The African Seed Access Index (TASAI) Cameroon report 2024

Improving food and nutritional security across Africa hinges on the adoption

of productivity-enhancing technologies, including mechanization, irrigation,

fertilizers, and high quality seeds. A competitive seed sector is critical for field

crops, as it ensures that smallholder farmers have timely access to high-quality

seeds of improved and context-appropriate varieties at affordable prices. These

improved seeds provide transformative benefits, such as higher yields, resistance

to pests and diseases, adaptability to climate change, reduced post-harvest

losses, and enhanced nutritional value.

The African Seed Access Index (TASAI) conducts national-level seed industry

assessments to guide efforts by public policymakers and development agencies

to foster enabling environments. These efforts aim to accelerate the development

of competitive formal seed systems that serve smallholder farmers and promote

agricultural transformation in Africa.

This report presents the key findings of Cameroon’s inaugural seed industry

assessment, conducted in 2024-2025. TASAI studies collect information on four

grain and legume crops, known as “focus crops,” that are essential to the country’s

food and nutritional security and/or which the government has designated as

priority crops. In Cameroon, the four crops are maize, rice, sorghum, and soya

bean. According to the latest data in 2022 (FAOSTAT, 2024), they accounted for

78% of the area harvested for cereals and legumes. Of this, maize and sorghum

accounted for 45% and 26% of the harvested area, respectively, while rice and soya

bean together accounted for 7%. Although rice and soya bean are currently grown

on a relatively small area, they were included in the study because Cameroon’s

National Development Strategy 2030 (NDS 2030) has prioritized them as a staple

food and raw material for agro-industry (Ministère de l’Économie, de la Planification

et de l’Aménagement du Territoire (MINEPAT) 2020). Additionally, maize and rice

are identified as strategic crops for both domestic consumption and export.

Under the NDS 2030, the government seeks to boost agricultural productivity for

the four crops, in line with its broader goals of increasing food security, economic

diversification and fostering import substitution. By focusing on the four crops,

this study provides actionable insights and recommendations to strengthen

Cameroon’s formal seed system, in turn enhancing farmers’ access to seed of

improved varieties.