Cameroon: Maize production still to satisfy local demand despite relative stability in the world.

Maize production in the world is relatively stable in 2017 according to the American ministry of agriculture (USDA) though still inferior to the 2016 record. The US and China are the world's greatest producers of the cereal with  three quarter of world reserve.

Classified 13th producer in Africa, Cameroon is also  witnessing a certain level of progress in maize production despite the shortage registered in 2011. Though production statistics for 2016 has not yet been published, according to provisional fIgures of the ministry of agriculture and rural development (MINADER), in 2015, maize production stood at 2148679 tons with an increase of 4.2% as compared to 2014. This progress which unfortunately does not satisfy local demand stands 2.5 million tons as of MINADER and 3 million tons according to findings from  FAO. This gives a deficit of 600,000 tons and to curb this deficit, mr Biya's regime has resorted to importing the cereal. A Cameroonian based economic news paper, EcoMatin, reports that the country imports in huge quantity to feed its population, adding that,  Biya's government imported 11270 tons of maize in 2013 which worth more than  fcfa 540 millions.  

The national investment promotion agency on its part indicates that the cost of imported  maize and its by-products stands at fcfa150 billion on an annual bases. Agronomists accounts for such deficit as resulting from poor government policies,  lack of mechanization of the sector, high cost of fertilizers, and the reluctance of farmers to use improved maize seeds and above all, the problem of farming land which is not accessible to all due to the outdated land law in Cameroon.