroon 10: 6.
98 Ibid.
99 The World Bank. 2016. Independent Evaluation Group- CM Agricultural Competitiveness Project. Washington, D.C.: World
Bank. Pp. 7