-17% in one year. According to INS, food product imports fell from 65 billion to 54 billion FCFA in the first quarter of 2026, saving 11 billion FCFA. The decrease mainly concerns rice and corn, driven by the government’s desire to boost local production.
First positive signal for food sovereignty. Cameroon has significantly reduced its dependence on food imports at the beginning of the year.
According to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics (INS), the bill for food product imports dropped by 17% in the first quarter of 2026. It fell from 65 billion to 54 billion FCFA year-on-year. A saving of 11 billion FCFA in just three months.
This improvement is mainly explained by the decline in purchases of rice and corn. Two products that weigh heavily in the country’s food trade balance and are at the heart of import substitution policies.
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The government has implemented several measures to support local sectors: subsidies for inputs, support for producers, hydro-agricultural developments, and tax incentives for processors. The goal is clear: to produce more locally to feed Cameroonians and keep foreign currency in the country.
The food bill represents several hundred billion FCFA each year. Reducing it has become an economic priority, especially in a context of global price tensions and pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
If the trend of the first quarter of 2026 continues, Cameroon could save more than 40 billion FCFA over the year. Enough to reinvest in agricultural infrastructure, storage, and processing.
Authorities remain cautious, however. Local production still needs to gain competitiveness and consistency to cover the entire year, including the lean season. Issues of logistics, access to credit, and processing remain central.
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For INS, this decrease nevertheless marks a turning point. It shows that policies promoting local agriculture are beginning to bear fruit and impact imports.
With 11 billion FCFA saved in the first quarter alone, Cameroon sends a message: the ambition to consume Cameroonian products is no longer just a slogan.
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