The landmark agreement aims to boost domestic rice production and reduce the country’s growing reliance on imports.

CAMEROON – Cameroon has signed a €150 million (US$171,952,500) agreement with Israeli agribusiness firm Ekobell to establish three large-scale rice production and processing agro-poles in the northern regions of Sirdjam and Pola in the North Region, and Mbé in Adamawa.

The three-year project targets developing 10,000 hectares of high-yield rain-fed rice cultivation, aiming to produce an additional 46,700 tonnes of paddy rice, or about 31,289 tonnes of milled rice, an 18% boost to national output.

The initiative, backed by technical studies from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB), introduces mechanized equipment including power tillers, mini-harvesters, threshers, and rice milling machines to modernize farming practices and achieve yields of four to five tonnes per hectare.

Ekobell, supported by Israel’s export credit agency, will provide improved seeds, modern techniques, training, and technology transfer to ensure Cameroonian staff manage operations post-handover.

One of its key components is the establishment of Agricultural Support Centers (ASC) designed to improve productivity and profitability for family farms.

These centers will provide mechanization services, agronomic guidance, access to certified agricultural inputs, and drying and storage facilities to help reduce post-harvest losses.

They will also act as buyers of paddy rice for processing, creating a guaranteed market outlet for farmers and helping stabilize their incomes against market price fluctuations.

The programme will also introduce mechanized equipment, such as power tillers, mini-harvesters, threshers, and rice milling machines, to modernize production methods and increase yields in participating farming areas.

Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe hailed the deal as a pivotal step toward rice self-sufficiency, aligning with national goals to triple production from 140,710 tonnes in 2024 to 460,000 tonnes by 2027 and 750,000 tonnes by 2030, eliminating imports.

Ekobell CEO Idan Pinhas emphasized productivity gains from mechanization and quality seeds, projecting 40,000 direct and indirect jobs, including 8,000 for rice farmers linked to the agro-poles.

This partnership addresses Cameroon’s heavy reliance on imports, as domestic consumption hit 576,949 tonnes in 2020, and structures the northern rice value chain amid rising demand.

It supports broader strategies valued at 385 billion XAF (US$673.2M) to foster food security, rural employment, and economic resilience in staple production.

As global rice prices stabilize, the project positions Cameroon competitively, reducing vulnerability to international fluctuations and enhancing local processing capacity.

Published Date: March 15, 2026