Evaluating the Constraints and Opportunities for ...

Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 4(6): 734-744, 2008 © 2008, INSInet Publication

Evaluating the Constraints and Opportunities for Sustainable Rice Production in Cameroon Piebiep Goufo Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, P.R. China. Abstract: In Cameroon, economic factors have driven more and more people into the agricultural sector. Today food production constitutes an important component in the livelihood strategies of many farmers. Given the increasing rice consumption trend in the country, rice self sufficiency is seen as a means to achieve food security. The per capita consumption in the country in 2006 was about 23 kg rice equivalents, compared to 2 kg in 1960. The country has highly favorable resources for increasing its production; however, it will not happen automatically. For Cameroonian rice farmers to be able to fully realize sustainable production a number of obstacles need to be tackled and supportive agricultural policies adopted. This paper underlines major constraints to increase rice production in Cameroon. Proposals are also made for the sustainable development of the sector. Key words: Rice production, Cameroon, consumption, imports, constraints, opportunities, Challenges grown faster than total production [4 ]. This is of course, in addition to a shift in consumer preference. Rice demand today exceeds production and large quantities of rice are imported to meet the country requirements, at huge expense in term of hard currency. According to FAO [3 ], only 6% of the total world rice production is traded. W orld rice reserves, estimated at 80.6 million tones in 2005-2006, are at the lowest level since 1983-1984. These stocks represent less than 2 months of consumption and half of the stocks are being held by China. Rice prices are rising and are expected to double in the next couple of years. That has serious implications for Cameroon because 87% of the country’s demand for rice is being met by imports. That low level of global reserves is too limited to rely on. Cameroon should urgently reconsider its domestic production to avoid the looming crisis. Ishii[5 ] puts it clearly: “rice can save Africa”. Accordingly, the expansion of rice production is very timely indeed. Much has been done since the independence to promote agricultural development. It is through such efforts that Cameroon has discovered rice as one of the crops that can be grown and contribute to the solution of the food problem. Cameroon has an immense untapped potential to produce more rice than it needs. Research has proved that rice can be grown and is in fact being grown in Cameroon’s three ecological zones: the forest, the savannah and the arid regions [6 ,7 ,8 ]. Unfortunately, rice growing in Cameroon is plagued by many constraints requiring urgent attention.

INTRODUCTION Until the 1990s, rice in Cameroon was considered as a western crop and a delicacy eaten only on feast days or special occasions like Christmas [1 ]. During the past three decades however, the crop has seen a steady increase in demand. Now, a larger section of population prefers to eat rice on a daily basis rather than cooking only on ceremonial occasions. Rice today is the staple food in many families and constitutes a major part of the diet in many others. Per capita consumption has increased from 2.3 kg in 1961 to 22.4 kg in 2005 (Table 1). Rice cultivation in Cameroon started in the early 1930 [2 ]. By creating the Société d’Expansion et de Modernisation de la Riziculture de Yagoua (SEMRY) in 1954, the Upper Noun Valley Development Authority (UNVDA) in 1974 and the Société de Développent de la Riziculture dans la Plaine de Mbo (SODERIM ) in 1978, the Cameroonian Government was motivated inter alia, by the desire to increase national rice production to meet the country’s consumption level and raise the standard of living of the population. To some extent, by 1985, the Government succeeded in its mission. The worrying factor is, however, that the country has never been able to keep self-sufficiency in rice. W orld production trends indicate that Cameroon had one of the greatest increases in production between 1961 and 2005 with an expansion by over 1500% [3 ]. Although this figure can look significant, the record, however, is one of stability rather than growth. The Cameroonian population has

Corresponding Author: Piebiep Goufo, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, P.R. China. Email: [email protected] 734

Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 734-744, 2008 This paper analyses the general trend of rice consumption and import in Cameroon, exploring the reasons for the stagnation of production and its implications for the goal of food security in the country. It also suggests ways to improving the sector and highlights the opportunities and challenges for achieving rice self-sufficiency.

survey conducted by the Association Camerounaise de Défense des Intérêts des Consommateurs (ACDIC) [1 0 ], indicates that three out of four homes consume rice three to four times a week and almost 3% of the population eat rice on a daily basis. Cameroonian rice consumers’ preferences are indicated in figure 1. Though rice contributes a significant proportion of the food requirements of the Cameroonian population, production capacity is far below the national annual consumption of about 400,000 tons. Internal production could only meet 13% of the country’s need. In order to meet the increasing demand, Cameroon has had to resort to importation of milled rice to bridge the gap between domestic demand and supply.

Rice Consumption and Demand in Cameroon: During this century, rice gradually became a staple food for consumers in Cameroon. The consumption of rice has increased much faster than that of other food crops and according to previsions at the national and the international level, this is likely to continue for some time [9 ,1 0 ] . From 1961 to 2005, Cameroon increased consumption by almost 8,000 tones per year reaching the level of 18-22 kg per capita of paddy rice equivalent to a daily intake of 120-150 calories. Total consumption of white rice rose from 12,210 tones in 1961 to about 142,490 tones in 1990 with an annual growth rate of 8.5%. During the 1960’s Cameroon had one of the lowest annual growth rate of total consumption and per capita consumption of rice in the sub-region, 4% and 1% respectively. Per-capita consumption during the 1960’s averaged 3 kg and reached 15 kg in 1995-1999. Since then, Cameroonian consumption levels have grown significantly at 5% per annum (Table 1). A combination of various factors seems to have triggered the structural increase in rice consumption in Cameroon: rapid population growth and urbanization amongst other reasons are the most important [1 1 ,1 2 ,1 3 ]. The urbanization rate, which was 17% in 1960, rose to 41% in 1990 and now stands around 52% [4 ]. Associated with the rapid urbanization were changes in familial occupational structures. Meal preparation is very time consuming in Cameroon. The preparation of fufu, for example, can take 2 to 3 days. On the other hand, rice is easy to preserve, cook, handle and serve, thereby reducing the chore of food preparation. The shift in consumer preference from the other traditional food crops can also be explained by improved standards of living of many Cameroonian families 14 years after the devaluation of the CFA franc. The falling of rice prices by about 50% over the period of 1985-1990 further explained why rice has became a staple food in Cameroon (Table 2). The rice prices in 1988-1990 in Cameroon were relatively stables, recording only an annual increase of 4.5% compared to other products like bread (5.8%), cassava (11%), cocoyam (13%), yam (17.4%), and plantain (19.8%) (Table 3) [1 4 ,1 5 ,1 6 ]. W ith its not withstanding cost, consumers have been the main beneficiaries and rice is no longer a luxury food in Cameroon. It is estimated that for the Cameroonian poor, food purchases account for over 50% of total expenditures of which rice accounts for 75%. The

Rice Import and Outside Aid in Cameroon: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), food import surges in some developing countries for the period 1999 to 2003. Cameroon was one of the countries, which witnessed the most prevalent and frequent surges with rice identified as the most affected commodity [1 3 ]. In Cameroon, rice import was very insignificant in the 1960s with 3.46 thousand tons in 1963. However, there was a phenomenal rise in imports since 1970. Between 1961 and 2000, Cameroon had spent about $420 million on rice importation alone, an average annual import value of $11 million. In 2000, the total import bill of rice was $28.59 million. From 2000 to 2005, rice imports to Cameroon increased nearly 100% while domestic rice production remained fairly stable (Table 1). This is despite the increased tariffs and taxes ordered by the G overnment as responses to the surges and injuries. Table 4 gives the list of the major countries exporting rice to Cameroon in 2005 with China being the first. The situation has changed recently and Thailand actually occupies the first position [1 7 ]. Today, Cameroon is a net importer of rice with a yearly average of 400 thousand tonnes, and is amongst the chief importers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although import data is presented, however statistics are far from reflecting the reality in the field and must be discussed with great reserve because they do not take into account parallel imports and international food aid. The country has become increasingly dependant on outside aid [1 8 ]. The first FAO record for rice food aid in Cameroon indicates that about 2 thousand tons was received in 1978. Since then, food aid received from various countries and international organizations shows and increasing trend and has been increasing steadily from 2.5 thousand tons in 1980 to 9.2 thousand in 1990 (Table 1). The small decline between 1990 and 2000 could be attributed to the rumours of corruption and misuse of food aid by local authorities. Under the United States Department of Agriculture Food for 735

Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 734-744, 2008 Table 1: Y ear

Evolution of production, im port, food aid, export and consum ption of rice in Cam eroon, 1961-2005. Production Im ports Im ports Food aid Exports Total consum ption Per capita (000 t) (000 t) (m illion $U S) (000 t) (000 t) (000 t) use (kg/year) 1961 4 8.21 1.09 12.21 2.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1965 13 9.42 1.44 22.42 3.8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1970 14 7.79 1.40 21.79 3.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1975 30 1.71 0.91 3.38 31.71 5.0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1980 46 20.72 6.44 2.5 6.12 74.43 8.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1985 107 47.76 10.52 11.3 9.77 114.73 11.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1990 55 90.29 26.59 9.2 0.31 142.40 12.4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1995 62 124.14 26.09 4.4 0.09 179.41 13.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2000 61 158.21 28.59 4.9 NA 275.12 18.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2005 53 301.10 85.23 11.2 NA 388.41 22.4 SO U RCE: Estim ated from M IN AGRI[9 ], USD A [1 8], FAO STAT [3 ], - = m agnitude zero Table 2: International prices ($U S/t FO B) of selected types of rice, 1980-2000 Y ear Thai rice, 2 n d grade 100% Thai rice, 5% broken U S rice, long grain no2 (4% ) Pakistan rice, Basm ati (40-45% ) 1980 241 395 391 600 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1985 188 222 361 651 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1990 278 315 332 564 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1995 336 284 371 586 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2000 207 241 271 NA SOURCE: FAOSTAT [3 ] Table 3: Applied tariffs (1000 FCFA/t) for rice in Cam eroon, 1961-2005 Y ear Governm ent support/procurem ent Farm harvest W hole sale Retail price (rough or m illed rice) (rough rice) (m illed rice) (m illed rice) 1961 14 8 65 72 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1965 14 8 65 72 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1970 16 12.5 65 79 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1975 30 20 115 147 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1980 45 37.5 134 149 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1985 78 70 171 190 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1990 80 75 151 195 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1995 NA NA NA 365 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2000 NA NA NA 325 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2005 NA NA NA 450 SOURCE: ACDIC [1 0] , FAOSTAT [3 ]

Progress Program (USDAFPP), the country received 21,000 metric tons of rice in 2003, 10,000 in 2004 and 11,000 in 2005, It is pertinent to point out that since the launching of that initiative by the United States, Cameroon has been the largest recipient [1 0 ,1 8 ].

The major factors triggering the surge of rice imports in Cameroon stem back to the trade reforms implemented by the Government in the framework of its Structural Adjustment Polices (SAP) after the devaluation of the CFA franc in 1994. It is pointed

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 734-744, 2008 Table 4: M ajor exporters of rice towards Cam eroon, 2004 Country Q uantity (000 t) Value (m illion $U S) China 128.97 27.44 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pakistan 23.84 5.07 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thailand 23.61 5.02 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------India 16.57 3.53 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Vietnam 7.60 1.62 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Burm a 4.08 0.87 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------France 2.79 0.59 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------U SA 1.84 0.39 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Singapore 1.79 0.38 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Taiwan 1.35 0.29 SO U RCE: Calculated from ACD IC [1 0]

rice productivity and production [1 9 ,2 0 ]. Enormous capital investment was required to develop irrigated infrastructures for almost half a century despite the fact that the result was insignificant. Other ecosystems like upland and rainfed lowland were considered as a waste land. Ngwa [8 ] estimates at 3.4 billion CFA francs the sum allocated to UNVDA from 1977 to 1995. Between 1954 and 1990, SEM RY invested 40-50 billion CFA francs into the Logone project [1 4 ,1 5 ]. Some authors have also suggested that the creation of SEMRY in the northern region of Cameroon was aimed more at the Nigerian market than Cameroon and could explain the low competitiveness of local production [1 5 ] . Rice continues to be the most protected commodity in many countries except Cameroon. It has been pointed to the fact that in the major rice consuming countries, rice is a staple perceived as a political crop [2 1 ]. Therefore, Governments are sensitive about price effects and intervene to protect producers and consumers each time there is large price fluctuations. In Cameroon however, for many years Government policy in the rice sector was limited to attempts to control prices and to the promotion of large-scale import-substitution projects. The logical outcome is that both of these policies run counter to the interests of traditional food farmers and therefore have negative implications for the economic welfare of the great majority of the rural population [1 1 ,1 2 ].

Fig. 1: Cameroon rice consumers' preferences [1 0 ] out[1 2 ] that the major impact of the reforms which have significantly simplified the fiscal system was a reduction of the average taxation rates from 41 to 88% in 1994 to 3 to 51% since June 2000 (25 to 40%). Since then, the rise in imports has been sustained and was exacerbated by structural factors including limited production, consumer preferences, appreciation of the CFA franc, urban population growth, the lagging competitiveness of the domestic sectors [1 3 ]. Constraints For Rice Production Development in Cameroon: Cameroon’s inability to produce rice to self-sufficiency is indicative of the presence of major constraints in the rice industry requiring urgent attention. The most important constraints to rice production in Cameroon are discussed below.

W eak Institutional Setting: As a response to the decreased production of rice and surges of importation in the country, the Cameroonian Government took various measures like increased tariffs and taxes, partial ban on imports, reference prices and import quotas [7 ,1 3 ] . Despite these attempts however, the Government’s institutional capacity to develop and

M isplaced Priority and Inconsistent Policies: After the independence in 1960, the irrigated technology was adopted as a central element in increasing Cameroon

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 734-744, 2008 holdings in many developing countries [2 2 ]. This is certainly not the case in Cameroon where rural population sees rice production as a mean of employment. Unfortunately, many of them do not have access to farms. In the North-W est Province for instance, lands are under the control of the Fons or traditional chiefs and of UNVDA. UNVDA plots are rented out to farmers upon a registration fee ranging from 500 FCA to 2500 FCFA or above, depending on the number of plots for a specified period. Occupancy of plots owned by traditional chiefs is more complicated. Registration fees vary and are sometimes very high depending on the greediness of the Chief. Once registered, farmers are levied a development fee of 1000 FCFA to 2000 FCFA and are expected to give a bucket of rice to the royalty or the Fon after each harvest [2 3 ]. Many farmers’ chances are affected by their inability to afford the registration fee. The same pattern was recorded in the Far-North Province where occupancy of plots is restricted by the Lamido or SEMRY [1 9 ] . The number of farmers involved is rice cultivation in the region has decreased from 17,900 in 1985 [1 5 ] to about 10,000 in 2000 [2 0 ].

strengthen trade surveillance systems is insufficient for the effective implementation of trade remedy options. The institutions involved in trade monitoring are the ministries of livestock, agriculture and environment, the customs, the police and the Port Authority. Unfortunately, the institutions are not properly organized and with self-interest among some in authority often cited as the reason for the lack of controls. Official corruption, ethnic favouritism, and administrative incompetence are rife in the sector. Other potential factors include discriminatory and non rigorous issuing of import authorisation and misuse of import licences[1 3 ]. Poor M arketing Systems: Rice producers surveyed during a study conducted by FAO [1 3 ] attributed the current problems facing rice production and marketing in the country to a total lack of Government policy in the sector. The price and trade policies pursued are frequently being changed even within the year. That instability in policy environment tends to create an unstable investment environment for producers and other stakeholders hoping to explore the opportunities in the rice sector. Some respondents also reported long distance of swamps from villages and poor road network as a major constraint for the production and distribution of their harvest. Research in other contexts also revealed that disorganisation of market chain poses a fund am ental co nstrain to rice productivity expansion [2 2 ].

Inconsistent Agricultural Input: The limited access of farmers to initial agricultural inputs acts as a barrier and hampers their ability to improve and expand their rice productivity, and generate higher incomes. Sixtyfive percent of farmers interviewed in Cameroon have never used chemical products [ 1 0 ,2 4 ]. Fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are found only in urban locations which farmers have to visit to make purchases. The country does not have the capacity to manufacture its requirement of chemical inputs and imported products, once cheap, are now sold at high prices to growers [2 5 ]. The failure to use pesticides and herbicides has provided suitable breeding places for mosquitoes and resulted in increasing human malaria incidence in many irrigated rice-fields around the country [2 6 ,2 7 ]. A positive correlation between residence in proximity of rice fields and the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis has also been observed [2 8 ,2 9 ].

Deteriorating Irrigation Structures: The result of a comparative analysis conducted in 1989 [1 1 ] on the rice situation in Senegal, Cameroon, Madagascar and Côte d’Ivoire showed that Cameroon had the more mechanised and modern infrastructures for rice production in the 1980s. The disengagement of the Government from most agricultural activities in 1994 however, led to a poor management and utilization of water resources and deterioration of these facilities by farmers. Here, it is more or less the tradition for the Bororos herdsmen to migrate to the rice swamps for 4 months in a year, between N ovember and March in search of pasture. The story is better told by the remnants of broken dams and canals, ramshackle drainage and irrigation patterns [8 ,1 9 ,2 0 ].

Inappropriate Technologies for Production: One of the critical factors that affect rice production in Cameroon is the traditional methods used in agriculture. Small farmers are unable to afford technologies such as tractors, power tillers and animal traction. Eighty-six percent of the agricultural population in Cameroon use handheld hoes, axes and cutlasses[1 0 ,2 4 ]. These methods are labour intensive, and make the work very time and energy consuming. Even animal tractions which according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) calculations can help cultivate five more hectares of land compared to hoes,

Land Tenure Insecurity: In 2005, out of about 9 million hectares of land cultivated to various crops in Cameroon, only about 0.2% was cultivated to rice [3 ]. Most of the rice produced in Cameroon is in the hands of small-scale farmers with farm holdings of less than two ha [1 0 ]. It was reported that high demand for labour by rice activities as compared with other staple crops tend to discourage farmers from expanding their rice

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 734-744, 2008 are available only for a small portion of farmers [6 ]. At the post-harvest level, rice processing is constrained by inadequate and inappropriate equipments such as threshing, parboiling, drying facilities, winnowing, milling, and de-stoning, especially at the farm and village level. The inability to provide and use improved technologies in rice processing has led to the production of poor rice quality. Hand-threshing for example is responsible for the high percentage of stones and foreign matter mixed with the rice [2 2 ].

Gender Disparities and Inequality: The problems associated with gender bias in Africa are well known but, nonetheless worth reviewing.W omen participate in most of the operations in rice production, processing and marketing in Cameroon. In the Ndop region for instance, they supply about 70% of the labour needed for rice cultivation [ 2 3 ] . H owever technological adaptations and practices fail to pay sufficient attention to their needs. The role of women is either minimized or not well understood by agricultural authorities in the country. Past efforts to generate or transfer new rice technologies have most often by-passed women farmers, situation which obstructs efficiency and performance [8 ,3 4 ].

Lack of Sufficient Quantities of Improved Seed Rice: Absence of suitable varieties has been identified as one of the major constraints to further development of the domestic rice sector in Cameroon [3 0 ]. A large proportion of rice farmers still depend on the traditional varieties, which are of low yield and not adapted to the various altitudes. A study of the rice sector revealed that of the total of rough rice received by SEM RY every year, only 24% and 40% of total and broken rice respectively, are produced which is very far below the world average [1 5 ].

Environmental Constraints: B ecause of the little importance Cameroonian researchers attached to rice, there is very few information about environmental constraints to rice production in the country. Low temperatures during the off-season in irrigated areas have been identified as the main physical constraint[2 4 ]. Poor drainage and water management practices and deficiency of manganese have also been mentioned in the North and Far-North Provinces [3 5 ].

Little Access to Credits: Farmers cannot buy agrochemicals, tractors and other modern technology because of lack of funds and credits. Most of them do not have access to credit: interest rates and collateral requirements are simply too high for the majority of them [2 4 ,3 1 ].

Opportunities for Rice Production Expansion in Cameroon: Projections are that by 2025, the Cameroonian population will reach an estimated 24 million people, an increase of about 30% from its 2005 level[4 ]. That population growth would be translated in an expanded rice demand of 35%. This means that Cameroon would have to produce or import an added 130 thousand tons per year above the current level. It would be recalled that national food production by a country is an important component of the strategy for feeding the population, the other two basic components being food distribution and population growth [1 2 ,2 1 ,3 6 ]. W ith regard to this Cameroon would have to wake up and reverse the disastrous trends in his rice production system. Enormous possibilities exist for increasing rice production in Cameroon with adequate support from the research sector and the Government.

W eek Research Support and Inadequate Training of Farmers: In 1965, the Government of Cameroon established the Office National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (ONAREST) in order to promote agricultural research, training and extension. In 1979, the Institute of Agronomic Research (IRA) was created within ONAREST with a strong emphasis on rice. The creation of IRA Maroua in the North Province was a step in that direction. The program also supports research at Njombe (W est Province) and Ekona (North-W est Province). The result has not been a success story[3 2 ]. Some of the goals have been accomplished, some only partially and yet, a good deal abandoned. In most cases, very expensive technical choices were made without sufficiently taking into account the real needs of local populations. Consequently, results have never moved from the experimental phase to the phase of production by local farmers. That situation has resulted in weak link between research and development, week performance of extension services. Despite they are the key components of rice production systems, rural farmers are not usually aware of improved agricultural activities that are supposed to increase their productivity [3 3 ,3 4 ].

Favourable Rice Growing Ecologies: Cameroon is blessed with favourable rice growing ecologies. First, the country’s water resources are enormous: Cameroon receives on average, 842 km of rainfall per annum. The hydroelectric potential of Cameroon comes second in Africa after the one of the Democratic Republic of Congo and per capita water availability in the country is one of the highest among African countries. The western highlands of Cameroon, for example, have a relatively long rainy season and swampy soil both of which favour rice cultivation. Many rivers in the W est, South, Centre and Far-North Provinces have well-

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 734-744, 2008 Only a mere 10 to 20% of it is currently exploited [4 1 ]. Under the supervision of World Wildlife Fund (WW F), a project was launched in 1994 for the rehabilitation of 17,000 ha located along the Lagdo dam [3 8 ]. It is important that the Government seize the opportunity and encourage such initiatives.

developed floodplains in their middles and lower stretches suitable for rice production. But only 4% of this potential is being utilized today[3 7 ]. Rather than attempting to adapt Asian and Lain American rice varieties to the Cameroonian environment by developing costly irrigation systems, the country should take a different approach and invest in lowland and upland rice technologies. Results indicate that lowland rice can still be grown in Cameroon without compromising other floodplain uses such as the irrigated agriculture and reservoir fisheries [3 8 ,3 9 ]. For example, it has been noted that Poli and Kaele in the Far-North Province with an average rainfall of 1200 mm and 850 mm respectively, offer excellent ecosystems for rainfed lowland rice [3 0 ]. Farmers in Pohri, Guidiguis and Taibong Subdivisions have recently tested the growing of upland rice on plots formerly meant for muskuwaari. This diversification phenomenon of agricultural production, although it is in an embryonic state, deserves a particular attention because it falls within an endogenous initiative [4 0 ]. Cameroon still has vast areas that can be brought into production and incorporated in rice production. The arable land account for 13% of the total land area and about 80% of it is uncultivated (Figure 2). One distinctive feature of Cameroonian’s soils is their relatively high fertility and high moisture availability. To bring those lands into competitive production schemes however, the Government will have to invest in infrastructure. There is a definite relation between immobility and poverty. Countries with low standards of living are characteristically countries with poor transport facilities[3 6 ]. It follows that transportation (roads, port capacity, vehicles) can be the key factor in the success or failure of the entire development effort. More emphasis should also be given to initiate land reforms that take into consideration the status of rural farmers. Traditional authorities would also be wise to eliminate traditional norms that reduce the access to land in most communities.

Research Thrust: As intellectual property rights are implemented, more Cameroonian students and researchers are getting involved in rice research. Research and development of rice in Cameroon is undertaken by the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD). It is also a repository of seed breeding and production, and support technology transfer while ensuring a strong linkage among the various stakeholders, farmers, extension workers, and private sector [3 2 ,3 4 ]. New scientific knowledge is allowing rice researchers to develop better rice disease management methods. Testing of natural and biological products is being done in Yaoundé and Maroua in the context of an integrated pest management program in rice fields [4 2 ,4 3 ,4 4 ]. Other areas that should be addresses are intensification of the rainfed ecosystem, increased use of organic manure to reduce overdependence on inorganic fertilizers, breeding of suitable varieties able to withstand fluctuations in diurnal temperature. Cameroonian researchers will also benefit greatly from the collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the African Rice Centre (W ARDA) as well as from the collaboration with other regional and international institutions involved in rice research. The Advent of NERICA (New Rice for Africa) Varieties: Improved crop management practices and new varieties are a must to increase productivity. New Rice for Africa (NERICA), an interspecific hybrid between the local African rice (Oryza glaberrima) and the exotic Asian rice (Oryza sativa) offer new opportunities for rice farmers in Cameroon [4 5 ] . NERICAs have unique characteristics such as higher yields of 1.5-2.5 t.ha-1 without fertilizer application, and up to 4 t.ha-1 with good management, compared with unimproved upland varieties that yield less than 1 t.ha-1 [3 4 ,4 6 ]. Other NERICA qualities include early maturity, some 30–50 days earlier, tolerance to major stresses, resistance to most pests and diseases, higher protein content (10-12%) and good taste compared with the traditional rice varieties [4 6 ,4 7 ]. A wide range upland and rainfed NERICAs varieties are available (Table 5). Farmers in nearly a dozen countries in W est and Central Africa are now achieving bountiful rice harvests using NERICA varieties. Due to NERICA’s huge potential, Cameroon can also boot its rice production. As previously mentioned, rice is mainly grown under irrigation in Cameroon. Fostering rice

Stable Irrigated Facilities: Another important gain for rice production will be the rehabilitation of abandoned irrigated schemes which provide the best conditions for rice cultivation as they offer better water control. W hile the area occupied by rainfed and upland rice is the largest in most African countries, the irrigated ecosystem account for the main part of rice production (88%) in Cameroon. One can easily agree that irrigation is a tradition in Cameroon [6 ,2 0 ,2 8 ] . This potential however, is yet to be fully developed. It is estimated at 33,000 ha the area already built and that can be restored for rice production all over the country [9 ] . The UNVDA for instance at it creation was set to produce 34,000 tones of rough rice per year.

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 734-744, 2008 Table 5: Characteristics of som e N ERICA varieties released by W ARD A and under evaluation in different regions of Africa Variety nam e Ecology M aturity (days) Potential yield (t/ha) N ERICA 2, N ERICA 8 U pland 75-95 4-5 N ERICA 1, N ERICA 3, N ERICA 4, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------N ERICA 6, N ERICA 7 U pland 95-100 4.5-5 N ERICA L8, N ERICA L12, N ERICA L19, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------N ERICA L41, N ERICA L42, N ERICA L60 Lowland NA 6-7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sahel 108, Sahel 201, Sahel 202 Irrigated 95-120 5-7 SO U RCE: W A RD A [3 4]

Fig. 2: Percentage land use in Cameroon [3 ]. it if an opportunity is offered [1 0 ]. Farmers therefore need support and encouragement. W ith rural farmers the primary agents in food production, training them, exposing them to new technologies, and offering incentives could be an important step in reducing manpower requirement and improving the production of rice in the country [2 5 ]. Also, the private sector and NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs) are becoming more involved in the agricultural economy of the country by the creation of farms, fertilizers and pesticides distribution schemes and micro-finance companies. Of the 73 NGOs distributed throughout the ten provinces of Cameroon, 20 focus efforts on sustainable agriculture [3 1 ,3 3 ]. This implies that the public sector should support these efforts rather than competing with them as it was the case during the past century.

production on other stable areas where the new varieties can express their yield potential will be the key factor in achieving a competitive production [2 2 ,2 4 ,3 5 ]. In C a m e r o o n , th e P ro g ra m m e N a tio n a l d e Vulgarisation et de Recherche Agricole (PNVRA) has a national mandate to develop and supply improved varieties. Strengthening effective participation between PNVRA and W ARDA will play a key role for the production and dissemination of NERICAs varieties to farmers. E ffe c tiv e P resen ce o f N G O s a n d F a r m e r Organizations: There is a need to understand that active extension services are key requirements for the dissemination of developed technologies to rice farmers. Findings show that 85%, 26% , and 23% of farmers in the W estern Highland, the Forest Zone and the North of Cameroon respectively, are members of a farmer association or cooperative. It should also be noted that in these areas, rice production is likely to benefit from an important rural labor and at a reasonable cost. Sixty percent of the Cameroonian population is ready to get involve in agricultural activities and 95% of them willing to take a loan to do

Debt Relief under HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Countries) initiative: Debt relief at completion point under the enhanced HIPC initiative in 2006 is an important milestone for Cameroon towards rice production and poverty reduction. W ithin the framework of HIPC, Cameroon significantly lowers its

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 734-744, 2008 debt burden and effectively frees up resources to redeploy toward growth and poverty reduction [4 ,3 3 ]. Food security was highlighted as a priority, making the country eligible for the program. In that context, the Government must allocate more resources to the rice sector and initiate policies which play a positive role in sustainable rice production with the aim to achieve the following objectives: easy access to agrochemicals and farm machinery, improved market infrastructures, better crop management practices through training and capacity-building, easy access to land, labor and credits. It was estimated that to increase rice production in Cameroon by 30,000 tons yearly, we will have to invest 1.8 billion CFA Francs (4.25 million $US) [1 0 ]. Meeting these challenges however, will require fighting poor work ethics and corruption, and strengthening accountability.

Cameroonian rice research will also benefit greatly from the collaboration between regional and international rice centers like W ARDA and IRRI as well as from the collaboration with international agricultural associations. The survey of regional programs included here clearly shows that new scientific knowledge is allowing rice researchers to develop rice varieties that could give better yield and fetch higher prices. In this line, information on appropriate rice varieties and production techniques should also be presented to both men and women in rural villages and urban areas. These conditions, combined with effective promotion, should lead to a gradual expansion of rice production and use. W e believe greater domestic production could save Cameroon scarce foreign exchange which will in turn contribute to food security and poverty reduction.

Political Stability: Another source of comparative advantage will emerge from the political stability in the country. Recent deterioration of the security situation in some African countries because of military coups has resulted in changes in policy direction, creating lags in the implementation of rice development programmes [2 2 ]. Cameroon has benefited from a sustainable peace since its independence. International confidence in the prospects for and management of Cameroon’s economy is likely to grow. M any countries are interested in investing in the rice sector. China and Egypt have recently announced their intention to build a rice development center in the country as part of their effort to help the country promote agricultural production [4 8 ]. The country should take advantage of that situation.

ACKNOW LEDGM ENT The author is grateful to James Aipa and Chris Paulus for insightful ccomments and suggestions. REFERENCES 1.

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Conclusion: Cameroon is endowed with ecological conditions favorable for the cultivation of rice. It can produce sufficient quantities to meet local demand; however, production in the country fell short of consumption while the import bill remained high. The availability of cheap rice has until now provided a ready excuse for the Cameroonian Government to neglect the domestic rice production; and few efforts made to increase production and productivity were greatly hindered by the lack of a clear understanding of the specific needs of the farmers, and conditions under which they operate. This paper reveals that rice production in Cameroon is economically viable but needs supportive agricultural policies. It is a combination of various facto rs including the Government’s decision to support its rice farmers by providing fertilizer and pesticides subsidy, price support, a ready market, in addition to facilities such as irrigation, roads, and machinery that will help the country boost its production. In a more open world,

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assessment of IFS support. MESIA impact studies Report 5, IFS, Stockholm, Sweden. Nzegang, M., 2005. Farmers organizations in political dialogue in Cameroon. Agriculture and rural development, 1: 44-45. W ARDA, 2003. Strategic plan 2003-2012. African Rice Centre, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire. Seguy, L., 2004. Suivi d’évaluation et propositions de recherche-action pour l’avancée du semis direct sur couverture végétale au Nord Cameroun. Rapport de mission 25 Septembre-5 Octobre 2004. CIRAD/IRAD/AFD/SODECOTON, M ontpellier, France. Rwabahungu, M., 2001. Tenurial reforms in W est and Central Africa: legislation, conflicts and social movements. In W hose land? Civil society perspectives on land reform and rural poverty reduction: regional experiences from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Eds., Ghimire, K.B. and B.H. Moore. UNRISD Publisher, Rome, Italy, pp: 165-193. Sighomnou, D., 2004. Analyse et redéfinition des ré gim e s clim atiq u es et h y d ro lo g ique s du Cameroun : perspectives d’évolution des ressources en eau. Thèse de doctorat d’état en sciences géotechniques et hydrotechniques. Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun. Evans, S.Y., K. Bradbrook, R. Braund and G. Bergkamp, 2003. Assessment of the restoration potential of the Logone Flood-Plain (Cameroon). W ater and Environment Journal, 17(2): 123-128. Sakurai, T., 2006. Intensification of rainfed lowland rice production in W est Africa: present status and potential green revolution. The developing economies, 44(2): 232-251. Gnassamo, J.K., 2002. Agricultural mutations: adoption of rainwater rice in Tupuri plains. In Savanes Africaines : des espaces en mutation, des acteurs face à de nouveaux défis, actes du colloque, 27-31 mai 2002. EdS., Jamin, J.Y., L. Seiny-Boukar and C. Floret C. Garoua, Cameroun. Prasac, N’Djamena, Tchad, Cirad, Montpellier, France.

41. UNVDA, 2006. Rice cultivation information from 1977 to 2005. Ndop, Cameroun. 42. Goufo, P., 2003. Rapport de visite a l’ Institut de recherche Agronomique pour le Développent (IRAD), Nkolbisson, Yaoundé. Laboratoire de Phytobiochimie et d’Etude des Plantes M édicinales, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroun. 43. W oin, N., J.A. Takow and P. Kosga, 2005. Predatory ground-dwelling beetles (Carabidae and Staphylinidae) in upland rice fields in North Cameroon. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 25(3): 190-197. 44. Nguefack, J., I. Somda, C.N. Mortensen and P.H. Amvam-Zollo, 2005. Evaluation of five essential oils from aromatic plants of Cameroon for controlling seed-borne bacteria of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Seed Science and Technology, 33(2): 397-407. 45. Jones, M.P., M. Dingkuhn and G .K. Aluko, 1997. Interspecific Oryza sativa L X Oryza glaberrima Steud progenies in upland rice improvement. Euphytica, 92: 237-246. 46. W ARDA, 2007. Research products (upland NERICA, lowland NERICA, irrigated varieties, W ABS, W ITAS). African Rice Centre, Cotonou, Bénin. http://www.warda.org. Accessed 22 March 2008. 47. Fujii, M., C. Andoh and S. Ishihara, 2004. Drought resistance of NERICA (New Rice for Africa) compared with Oryza sativa L. and millet evaluated by stomatal conductance and soil water content. In Proceedings of the 4 th international crop science congress, 26 September-1 October. Brisbane, Australia. 48. DGTPE, 2007. Cameroun: projet de production de riz par une entreprise chinoise. La Lettre d’Afrique Centrale, 53: 10-11.

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Rice Production in Cameroon: a Review Piebiep Goufo Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, P.R. China . Abstract: In Cameroon, rice cultivation dates as far back as the colonial era. Since its independence in 1960, Cameroon has enjoyed better rates of growth in the rice sector than most other countries. The record, however, is one of stability rather than growth. The production showed a spectacular evolution during the period from 1960 to 1985, in terms of cultivated areas and grain yields. However, rice prices dropping in the nineties, followed by an economic crisis and the devaluation of the local currency, the CFA in 1994, Cameroon went from self-sufficiency in rice production to dependence on imports and, eventually, food aid. The support to irrigated rice production has been greatly reduced during the recent past. One also observed a decline in fertilizers, pesticides and tractors use, poor input responsiveness of local varieties and slow release of improved varieties. Today, rice production is almost in the hands of the smallholder or peasant sector which produces an overwhelming 93% of total output. In 2005, the production supplied only 13% of Cameroonian consumption. Since the difference in demand is made up by imports which are continually increasing, special attention needs to be given to developing rice production in the country. Key words: Cameroon, rice, production systems, production zones, varieties INTRODUCTION

cassava, the country has not been able to achieve selfsufficiency in food production and the progress has been insufficient to solve the problem of chronic malnutrition of about one million people in the country. Cameroon had a relatively high population growth rate of 2.8% in the period 1995-2005. The trend of food production was however, a downward one and is today estimated at 2.2%. That inevitably led to a decrease in food production per capita. For instance, the rate of selfsufficiency for cereals decreased from 97% in 1961/63 to 88% between 1971 and 1973, 84% between 1981 and 1983 and only 59% for the 1988/90 period. Per capita annual consumption of cereals in Far-North Province was 110 kg in 2000; this figure is far below 150 kg per person recommended by UNICEF [3 ,4 ]. Although the data does not take into consideration total production and consumption within the country, it is however indicative of the food insecurity that threatens the population. About 40% of Cameroon population live below the national poverty line and spend about onethird of their income on food. Moreover, 14% of the children were underweight in 1990-2005 [1 ]. Based on these factors, it is a reasonable assumption that the foodinsecure population has increased both in absolute and relative term. Of all the staple crops in Cameroon, rice has risen to a position of pre-eminence, becoming the most rapidly growing food source for millions of people. The

Cameroon is the most populous country in Central Africa, with a population of over 18 million people. Despite being the fifth biggest oil producer in SubSaharan Africa, the backbone of its economy is agriculture. W ith agro-processing an important part of Cameroonian’s industry, agriculture is the livelihood basis for over 60% of the population and accounts for about 23% of the Gross Domestic Product and twothirds of the labour force. T he staple foods eaten by the people of Cameroon vary from region to region, depending on climate, and what is grown locally. The major food crops are yam, cassava, plantains and bananas. Other staple food crops include oil palm, maize, groundnuts, beans and potato in the South and East, and millet, sorghum, rice and maize in the North. These staples represent the main source of calories and proteins and an important part of the expenditures and incomes of households [1 ,2 ]. Since the 1970's, demographic growth has led to a sharp increase in food demand in the country which in turn has brought about quantitative and/or qualitative deficiency in agricultural production. The Cameroonian population has increased almost 4-fold since the independence in 1960 with an annual growth rate of 2.5%. Despite the expansion of agricultural production over the past 15 years, particularly of maize and

Corresponding Author: Piebiep Goufo, Faculty of science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812 Yaoundé, Cameroon, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, 510642 Guangzhou, P.R. China. Email: [email protected] 745

Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008 budget survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1984 indicated an average annual consumption of 11.5 kg rice per capita for the entire country, rice accounting only for 5.2% of the food expenditure of households [5 ,6 ]. Since then, rice consumption in the country has risen tremendously, at about 8% per annum and today, 95% of the population eats rice at least once a week [7 ]. Domestic production has never been able to meet the demand, leading to considerable imports which today stand at about 400 thousand tons yearly and account for 87% of the country needs [8 ]. Given the fact that Cameroon is endowed with important land and water resources for food production, rising rice imports are arousing growing concern all over the country. Consequently immediate action and long-term efforts are needed to alleviate the past and increase rice production in Cameroon. The Dar Es Salaan declaration is categorical on this. It insists that food sufficiency in general and rice self-sufficiency in particular, will only be achieved when domestic production is integrated as a priority at the national level[9 ]. This paper is motivated by the fact that the Cameroonian Government has recently expressed the need to restructure its rice sector. In the framework of crop diversification and income generation, rice is seen as a potential crop for the country to put an end to hunger, generate income for the poor and by 2015 be able to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (M DG) of reducing extreme poverty by half. D espite the widespread concerns and interests on the issue however, there is no comprehensive literature available providing information on the past and current situation of rice production in the country. So there is a need to gather all information on the subject and made it available to policy makers. In this study, the evolution of rice production in Cameroon since the colonial era is reviewed. An effort is also given to understand the underlying reasons for the actual low production level.

and East Provinces. The major rice cultivation projects in the country are in Maroua and Kousseri in the FarNorth Province and Ndop in the North-W est Province (Figure 1). The Northern Region: North Cameroon is situated at 1,100 m above sea level. The climate is tropical, usually described as sudano-guinean, with a characteristic unimodal rainfall pattern [1 0 ]. Two major seasons are prevalent, the wet season which runs from April (mean precipitations of 128.8 mm) to October (107.2 mm) and the dry season from November to March. Mean relative humidity and temperature are 0.673 and 22.0 o C, respectively. Minimum and maximum temperatures are 10 and 34 o C, respectively. Average annual rainfall is 800-1200 mm falling mainly between early May and late October. The hottest months are from November to January. Natural vegetation is woody savannah [1 1 ]. Livestock is important in the region, particularly for the migrant cattle herders, the Fulani. Cereals occupy 80% of the total area under cultivation while cotton and peanut account for 12% and 5% respectively. Rice cultivation covers 25% of that area [6 ]. The Far-North Province has the highest rice production area in Cameroon and account for 85% of total production (Figure 2). The Société d’Expansion et de Modernisation de la Riziculture de Yagoua (SEMRY) is charged with the supervision of the whole operation of rice in the province and has established three stations in the region, namely SEMRY I (Yagoua), SEMRY II (Maga), and SEMRY III (Logone et Chari in Kousserie). Rice is also grown along the Lagdo valley in the North Province by the Toupori, Guiziga and Matal, but in minor imp ortance. Cam eroo n officials estimate that approximately 1,000 ha of land is cultivated to rice by some 11,000 traditional food farmers in the region [4 ]. The W estern Highlands: Rice production in the W estern Highlands is concentrated in the North-W est province, but it's also found on smaller areas in the W est Province. The W estern Highlands lies between latitudes 5°20' and 7° North and longitude 9°40' and 11°10' East of the Equator, with a surface area covering 1/6 of the country’s land area (17,910 km 2 ). Altitudes range from 300 to 3000 m above sea level. The climate of the region is characterized by two main seasons: a dry season from November to mid March and a rainy season from mid March to October. The annual average rainfall varies between 1300-3000 mm with a mean of 2000 mm. Minimum and maximum temperatures have means of 15.50°C and 24.5°C, respectively; although temperatures can rise above 30°C. The region is dominated by high volcanic mountains with fertile soils (hydromorphic, volcanic and ferralitic), an area which has traditionally been the most densely populated part of

Zones of Rice Cultivation in Cameroon: The Republic of Cameroon is administratively divided into 10 provinces covering four geographical regions: the western lowlands, which extend along the Gulf of Guinea coast; the western highlands, which consist of forested vo lcanic mountains, including M ount Cameroon; the central region, which extends eastward to the border with the Central African Republic; and the northern region, which is essentially a vast tropical plain that slopes down to the Chad Basin. Rice is grown mainly in two agro-ecological zones, the W estern Highlands (North-W est and W est Provinces) and the Northern region (North and Far-North Provinces), but it's also found on smaller areas in the Centre, South-East

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008 the country. The agricultural population is estimated at 72% with 160,025 households. The main vegetation is Savannah [2 ]. Modern rice production in the North-W est is concentrated within the Menchum Valley and the Mbo plain and is administered by the Upper Noun Valley Development Authority (UNVDA). The major rice farming villages in the region are Bamunka, Bamali and Babungo in Ndop [1 2 ].

the North-W est Province and the Société de Développent de la Riziculture dans la Plaine de Mbo (SODERIM ) in the W est Province (Figure 1). UNVDA established in 1970, evolved from the failure of an earlier project that begun in 1967, the Bureau de Développement de la Production Agricole (BDPA) [1 8 ,1 9 ]. In Santchou district, another government parastatal, the M ission de Développement de la Riziculture dans la Plaine de Mbo (MIDERIM) was created in 1974 for the supervision of rice production and marketing in the area. The same year, MIDERIM was transformed into a development corporation under the name SODERIM [2 0 ,2 1 ,2 2 ]. The first FAO records for rice in Cameroon indicates that 7,000 ha were harvested in 1961 with a yield of 0.48 t/ha (Table 1). Harvested area increased to more than 10,000 ha in 1962, 17,000 ha in 1972, and 28,000 in 1982. The 1970s witnessed a rapid adoption of new varieties for irrigated environments. B y 1978, an area of about 8,000 ha has already been put under cultivation in Ndop, with an average output of 2.3 t.ha-1. The development of rice production in the region led to the development of virtually unused areas, and provided income for people who focused on fishing in the past. Rice proved to be not only a cash crop, but also a food crop [1 9 ]. Total rice production in the country increased between 1971 and 1985 reaching about 107,000 tones of paddy rice, the greatest harvested acreage to date in the history of rice production in Cameroon, with an average yield of 4.74 t.ha-1. SEM RY provided 85% of it, the remaining provided by SODERIM and UNVDA and almost half was exported to Nigeria and Chad. In addition, 17,900 family farms had an output of 7,330 tons of paddy rice in 1985 [4 ,6 ].

Stages in rice production in Cameroon: The latest statistical information available shows that Cameroon represents about 0.3% of Africa rice production. In 2005, an estimated 17 thousand ha was under rice cultivation with a total production of 53 thousand tones of paddy rice (Table 1). Colonial Era, 1930-1960: Rice is an old crop in W est and Central Africa. Archaeologists suggest that the African rice (Oryza glaberrima) was domesticated in the Niger River Delta about 3,500 years ago. Diligent Africans carried it westward to Senegal, southward to the Guinea Coast, and eastward to as far as Lake Chad. It is believed that Cameroonian rice cultivation started during the same period. Between the 15 th and the 17 th centuries, the Asian rice (Oryza sativa) was introduced to W est and Central Africa by Arab traders and Portuguese navigators, and gradually displaced African varieties in lowland rice-growing areas [1 3 ]. The first recorded tests of rice cultivation in Cameroon dates back to the 1930s in the Far-North Province [1 4 ,1 5 ]. In 1950, the Station de Riziculture de Pouss was created with one mission: rice cultivation in the Far-North Province. Because of the difficulties in bringing the amount of water needed, it was transferred to Toukou, then Vournaloum on the bank of the Logone River in 1953 where the ecology was better. Unfortunately, infestation with Pachydiplosis oryzae reversed the crop’s initially strong inroads among the local population. A more ambitious attempt was initiated in 1954 by the creation of SEMRY and gave a strong input to the cultivation of rice in the region [1 5 ,1 6 ]. Dams and dikedam on the Logone River and its tributaries brought large areas under irrigation. For example, a 27 km dikedam between Pouss and Guirviding formed a reservoir covering 34,000 ha at high water level and 14,000 ha at low water level[1 7 ]. By 1960, the tall traditional varieties covered the entire rice area with a total production of 3,205 tons (2,617 ha) compared to 300 tons (500 ha) in 1953 [1 5 ].

Economic Recession, 1986-1995: Throughout the 1980s economic stagnation was the norm in the region. The decline of the Naira (the Nigerian currency) and the restriction of goods exchange between Cameroon and Nigeria in 1984, led to a sharp decline in rice production. SEM RY lost its main market with a stock of paddy rice representing a financial asset of more than 9 billion CFA francs [6 ,2 3 ]. This was worsened by competition from imported rice as a result of changes in the world commodity market. For example, in 1988, one kg of foreign rice was sold at 150 CFA francs in Douala and Yaoundé markets, while locally produced rice was 158 CFA francs for 5% broken and 181 CFA francs for whole paddy [6 ,2 4 ,2 5 ]. The consequences were felt throughout the country. The area under modern and traditional rice felt from about 32,000 ha in 1978 to 10,000 in 1995 while production decreased from 76,000 to 35,000 tons. The highest national average production during that period was reported in 1989 with 62,000 tons for 11,000 ha (5.47t.ha-1). In Ndop, about 4,985 tones of rice were produced in 1995 which was

Independence, 1960-1986: Strongly encouraged by the government, the post-independence era saw a significant boom in rice production. By 1980, three rice research and development institutes were established in the country: SEMRY in the Far-North Province, UNVDA in

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008 Table 1: Area cultivated, rice output and yield in Cam eroon, 1961-2005 Y ear Production (000 t) Area (000 ha) Y ield (t.ha-1) 1961 4 7 0.48 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1965 13 11 1.21 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1970 14 17 0.83 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1975 30 24 1.26 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1980 46 20 2.34 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1985 107 23 4.74 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1990 55 11 5.00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1995 62 16 3.53 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2000 61 20 3.01 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2005 53 17 2.94 SOURCE: FAOSTAT [8 ]

Fig. 1: Sites of rice production in Cameroon insignificant compared to the 1980 output[1 2 ,2 6 ]. By 1990, mechanised rice subsidies were virtually eliminated. Because of the subsequent devaluation of CFA franc in 1994 and a significant simplification of the fiscal system by the Government in the framework of its Structural Adjustment policies (SAP), promoting extensive agriculture became unfeasible [4 ] . Subsidies were completely removed and most agricultural development

projects collapsed. The failure of SODERIM to obtain good results, led to its shutdown in 1988 [7 ]. Taken together, all these factors inevitably forced farmers to abandon rice production. Economic Recovery, 1995-2005: Eventhough data in the post-1995 period are uneven and patchy because of the collapse of most governmental institutes

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008 involved in the collection of information, it is however instructive that over 1995-1999, the sown rice area experienced an impressive expansion and doubled from 10,000 ha to 20,000 ha. This was favoured by a vast restructuration of the national economy and relative economic prosperity. The total rice production increased from 35,000 tons to 67,000 tons, while yield remains constant (3.5-3.6 t.ha-1) (Table 1). This stagnation in yield is explained by traditional technologies and decreased use of fertilizers and pesticides[7 ]. Sadly, the 2000s have witnessed a significant decrease in production and yield. The work of the rice is still manual coupled to the fact that rice has not undergone improvements in terms of new varieties [9 ,2 7 ]. The story of UNVDA and SEMRY is pathetic. The two corporations are in a coma, curving towards their grave. The Government has stopped funding and withdrew its expertise, leaving the corporations to lean solely on her selves.

June planting. Late sowing usually results in delayed and slow harvest due to cool temperatures and rain [2 2 ,3 2 ]. Seed are usually drilled at about 70-100 kg.ha-1 under ideal conditions in order to provide a uniform stand of about 15 to 20 plants.m-2. Transplanting and dry seeding followed by a germination flooding are all methods used to sow rice in Cameroon. Occasionally, growers have their seeds pre-germinated before sowing. Some farmers prime rice seeds in water for 24 h, and then dry them for a further 24 h before sowing [2 8 ,3 3 ]. Rainfed rice production is practiced mainly by women on small plots. Rice is sown into uncultivated annual pastures or burnt rice stubble. Transplanting of rice seedling through the dead mulch of a cover crop like Brachiaria ruziziensis, Mucuna pruriens or Crotalaria retusa, is also used [2 7 ,3 2 ]. In the W estern Cameroon, however, no differences in grain yield was reported among no-till, minimum till, and plow-till methods when rice was grown on vertisols with a high moisture retention capacity [3 4 ]. Rice-rice system is generally practiced in irrigated areas while upland rice is usually grown as an intercrop with sorghum, niebe, muskwari, and other crops [3 2 ,3 5 ].

Rice crop management in Cameroon: Rice Ecosystems: Figure 3 shows the harvested areas from different ecologies in Cameroon during the last five years. The dominant rice environments are irrigated rice (87%) and rainfed lowland rice (9%). The rest is almost entirely cultivated under upland condition (3%) where the sole water supply is rainwater [2 8 ,2 9 ]. Mechanised rice cropping has been a key component of irrigated system in the Far-North, the North, the NorthW est and the W est Provinces, while manual rice farming was used for rainfed lowland and upland.

Irrigation and W ater M anagement: In modern rice farms, the requirement for water is met mainly by irrigation, and to a small extent, by rainfall. The support to irrigated production however, has been greatly reduced during the recent past and most of the infrastructures are in a deteriorating state. Generally, about 15 to 16 ML.ha-1 of irrigation water is required. Rice is grown under permanent flooded conditions for all or most of its production season. Permanent water is normally applied when the rice is from 5 to 10 cm tall [3 1 ,3 4 ]. The length of the vegetative season and the pace of rain are key factors in rice production in the W estern Highlands where most rice farms traditionally depend on rainfall. Here only one crop per year is planted in June. Swamp rice is cultivated in the lowlying areas, where soils are easily flooded at the heart of the rainy season [1 2 ,3 6 ].

Land Preparation: The cropping calendar for rice in Cameroon is indicated in Table 2. Initial cultivation usually starts in June or July. The ground is prepared earlier and involves operations such as land planning or land forming. In the 1960s, many fields were prepared following several tillage and smoothing operations prior to harvest. Today, only few tractors, disc ploughs and landplane are still used by SEM RY and UNVDA. Cultivation methods are still very rudimentary among the majority of rice farmers[2 ]. In the Far-North Province, some farmers use animal for draught power, while in the W estern Highland, this has never been a tradition; farmers still using handheld hoes and cutlasses. Initial working of stubble or pasture is usually done with a heavy ace and soil depth of 5 to 10 cm can be obtained [3 0 ].

Fertilization: Historically, basal fertilizers were applied at a rate of 50-120 kg N.ha-1, 60-150 kg P205.ha-1, and 20-60 kg K20.ha-1 [1 6 ,3 7 ]. Today, it is common to apply urea (50-100 kg.ha-1) onto the soil surface at sowing because it is convenient and cheap. NPK is also used by some farmers at 100-200 kg.ha-1. Generally 19 to 21 kg N.ha-1 are needed to produce one tonne of brown rice [4 ,3 2 ]. Balanced fertilization with N, P, K, S, and Zn in many rice fields is essential for production of high yielding rice. In most traditional rice farms however, rice is grown following the slash-and-burn shifting cultivation almost without any application of chemical fertilizers. This often leads to a lack of greenness or a

Sowing: The majority of Cameroon rice has typically been planted with hands on prepared seedbeds. In most cases, rice is planted twice yearly [3 1 ]. Sowing occurs near the onset of the rainy season in June/July. A second planting, much smaller than the first, takes place in January and is important for the supply of seed for the

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only few pests of significance in the rice growing areas of Cameroon. Gall midge is reported to occur, but it is not considered a major pest[4 5 ,4 6 ,4 7 ,4 8 ]. Those pests and diseases are controlled only through rice stubble management and rotation with non-host crops. The irrigated rice production is most structured and supported to some extent with pesticide supply[2 8 ].

W eeds M anagement: The type and number of weeds likely to be encountered in rice field in Cameroon are greatly influenced by management practices. Graminae and Cyperaceae are weed species by far the most aggressive competitors with rice [2 2 ,3 7 ]. In most rice farm, flushing and raining usually result in build-up of grasses, broadleaves and sedges, requiring herbicide application. Virtually all of the 20,000 ha of rice sown in Cameroon in 1960-1983 was chemically treated for weed control at some stage. Today weeds control is essentially manual and usually delayed, resulting in serious yield reduction. W eeding generally occurs between August/September for the main season and March/April for the off-season [2 9 ]. Control methods in modern farms include spraying of glyphosate prior to sowing, Bentazon (Basagran) and Cyhalofopbotil (Clincher) when the plant has 2-3 leaves and Oxadiazon (Ronstar) and Pendimethane (Stomp) 40-60 days after sowing [2 9 ,3 2 ]. Burning the previous year’s rice stubble before seeding is practiced by many farmers to make their farms fertile. It was however noticed that the ash left after burning can reduce the effectiveness of barnyard grass control herbicides [3 8 ].

Harvesting: The first planting is harvested in November/December and the second in May/June. Fields are drained about 7 to 10 days prior to harvesting. Harvesting is done either manually using a sickle, or by mechanical means. Rice husks are either burnt, or kept at strategic places around the farms for cattle consumption. Stubble can be incorporated to provide nitrogen for a following crop. Farmers use fallow to rejuvenate the soil[4 9 ]. Storage and Processing: After the harvest, the panicles are left in the field for 2 to 3 days, and then pilled up. The operation can be done in the field or in a threshing floor. Although harvests are pilled up in the field, cattle in the dry season always pose a risk to store rice in the field. About 97% of the rice is transported by head porterage from the farm to the house. Traditional storage in jute bags is typically on the bamboo ceilings or earthen floors of houses. The most important factor for storage is that the grains are dried to 12% moisture or less. Sun drying is generally satisfactory. It was found that in Cameroon, rice milling is a ‘cottage industry’ mainly carried out by small-scale workshops with an average hourly capacity of 200 kg of milled rice [3 4 ].

Pest and Diseases M anagement: A large number of pathogenic fungus, bacteria, virus, mycoplasm and nematodes infect rice plants in Cameroon [1 4 ,3 9 ,4 0 ]. Generally, disease severity is less pronounced under irrigated conditions than in the uplands and varies remarkably among the different rice-growing areas. The relatively low occurrence of diseases in the Far-North Province is probably a result of high soil fertility or higher wind velocity and lower humidity than in the other areas. In the W estern Highlands, the climate is more conducive to diseases. Rice blast (caused by Magnaporthe grisea), sheath rot (caused by Sarocladium oryzae), and glume discoloration (caused by several pathogenic fungi including Cochliobolus miyabeanu) are the major limiting pest of rice in the Mbo and Ndop plain locations [4 0 ]. IR46 is the most susceptible variety to blast. Resistant lines include CICA8, ITA300, BKN77033-3-3-323 and W ITA4 [4 1 ]. Bacteria like Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae, Burkloderia glumae, B. plantarii, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and X. oryzae pv. Orizicola, have also been reported on rice seeds in Cameroon [4 2 ] . Isolates SRB-G, SRBT, Ca5 and Ca30 of Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) also occurs [4 3 ,4 4 ]. Unlike Asia, where stem borers, leafhoppers and other insect pests cause severe yield losses, there are

Distribution: There are two basic types of marketing chains in Cameroon: the first is almost entirely in the hands of SEMRY and UNVDA, which go directly to the farm and buy rice from farmers and the second, is local in which small quantities of rice are brought to rural markets [1 2 ,1 5 ]. The field realities in Cameroon reveal that women are mainly involved in activities such as sowing, weeding, threshing, winnowing, crop processing (drying, milling, de-stoning) and distribution. Men, on the other hand are involved in land preparation, field levelling and clearing the rice field. Both man and women undertake activities like tilling, transplanting and harvesting. Most of the farmers make use of family labour. As a result, work in the rice fields is very labour intensive, requiring about 10 hours daily. Sometimes, hired labour is employed [7 ]. Rice Varieties Released in Cameroon since 1950: Rice was first grown commercially in Cameroon in 1950 after the creation of La Station de Riziculture de Pouss. In 1951, some 15 varieties were introduced from France,

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Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008 Table 2: Calendar for various rice activities in C am eroon Activity M ain season O ff-season Rice growth stage Field preparation M ay/June D ecem ber/January Pre-seeding -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Planting June/July January/February Germ ination and early seedling -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------W eeding August/Septem ber M arch/April Active tillering -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------H arvesting N ovem ber/D ecem ber M ay/June Ripening and m aturity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Approxim ate duration 6 m onths 5 m onths Table 3: Rice varieties released in Cam eroon, by origin and ecology, 1950-1965 Variety nam e and growth duration O rigin Ecology Rinaldo (na), Bersani (na), Gros buffet de Guyanne (na), M 32 (na), M 23 (na) France Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------M aroua (na) Cam eroon Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------N eang Veng (na), Puang N gon (na) Cam bodia Irrigated SO U RCE: Chabrolin [1 5,1 6], Birie-H abas [3 6]. Table 4: Rice varieties released in Cam eroon, by origin and ecology, 1965-1985 Variety nam e and growth duration O rigin Ecology IRAT10 (105-110), IRAT79 (105-120), IRAT 114 (135-138) IRAT20 (173-182), IRAT 78 (118), IRAT 110 (105), IRAT116 (138), M 6 (na), M 55 (118) IRAT U pland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IRAT22 (135), IRAT106 (na), IRAT140 (na), IRAT 136 (173-182), C22 (na), IRAT118 (na), IRAT124 (na), IRAT125 (na), IRAT130 (na) IRAT Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------63-83 (110-116), Pratao (95-100), IAC25/64 (95-100) Zaire U pland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------85BI (105), 85BIV (105), Fossa HV (145), M anibre (146) Senegal U pland, Lowland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IRIM 209 (101), IRIM 208 (101) Cam eroon U pland, Lowland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chainan 8 (135), Tainan 5 (135) Taiwan Lowland Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bentoubala (164), Gam biaka (164) H 4 (na), IM 16 (173), Im proved M aseuri (147), Gissi 27 (191), 5.2.3 (135), 106A/16-14 (135) M adagascar Lowland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Chinei (na), Norin (na), Dourado (na), PJ dans 110 (na) Cote d’ivoire Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------B216K-M R-57-1-3-1 (na), B233360-5-5-1-10 (na), B1991B-PN 643.41 (na) Indonesia Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CICA8 (130-135) Colum bia Irrigate,U pland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IR20 (120-125), IR8 (na), IR36 (na), IR9129-136-2 (na), IR9129-192-2 (na), IR2863.38.1.2 (na), IR4432.98.3.6.1 (na), IR4432.52.6.4 (na), IR4570.83.3.3.2 (na) IRRI Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IR24 (na), IR46 (134), IR7167-33-2-3 (128), IR2061.522.6.9 (121), KN 361.18.6 (115), IR480.5.9.33 (147) IRRI Lowland Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ITA222 (130-135), ITA212 (130-135), BL109 (na), BL169 (na), BL172 (na), M 133.6.12 (na), TO X95.5.1.1.1 (na), TO X494.1.1.11 (na) IITA Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jaya (135-140) India Irrigated IKN 6986.66.2 (na), IET236 (na), IET6073 (na), M R10 (na), M ashuri (na) NA Irrigated SO U RCE: Chabrolin [1 5,1 6] , Seguy et al [2 0] ; Birie-H abas [3 6,3 7 ] , SO D ER IM [5 0] , D euse et al. [2 2] , C haudhary et al., [5 3] Singh et al. [4 1] , FAO [2 8] , D alrym phe [5 2] Table 5: Rice varieties released in Cam eroon, by origin and ecology, 1986-2005 Rice variety and growth duration O rigin Ecology IR28 (na), IR42 (na0, IR22 (na), IR442 (na), IR5 (na), IR3273-339-2-3 (na) IRRI Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ITA300 (140), ITA306 (125-130), TO X3344 (na) IITA Irrigated --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008 Table 5: Continued IRAT300 (na), IRAT13 (na) IRAT Lowland Upland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BKN 7033-3-3-323 (128), Cisadane (140-145), IKong Pao (115-120), W ITA4 (na) NA Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Taichung 128 (na), D 11417 (na), TSX176 (na) NA Lowland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------B22 (90-100) M adagascar Lowland Upland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Gam biaka Kokum (na) M adagascar Irrigated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FO FIFA 152 (na), FO FIFA 154 (na) M adagascar U pland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CIRAD 141, Lajeado (140), SBT1, SBT25, SBT33, SBT36, SBT65, SBT175, SBT953, SBT9535 (fragrant, 130-145), Agronorte 147 (110-120), Agronorte 182 (110-120), SBT43, SBT48, SBT63, SBT98, SBT200, SBT282, SBT1142 (130-145), SBT68, SBT79, SB T70, SB T94, SB T147, SB T182 (115-125), SB T265 (135-155), Prim avera (135) Brazil Lowland Upland SO U RCE: Chaudhary et al., [5 3] Singh et al. [4 1], FAO [2 8], Charpentier [2 9], Seguy [3 2].

Fig. 2: Average rice production and area harvested in major rice growing regions in Cameroon. Estimated from Birie-Habas [3 7 ], Deuse [2 2 ], MINAGRI [5 ,3 ], Engola [6 ], Ndame and B riltey[4 ], FAOSTAT [8 ], Lotsmart and Mbah [1 2 ]. among them Rinaldo Bersani, Gros Buffet de Guyanne, Maroua, Neang Veng, M32, M23. Most of them were gradually discarded, while Maroua and Neang Veng became the basis of the industry for more than 10 years. An early maturation variety, Puang Ngon was selected in Garoua by La Ferme Toukou and released for commercial production in 1960 (Table 3). The other varieties released during the same period were never successful[1 5 ,1 6 ,3 6 ]. Over the period 1965-1985, some 800 varieties have been tested in Cameroon and about 10 were chosen for the various ecological zones. Their origins and characteristics are listed in Table 4. Most of them were targeted to irrigated environments. In 1970, several hundred of IR8 were planted in W estern Cameroon, but due to a variety of problems, they have mostly

disappeared. The UNVDA created in 1971 used the first six years of its existence to experiment on the various varieties of rice suited for the Ndop ecological zone [1 8 ]. A breeding program for rainfed varieties was started in the Mbo Plain in 1970 when a plant breeder was appointed to the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRA). Selection within several varieties from Côte d’Ivoire and Madagascar subsequently produced IRAT10, IRAT79, IRAT114, IRIM 209 and IRIM208, which became the main varieties in the region [2 0 ,2 2 ,3 6 ,3 7 ,5 0 ]. Until 1980, some Oryza glaberrima varieties are still grown by some farmers in upland and rainfed lowland environments [4 4 ,5 1 ]. Also, improved versions of Asian rice were promoted in Cameroon in the 1960s and 1970s as part of efforts to import Asia’s “green revolution” to the continent. That hope quickly 752

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Fig. 3: Share of rice ecologies in Cameroon, 2005 died, however, as the Asian varieties failed to thrive in on-farm trials, because they were not adapted to the Cameroonian environment [9 ,1 3 ,5 0 ]. The advent of semi-dwarf varieties had a sharp impact on the rice production in Cameroon. As of 1975, perhaps 17,000 ha of High Yielding Rice Varieties (HYRV) were being grown. Of the new varieties, 50% came from crosses made at the Institut de Recherches Agronomiques Tropicales (IRAT), 20% at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), 11% at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and several of the rest have parentage from various organisations and countries (Table 4). In 1975, an estimated 400 to 500 ha of IR20, IR24 and Jaya (from India) were being grown in Yagoua. Other varieties included Taichung 178 and D11417 (origin uncertain). Some IR8 was still planted. IR22 was tried but was wiped out by neck blast. IR46 was introduced by IRRI in 1980 and became the most popular variety in Northern Cameroon, occupying more than 10,000 ha in 1983. IR46 is remarkable for its ability to yield well over the whole rice area and when grown under adverse conditions. An IITA line, ITA 212, which is early maturing, was also spreading in the same region. Near Bamenda and the Mbo Plain, the predominant varieties were Tainan 5, ITA212, ITA222, and CICA8. Two other lines with superior grain quality, IR7167-33-2-3 and B2161-MR57-1-3 (Indonesia) were also released in the region. The country recorded an average yield of 4.5 t.ha-1 from 1983 to 1986. Those varieties became the basis of the industry [2 8 ,4 1 ,5 2 ,5 3 ]. Between 1986 and 2000, a number of improved rice varieties were also released for cultivation like CISADANE, IR42, IRAT 13 [2 8 ,4 1 ,5 3 ]. The Développement Paysannal et Gestion des Terroirs (DPGT) has also

helped introduce several lines between 2000-2004 (Table 5). The project operates under the umbrella of the Société de Développement du Coton (SODECOTON). Some thirty varieties have been supplied for trial in upland and rainfed lowland ecosystems in the Logone Plain of North Cameroon. Most of those varieties are early maturing. SBT33, SBT281, SBT1141and B22 have yielded 2.5-3 t.ha-1 in Kaele and 3-6 t.ha-1 in Karal and Yaere. Other promising varieties include Gambiaka kokum and Fofofa 154 from Madagascar, Agronorte 147 and Agronorte 182 from Brazil [2 9 ,3 2 ]. W ARDA is coming up with eight promising varieties which will be distributed to farmers for trial[9 ]. Conclusion: In Cameroon, rice is grown in three ecological zones: the forest, the savannah and the arid regions. The production saw a steady growth between 1960 and 1985, both in terms of cultivated areas and grain yields. But between the period from 1986 to 2005, the production trends showed a decline mainly because of the economic crisis of 1987 and the devaluation of the national currency in 1994. The observation on the evolution of cultural techniques indicates that rice in Cameroon is largely produced under irrigated conditions. Despite this, a considerable proportion of smallholders still depend on rainfall and the planting season of rice in most locations occurs at the start of the rainy season. But even though the traditional peasantry is an historic provider of the national rice supply, the Cameroonian Government has done relatively little to stimulate smallholder production. The traditional rice sector, in particular, has been seriously neglected. One positive sign is that farmers are becoming more and more interested in rice production and have a new opportunity to revitalize their production using improved varieties.

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Res. J. Agric. & Biol. Sci., 4(6): 745-756, 2008 W hile it is too early to predict how the new varieties will affect the rice-producing areas of Cameroon, there is much cause for optimism. The development of highyielding varieties however, will not alone boost Cameroon’s rice production. Looking forward, a key challenge is to analyze the major constraints of rice production in Cameroon and the opportunities and future challenges ahead to better address consumer’s needs.

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13. ACKNOW LEDGM ENT The author is grateful to James Aipa and Chris Paulus for insightful comments and suggestions. REFERENCES

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