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CAMEROON is a West African nation bordering the Atlantic Ocean, with an area of 475,000 km2. Cameroon is one of the best-endowed countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in natural resources. About 70% of the workforce is employed in agriculture, which makes up 42% of the GDP. The country has three regions: northern plains, central grasslands, and rich farmlands in the south, here most of the population lives. Rice is mainly grown under irrigation. This area is also under threat of drought and desertification. About 12% of the land is arable. General information - GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 1,590
- Internal renewable water resources: 280 km3
- Main food consumed: roots and tubers, maize, millet and sorghum, fruits, oil and fat
- Rice consumption, 1999: 6.9 kg milled rice per person per year
Production constraints
Rice yield during 1995-2000 was substantially lower than that during 1985-90. The following are the major constraints to sustainable rice production in Cameroon: - Low temperature during the off-season in irrigated areas
- Poor marketing systems
- Deteriorating irrigation infrastructure
- Recently, lack of input supply and credit because of reorganization of the public sector
- Weak research support
Production season | | | | Planting | Harvesting | Main season | May-Jun | Oct-Dec | Off-season | Jan-Feb | May-Jun | Basic statistics, Cameroon |
| 1985 | 1990 | 1995 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | Rice | Area harvested (ha) | 22,670 | 11,040 | 16,000 | 22,943 | 20,387 | 20,000 | Yield (t/ha) | 4.7 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | | Production (t) | 107,399 | 55,199 | 62,000 | 73,288 | 67,470 | 68,000 | Rice imports (t) | 47,756 | 90,287 | 124,142 | 172,312 | 60,003 | na | Rice exports (t) | 9,778 | 311 | 95 | na | na | na | Paddy exports (t) | 117 | 5 | 0 | na | na | na | Others | Population, total (x103) | 9,970 | 11,472 | 13,182 | 14,305 | 14,693 | na | Population, agriculture (x103) | 6,527 | 7,292 | 7,626 | 7,820 | 7,882 | na | Agricultural area (x103 ha) | 9,160 | 9,170 | 9,160 | 9,160 | na | na | Irrigated agricultural area (x103 ha) | 21 | 25 | 33 | 33 | na | na | Total fertilizer consumption (t) | 56,500 | 16,800 | 30,000 | 39,533 | na | na | Tractors used in agric. (no.) | 600 | 508 | 500 | 500 | na | na | Source: FAOSTAT online database. | Click here for a pdf of this information
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