The project was presented at an inter-regional workshop on local flours (cassava, potato, cocoyam etc.) recently organized in Bafoussam in the Western Region by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (Minepat).

Speaking at the event, the Governor of the Western Region said that in order to galvanize producers to support the implementation of the import-substitution policy advocated by the Government, we must exploit the vast fertile lands in our two regions which can enable us produce large quantities of local flours in the next six months. And this will only be possible if we take action now and remain committed.

The idea of setting up a platform for local flour producers to boost local production seeks to remedy the current situation and comes at a time when debates on the need to find substitutes to wheat flour is making wind in the country, thanks to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis which has obliged the government to increase the price of a bag of wheat flour by 5,000 CFA francs.

This price increase was intended to absorb extra costs suffered by millers and thus guarantee the market supply of wheat flour (main constituent of bread), mainly imported from Russia, as revealed by official sources. Based on information from Minepat, in 2021, Cameroon imported wheat and wheat flour to the tune of 180 billion CFA francs.

Source: agencecamerounpresse.com