喀麦隆玉米产业面临生产成本飙升的困境

Group 1 - Corn is a major crop in Cameroon, crucial for food security and rural economy, with nearly 75% of households consuming it and over 6 million stakeholders involved in its value chain [1] - The average annual corn production from 2017 to 2021 was 2.2 million tons, but supply has consistently fallen short of demand, which reached 2.8 million tons in 2019 [1] - Cameroon is facing a structural trade deficit, with corn imports projected to reach 81,833 tons in 2024, a 103.1% increase year-on-year, and total imports have nearly tripled over five years, amounting to 19.4 billion CFA francs (approximately 34.33 million USD) [1] Group 2 - In 2023, the average corn yield in Cameroon was 1.8 tons per hectare, significantly below the global standard of 5.9 tons per hectare and also lower than South Africa's yield of 6.4 tons per hectare [2] - The national corn production growth rate is 2.2%, while the population growth rate is 2.8%, indicating a lag in production [2] - The Competitiveness Committee recommends modernizing the corn industry, promoting large-scale farms, enhancing the seed industry, encouraging the use of hybrid varieties suited to local conditions, and improving agricultural financing channels to support producers throughout the production cycle [2]