Cameroon marks beginning of farming season with emphasis on boosting production

YAOUNDE, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Gabriel Mbairobe on Thursday launched the 2019 farming season in west region with a call on promoting and valorizing local production.

"The richness of soil and climate can permit Cameroon to produce several agricultural products including cocoa, coffee, rice, maize, and beans, on very large scale," Mbairobe said.

The minister stressed that the government is putting in place measures to reduce importation of agricultural products.

Cameroon is committed to making its second-generation agricultural policy, which seeks to modernize agriculture, Mbairobe said.

"In our quest to revolutionize agriculture, the government intends to open up agricultural production centers, especially in rural areas and link them to urban centers," he said, adding there are efforts to transform local production in a modern way.

Cameroon's farming season usually runs from March to October.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the country's economy, contributing about 76 percent to its gross domestic product, according to the ministry of agriculture.