Cameroon, Chad step up local wheat plans to reduce import dependence
Both countries are increasing investment in wheat production as they work to cut imports and improve local supply, although high production costs still limit competitiveness.
CAMEROON/CHAD – Cameroon and Chad are stepping up efforts to grow more wheat locally as both governments seek to reduce their reliance on imports and improve food security.
New investments in research, seed production and farming support show growing interest in expanding wheat production, even as the sector continues to face high costs and lower yields than major global producers.
Cameroon recently approved a three year action plan that will guide the development of its wheat sector from 2027. The government expects the program, which carries a budget of 30.9 billion CFA francs (US$54 million), to move wheat production from small scale trials to a more organized industry.
The plan focuses on producing certified seeds, supporting farmers and building storage and processing facilities. Authorities also want to develop 4,500 hectares of farmland to produce about 9,000 tonnes of certified seed and eventually reach commercial wheat production of 180,000 tonnes each year across the Far North, North, Adamawa, West and North West regions.
The initiative builds on work by researchers at the Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD), who developed wheat varieties that suit different growing conditions across the country.
Chad has also increased its focus on wheat. In March 2026, the government officially launched the National Centre of Specialization on Wheat during the third Regional Wheat Conference in N’Djamena.
The centre will support scientific research, produce improved wheat seed and train researchers to support wheat production across West and Central Africa. Local media also reported that financial and technical partners pledged support for a regional research project involving Chad, Nigeria and Senegal.
The project comes as Chad seeks to rebuild a wheat industry that once supplied the Grand Moulin du Tchad through production around Lake Chad. Official figures show the country’s wheat output stood at about 3,000 tonnes in 2025, far below earlier production levels.
Despite these efforts, improving competitiveness remains a major challenge. Cameroon imported 921,236 tonnes of wheat in 2025 at a cost of about US$219 million. While its target of 180,000 tonnes would reduce part of that import bill, it would still leave the country heavily dependent on foreign supplies.
Other African producers, including Nigeria, continue to support wheat farming through government subsidies. Across much of sub-Saharan Africa, producers also face high costs for imported farm inputs and irrigation, while average yields remain below global levels. These factors continue to make imported wheat more competitive than locally produced grain.
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