Cameroon targets 1.1 million tonnes of milk by 2035 

CAMEROON – The Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries in Cameroon has announced that the country plans to increase its annual milk output to 1.15 million tonnes by 2035, as part of a 305.7 billion CFA francs (US$500 million) dairy strategy launched last year to reduce its reliance on imports.

Farmers have been equipped with modern milking machines, refrigerated tanks, tractors and other gear, and secured a financing partnership with Bange Bank, Livestock Minister Taïga said at a handover ceremony in Yaoundé.

Imports covered the gap, with Cameroon spending 75.6 billion CFA francs (US$124 million) on milk and derivatives, including powdered milk, last year.

The government is channelling 111.5 billion francs into genetics, 92.3 billion into animal health, and 72.7 billion into feed, with the remainder allocated to processing, research and governance.

A new breeding center in Wakwa, Adamawa region, will start operating this year, producing 500 semen doses and 300 embryos annually to expand artificial insemination to 276,000 cows.

The plan builds on earlier efforts, including the import of 495 Montbéliarde heifers under the Prodel project, which aims to boost yields.

Production grew 2% in 2023, but the government says hitting the 2035 target will require sustained investment and faster rollout of these programs.

According to the Ministry of Livestock the national supply of dairy products was estimated at 155,570 tons per year, as reported by the National Confederation of Cattle Breeders of Cameroon.

This amount is estimated to be below the 300,000 tons of demand, resulting in an approximate 144,430 tons shortfall.

 In search of a solution to alleviate this milk supply deficit, Cameroon acquired 495 dairy cows from France between 2020 and 2023, funded by the World Bank for an amount of CFA 78 billion as part of its livestock development project.

In 2021, Cameroon was ranked 113th globally in terms of milk production and aims at enhancing its standing in the coming years.

The CFA 305.7 development plan to boost national milk production carries on six programmes: CFA 111.5billion allocated to genetics, CFA 72.7billion for feeding, CFA 14.6billion for milk processing, housing, health, welfare CFA 92.3billion, research-development CFA 5 billion and governance CFA 9.6 billion.

This development plan aims to boost national milk production in Cameroon, aligning with the country’s import-substitution policy, which encourages local production and promotes the consumption of Made in Cameroon products.

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