Cameroon to boost dairy sector with insemination program

CAMEROON – Cameroon is poised to make a significant leap in dairy production with the establishment of the National Animal Seed Production Center in Wakwa, Adamawa region, by 2025.

According to Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, the facility will produce 500 doses of cattle semen and 300 embryos annually, enabling the artificial insemination of 276,000 cows to enhance milk output.

This announcement was made during the presentation of the country’s 2025 economic and social program to the National Assembly on December 1.

The move is part of a broader strategy to address a persistent milk production deficit that forces Cameroon to depend heavily on imports.

As reported by the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries, Cameroon produced over 176,000 tons of milk in 2023, leaving a shortfall of approximately 120,000 tons annually.

Efforts to close this gap are underpinned by a comprehensive plan running from 2024 to 2035, with an ambitious target to increase production to over one million tons per year.

The plan is valued at CFA305.7 billion and aims to boost milk self-sufficiency while reducing the financial burden of dairy imports.

Earlier reports from the Ministry indicated a modest 2% rise in milk production in 2023, reaching 176,600 tons, up from 173,900 tons in 2022.

This growth has been attributed to government-led revitalization programs, private sector involvement, and the importation of high-yield dairy cows.

Between 2020 and 2023, the government imported 495 Montbéliarde cows from France under the Livestock Development Project (Prodel), funded by the World Bank.

These cows, renowned for producing up to 40 liters of milk daily and their adaptability to hot climates, have played a pivotal role in enhancing local dairy output.

Prime Minister Ngute expressed satisfaction with the sector’s progress in 2024, highlighting the production of 235,000 tons of meat and 131,000 tons of milk.

Despite this, the country imported over 20,000 tons of dairy products and an additional 17,217 tons of powdered milk in 2023, collectively worth over CFA75 billion, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics.

The Ministry of Livestock’s strategic plan, approved in June 2024, underscores the government’s commitment to transforming the dairy sector.

By leveraging initiatives like Prodel and the upcoming insemination program, Cameroon aims to strengthen its domestic production capacity, gradually reducing reliance on imports while meeting rising domestic demand.