Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – Cameroon’s Vice Prime Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Jean Nkuete, Tuesday, December 6, 2011 in the political capital, Yaounde launched the Support Project for the Development of the Agriculture Sector (PADFA), that sets out to step up rice and onion production in the country by 25 percent.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will provide FCFA 9 billion of the financing, while the government of Cameroon will provide the remaining FCFA 2.5 billion.

The National Project Coordinator, Felix Bokagne disclosed during the ceremony that the project sets out to reduce poverty in the rural milieu, increase household incomes and improve food security through the sustainable development and competitiveness of upland and low land rice and onion sub sectors.

Irrigation Development Specialist, Zumbi Simon disclosed that within the seven years, beginning in 2012, 3,920 hectares of land will be developed for small scale farmers in the Far North, North, North West and West Regions of Cameroon, stating that rice farmers in the four regions only cultivate about 2,800 hectares.

Cameroon currently produces over 150,000 metric tonnes of rice and national demand stands at 600,000 metric tonnes, indicating a deficit of 450,000 metric tonnes.

Onion production on its part is estimated at 100,000 metric tonnes.

The Director of the West and Central African Division, Programme Management Department of IFAD, Ides Does de Willebois, talking during the launching of the project, described Cameroon onion as most appreciated compared to that imported from the west.