Visiting Yaouné on Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron notably raised the issue of food security, at a time of war in Ukraine, relaunching the “Farm” initiative, which aims to help countries invest in their own agriculture and not no longer depend on others, as in Cameroon, which is developing substitutes for wheat flour.
Flour with plantain: this is the idea of this Cameroonian farmer and entrepreneur whom franceinfo was able to meet to deal with the scarcity of Ukrainian cereals, at the time of the war in Ukraine, when Tuesday 26 July, Emmanuel Macron was visiting Cameroon to discuss the issue of food security in particular.
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The President of the Republic has in fact relaunched the “Farm” initiative there – to Food and agriculture resilience mission – carried by France, and which aims to help countries invest in their own agriculture and no longer depend on others.
“Given the problem that there was on the availability of flourexplains the entrepreneur to franceinfo, they asked all those who already produce this raw material and market it to market products that substitute wheat flour. That’s why we were urged to produce plantain flour.”
And the farmer to clarify: “Plantain flour is more suitable for people who have food allergy problems. In addition, it is very effective for companies that manufacture biscuits. We have many Cameroonian companies that make biscuits and that are facing supply problems due to rising wheat prices.”
This kind of initiative, supported by IFAD, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, is thriving in Cameroon. Thousands of young people are encouraged to embark on new productions. This makes it possible to depend a little less on imports, explains Alfred Bela Tomo, national coordinator of the program to promote agropastoral entrepreneurship among young people in Cameroon.
“It started before the war, but it intensified afterwards: the Ukrainian crisis caused the problem to become more and more acute, and required much faster and much more coordinated interventions.”
Alfred Bela Tomoat franceinfo
During his visit to Cameroon, Emmanuel Macron announced a strengthening of French investment in these developing agricultural sectors. An essential support, for example for Carel, which produces fruit juices in Cameroon. “We really need this support, she points out. This is really close to our hearts because the company there was created in 2017 and needs to develop. We await this support with open arms and we are very happy with this support for young Cameroonian entrepreneurs.”
Cameroon is therefore developing its own sectors: from cassava to rice, including onions. And this helps to reduce poverty and improve food security.