Plantain production in Bangem, the bread basket in Cameroon
The Cameroon government will co-finance a programme to incubate young entrepreneurs in the plantain sector as part of a plan aimed at expanding agricultural production, improving market access and strengthening youth participation in agribusiness.
It notes that the example of KupeMuanenguba’s lead in plantain production has to be emulated by youths in other regions.
The proposal was discussed recently during a meeting in Yaounde between the Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, Achille Bassilekin III, and Samuel Tony Obam Bikoue, National President of the Association of Actors in the Plantain Banana Sector of Cameroon (AFBPC). Talks focused on a project titled “One youth, one plantain plantation oriented towards a market, a bank account and a future.” The initiative seeks government support to co-finance the incubation of young project holders entering the plantain value chain.
According to the association, the programme is designed to train and support young people in building modern and profitable agricultural businesses centered on plantain cultivation. It also aims to facilitate access to financing and encourage banking inclusion for participants while structuring production around market demand. The organisers say the approach is intended to help young entrepreneurs develop plantations that are directly linked to commercial outlets, thereby strengthening the organisation of the plantain supply chain.
Officials also indicated that the programme targets broader economic outcomes, including job creation and improved food security. It emerged from the meeting that plantain is one of the most widely consumed staples in Cameroon and remains an important agricultural commodity across several regions of the country. According to the project promoter, the initiative seeks to build a structured agribusiness ecosystem by fostering sustainable rural employment, while linking youth‑led plantations to markets and financial services.
Samuel Tony Obam Bikoue presented the proposal to the minister as part of ongoing efforts by sector stakeholders to promote the professionalisation of plantain production and improve opportunities for young people interested in agriculture. Discussions also centered on the potential for incubation programmes to support project leaders with training, technical guidance and financial access, enabling them to develop viable agribusiness ventures.
Authorities said the initiative aligns with government priorities to promote youth economic empowerment, modernise agricultural production and encourage entrepreneurship in rural areas. For stakeholders, the programme is viewed as a route to shape the plantain sector into a structured agribusiness model, generating jobs, driving inclusive growth, and opening market access.
KUPEMUANEGUBA Highest Producer of Plantain
According to Cameroon’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, plantains account for 16 percent of farmers’ income and 4.3 percent of Cameroon’s agricultural gross domestic product (GDP).
Plantain output in the country is estimated at over 5.4 million tonnes a year with Bangem in KupeMuanenguba as the lead production basin.
Cameroon wants to become the world’s leading producer of the crop by 2030, with an annual production of 10 million tonnes, to strengthen and preserve national food security and increase farmers’ income, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Gabriel Mbairobe.
“Cameroon’s desire to become an emerging country by 2035, depends on the development of production, processing and distribution activities for our various agricultural and pastoral products which offer real employment and wealth opportunities for our population,” Mbairobe said. “The government is determined to support the plantain industry in various ways.”