Problems of low yields, old factories and outdated oil mills may soon be history in the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC).
On Wednesday June 20, 2018, three important cooperation protocols were signed in Yaoundé within the framework of the ongoing restructuring of the CDC. The first links the Corporation to Fertilore for the possible supply of fertilizers. The second signed with TIMAC AGRO is for the potential supply of specialist fertilizers mostly for the banana sector. The third and last was signed with Tyllium for the eventual construction of a Rubber Factory and a Palm Oil Mill.
Signing on behalf of the Government of Cameroon, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development H.E Henri Eyebe Ayissi revealed that, “the Government of Cameroon is determined to fully restructure the Cameroon Development Corporation”. He added that, “the CDC is a public company and second largest employer after the government. It is for this reason that the Prime Minister and Head of Government instructed us to assist this company in four fields namely: acquisition of good fertilizers, renewal of plantations, construction of new factories and mills as well as supply of heavy equipment”.
On his part, the General Manager, Mr. Franklin Ngoni Njie thanked the Government and further explained that “the fertilizers will help to increase the CDC’s current annual production of 18,000 m3 tons of rubber, 25.000 tons of palm oil and 110.000 tons of banana”. He added that, upon construction, “the new rubber factory and oil mill will bring an end to frequent breakdowns and significantly reduce the cost of production, thereby making the Corporation more profitable and sustainable”. Meantime, on May 22, 2018, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development signed another Memorandum of Understanding with a Canadian company known as ITD for the eventual supply of heavy equipment to the Corporation. ”.
On the sidelines of these signings, the General Manager of the CDC signed a contract with TIMAC AGRO for this company to train agronomists of the CDC and oversee the fertilization of 400 Ha of specially chosen parcels of banana plantations. This is with a view of increasing production by about 30% in a year. It should be noted that, these memoranda are a kick-off which will pave the way for negotiations, which if successful, will culminate in real contractual engagements.