The Cameroun government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (FIDA) have jointly reviewed progress made under the Country Strategic Opportunities Program (COSOP) 2019-2026, revealing remarkable gains in agricultural output. This assessment, conducted in Yaoundé on July 16, 2026, paves the way for shaping the next five-year COSOP framework covering 2027-2032.

These strategic investments were meticulously designed to uplift rural livelihoods, with particular emphasis on empowering women and youth. The overarching goal: sustainable poverty reduction through agricultural transformation.

meeting development targets through targeted agricultural investments

The COSOP program has achieved 98% completion in its core mandate of enhancing productivity and production among smallholder farms and rural enterprises. A total of 139 cooperatives specializing in rice and onion value chains have been established, benefiting 10,505 producers—49% of them young entrepreneurs and 39% women. While the 2024 milestone aimed for 10,000 members with at least half led by women or youth, the program has already surpassed these targets by nearly 6%.

breakthrough in agropastoral entrepreneurship

The Youth Agropastoral Entrepreneurship Promotion Program (PEA-Jeunes) has demonstrated exceptional results, with 99% of participants adopting the trained techniques—nearly doubling the original 50% target. However, hydro-agricultural land development for rice and onion cultivation fell slightly short, with only 649 hectares developed out of a planned 1,600 hectares (43% completion).

yield improvements across key crops

Under the Programme d’Appui au Développement des Filières Agricoles (PADFA II), participating farmers reported significant yield gains:

• Lowland rice: Average yield rose to 3.7 tons per hectare (74% of the 5-ton target), up from 2.1 tons previously
• Upland rice: Production reached 2.5 tons per hectare (63% of the 4-ton goal), compared to 1.6 tons prior
• Onions: Farmers achieved 18 tons per hectare (86% of the 21-ton target), a substantial improvement from 12 tons

Overall, PADFA II contributed 52,996 tons of paddy rice (70.38% of target) and 45,000 tons of onion bulbs (52.47% of target), reflecting both progress and areas needing continued support.

climate-smart agriculture gains momentum

The program’s 100% completion rate in adopting ecosystem-based adaptation and climate-smart practices underscores its alignment with national priorities. A strategic plan covering 17 reforms has been finalized, including a draft agropastoral sector orientation law and three bamboo restoration strategy documents.

The 2019-2026 COSOP, initially approved through 2024 and later extended to December 2026, was designed to harmonize with Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2020-2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. This alignment ensured that every intervention reinforced broader national and international development objectives.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst