Cameroon's PIISAH Plan Investment Struggles with Large-Scale Farming

• Cameroon has secured a 200,000-hectare land reserve for large-scale farming.
• Only 3,000 hectares have entered the development phase so far.
• The project aims to increase domestic production of rice, maize, wheat, and other food crops under the PIISAH plan.
• Financing and infrastructure issues may be slowing down the project's expansion.

The slow rollout suggests that land access alone has not sparked large-scale agricultural investment.

The government of Cameroon has secured a massive 200,000-hectare land reserve for large-scale farming, but so far, only 3,000 hectares have entered the development phase. This slow rollout suggests that land availability alone may not be enough to spark significant private investment in agriculture. The figure of 1.5% operational development is disclosed in the government's 2027-2029 Medium-Term Economic and Budget Programming Document (DPEB).

The land reserve is part of the country's Integrated Agropastoral and Fisheries Import Substitution Plan (PIISAH), which aims to increase domestic production of rice, maize, wheat, and other food crops. The plan was presented to Parliament on July 3 by Finance Minister Louis Paul Motaze as part of the government's economic development strategy. However, the document does not provide details on the investors involved or the size of their investments.

The slow progress in developing the land reserve highlights the challenges faced by large-scale agricultural investment in Cameroon. Financing and infrastructure issues, as well as local concerns, may be contributing to the project's expansion difficulties. Lawyers advising clients on agricultural investments in Cameroon should take note of these efforts to address infrastructure and financing challenges, which could impact private investment opportunities.

Lawyers advising clients on agricultural investments in Cameroon should watch for the government's efforts to address infrastructure and financing challenges, which could impact the project's expansion and private investment opportunities.

Source: Original reporting via Cameroon government documents