Cameroon’s “Tribune” reported that in recent years, Cameroon’s cotton industry has not been fully developed due to industry scale restrictions. Currently, the prices of seeds and fertilizers on the Cameroonian market have increased significantly. In 2003-2004, a 50-kilogram bag of fertilizer sold for 11,500 CFA francs, and in 2007, it sold for 17,000 CFA francs.
The latest bidding quotation in 2008 shows that the same 50kg bag of fertilizer now costs 30,000 CFA francs, which has basically doubled. No grower can afford this price, which will seriously affect cotton production. Cotton production has now shown a decreasing trend year by year. A series of encouragement and stimulus policies must be adopted before cotton production is expected to reach 200,000 tons in 2008-2009.
In response to this unfavorable situation, the Cameroon Cotton Growers Union (OPCC-GIE) organized two symposiums for representatives of cotton growing areas in Maroua on October 31 and Garoua on November 4. , grower representatives want the government to increase financial subsidies for the purchase of fertilizers and cut tariffs such as value-added tax on the transportation of fertilizers and other products.
Most of Cameroon’s cotton growers have joined OPCC-GIE. OPCC-GIE was established in 2000 in accordance with the law and is recognized both domestically and internationally. OPCC-GIE organizes cotton growers together, provides them with seeds or other agricultural products, protects their interests, and provides training to members from time to time. So far, 370,000 growers have joined OPCC-GIE.
