Cameroon is promoting cassava as a wheat flour alternative to reduce imports and leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The initiative, led by the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts (MINPMEESA), focuses on cassava-based flour to enhance food security and empower women-led cooperatives in processing and trade.

The ministry is developing agro-industrial hubs in major cassava-growing regions to support this effort. These hubs will provide farmland, seed multiplication fields, small processing units, and training for women’s groups. Plans include establishing up to 20 hubs, with a few currently operational. A pilot hub in Mbangassina, Centre region, has allocated land to women’s cooperatives, and a processing unit is under construction.

Cameroon imports around 800,000 tonnes of wheat annually, costing $288 million in 2023, according to Business in Cameroon. Cassava, widely grown nationwide, offers a cost-effective substitute. Officials suggest that incorporating up to 15% cassava flour into bread and pastries could lower import costs while supporting local farmers. Each hub is expected to employ hundreds of women directly, with additional jobs in logistics and trade, potentially creating over 10,000 jobs across the initiative.

Challenges remain, including inconsistent cassava flour quality, which affects its suitability for bakery use, and limited large-scale processing and storage infrastructure. Securing funding for hub development is also a concern. Previous cassava substitution efforts in Cameroon yielded mixed results, underscoring the need to address technical, market, and consumer acceptance issues simultaneously. Achieving consistent quality and competitiveness is critical for Cameroon to tap into AfCFTA markets.

The initiative draws on regional experiences, such as Nigeria’s cassava flour program since 2002, which faced challenges with quality, logistics, and costs. Despite concerns, studies have confirmed cassava’s lower glycemic index compared to wheat, supporting its viability as a substitute. Cameroon’s efforts aim to overcome these hurdles through improved infrastructure and training to ensure sustainable outcomes.

By fostering local cassava production and processing, Cameroon seeks to reduce reliance on wheat imports, strengthen food security, and boost economic opportunities for women-led cooperatives, contributing to broader regional trade and development goals under the AfCFTA.