Announcement of Cameroon to Boost Agricultural Research, Food Self-Sufficiency, and Farmers' Incomes on November 20, 1986

FOR IMMEOIA TE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 87/25 Contact: Akin Fatoyinbo (202) 477-3294 CAMEROON TO BOOST AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND FARMERS' INCOMES WASHINGTON, November 20 -- Cameroon will use a $17.8 million loan from the World Bank to launch a nationwide project that will reorient agricultural research toward the needs of small-scale farmers who produce food crops and livestock. The project is expected to help maintain Cameroon's self-sufficiency in food, improve farmers' incomes and living conditions, and stem the tide of rural youths migrating to urban areas. The project aims at reorienting and expanding the research programs of the Institute of Agronomic Research and the Institute of Animal Research toward smallholder production systems. Research will be strengthened by ( creating a new center at Foumbot to serve the western and northwestern regions. Two field trial areas will be established at Minkomayos and Mouda, and other regional agronomic research facilities will be upgraded. Specialized laboratory equipment will be provided, forestry research facilities strengthened, and research staff reinforced. To reorient research toward the needs of shepherds and small-scale livestock producers, livestock systems research teams will be established to facilitate the adoption of new research objectives. The project is in line with the World Bank's program of assistance for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, which gives high priority to research. It also aims at increasing the coordination of development assistance with bilateral programs and at strengthening the links between Cameroonian research institutes and the network of research centers associated with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. The project is estimated to cost $43.2 million overall. Besides the financing from the World Bank, grants totaling $2.4 million are expected to be provided by the Overseas Development Administration of the United Kingdom and Deutsche Geselschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit GmbH of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Government of Cameroon will bear the remaining costs. The World Bank loan is for 20 years, including five years of grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 8.23 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.75 percent on the undisbursed balances. NOTE: Money figures are expressed in U.S. dollar equivalents.