A New Era for Food Crop Research in Cameroon A cooperative project of the Cameroon Institute for Agronomic Research (IRA) International Intitute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the United Stat.s Agency for International Development (USAID) Project No. 631-0013 November 1987 A sistance by USAID to ing research which other the agriculture sector countries in the region can of Cameroon is a vital use. input in the national develop- The NCRE project is com­ ment strategy. The assistance plemented by USAID assis­ provided to the National tance to the University Center Cereals Research and Exten- of Dschang, which represents sion program of the Institute he National Cereal the other arm of our support for Agronomic Research is Research and Extension to agriculture by strengthen­ especially valuable because it . Project (NCRE) illus- ing agricultural education is making available the best of trates the successful partner- faculties. USAID's long-term the world's agricultural tech- ship and cooperation of the commitment to food crop nology through its linkage Government of Cameroon and research in Cameroon is with the International Insti- the U.S. Agency for Interna- evident not only by funding tute of Tropical Agriculture tional Development (USAID). cereals research through and the international agri- NCRE has become a 15-year, NCRE for fifteen years but cultural research centers. 1 $70,000,000 project of the also by undertaking the have noted with some pride Government of Cameroon to research project in tropical the professional growth of the which USAID has contributed roots and tubers. Cameroonian research staff $43,000,000. This booklet I am impressed by the who have joined this project documents the impressive accomplishments of the NCRE and I look forward to their results of the first five years. project and congratulate the becoming the scientists and The long-term commitment Government of Cameroon's leaders of a dynamic and pro- is a historical one for USAID. Minister of Higher Education ductive agriculture sector. It demonstrates our determi- and Scientific Research, the nation to be a dependable, Institute of Agronomic long-term partner to a stable Research and USAID/ ' iK and committed country. The Cameroon on their successful / benefits of NCRE are twofold. collaboration in implementing First, Cameroon is able to this research program. H. E. Paul Biya President strengthen its agricultural Republic of Cameoon research system to maintain its policy of food self-reliance. Second, the research results hM , . are relevant and transferable M. Peter McPherson to neighboring countries, U.S. AgencyDircor for which places Cameroon in a International Development leadership position in produc­ 2 CON TNTS INTRODUCTION 4 SORGHUM & MILLET 18 Agricultural research in Under low rainfall conditions Cameroon has a double of the growing region for impact, once for Cameroon sorghum and millet, higher and again for Africa as a yielding varieties and region, because Cameroon is improved cultural practices an agricultural research are essential to meet future producing country. needs. NCRE 8 TESTING & LIAISON UNIT 22 The partnership and Developing and maintaining cooperation of the information channels between governments of Cameroon farmers, researchers and and the United States, extension agents is essential through the NCRE project, is for research to have an impact a long-term commitment to on agricultural growth. food security. COMMITMENT 26 MAIZE 10 NCRE is developing Maize variety development knowledge and operational intensified through the NCRE approaches with national project, benefitting from IRAs scientists to enhance their previous ten years of ability to identify problems, successful varietal analyze alternatives, and development work in both the formulate strategies that highlands and lowland achieve food security. regions. COOPERATING RICE 14 INSTITUTIONS 32 Many West and Central African countries stand to ACRONYMS & benefit from the rice research ABBREVIATIONS 34 underway in Cameroon, especially those with similar PERSONNEL 35 agro-climatic conditions. 3 Agricultutal researchin Cameroon has a double impact, once for Cameroon and again for Africa as a region, because Cameroon is an agricultural research producing country. Development Strategy for Food Crops "n Cameroon's national In recent years government agricultural development support for food crops .Lstrateg,; one of the specific research has more than objectives set in the Fifth doubled. Part of the reason Five-Year Plan (1981-1986) was for the increased emphasis on self-reliance in food food crops is that Cameroon production. This objective is has a population growth rate further iterated in specific of three percent or more. At priorities that have been the same time its rural identified as areas of population is declining due to concentration within the rural rural-urban migration and sector, including improvement aging. This trend can only of farmer productivity increase the need for food through research efforts and production at a time when information availability, there may be less capacity to Cameroon has been produce it. Approximately virturally self-reliant in food two-thirds of Cameroon's 8.9 production even though public million people remain in the investment has been directed rural areas of the country. By largely toward cash and the year 2000 only half of the export crops in the past. population is expected to Nevertheless, analysts have reside in rural areas. looked to the long term and determined that foc4 self­ The government of Cameroon, sufficiency cannot be consciousof the Importance assumed. Experiei ce of agriculture in the develop­ ment of a nation, has Iden­ elsewhere in West and Central tifed qualityagronomic and farming method research as a Africa is a grim reminder of key factorin the successful the tentative nature of food try'sImplementation long-term food of the coun­ producfion. productionplan. 4 vIL Agricultural Setting Small-scale farmers dominate in food crop production, with most of then' farmiiig one to three hectares of land. The majority of farming operations are carried out by hand using traditional cropping systems and traditional crop varieties. "A. A network of agricultural production companies, development societies, cooperatives and regional development authorities constitutes a support Aging and rural-urban migration are infrastructure for modern- contributingto adecline In the rural ization of many small farms. population, while thc overall population Some of these organizations Is growing at arate of three percent or more. This trend is reducing the capacity are area- and crop-specific, for food production at a time when practice mechanized farming, greater production Isneeded. and utilize improved varieties and agronomic practices. Others are set up to assist KoussER. small-scale farmers, often with minimal inputs. Limited and uncertain rainfallreduces Land Diversity agriculturalpotential In the Northern pro- ouA vinces. With less than 800mm distributed TCHATIBALI Cameroon is a land of rivers) over lessrun than only 90seasonally. days, the Farmer'sMayos (dry. risk diverse climates, ranging from typicalof crop offailure Sahellan in this regions part ofthroughout Cameroon is humid tropics on the west Africa. coast of Africa to the Sahelian zone in the Extreme North Province. Rainfall in the humid tropics can be as high as 5000mm with 250 rain The Institute of Agricultural B Research (IRA) has an exten­ sive network of research centers and stations IRA Infrastructure and throughoutthe country. This NCRE Research Sites distributionensures a research capability In the various agroclimatic zones and DIRECTORATEC supports the government's CENS S policyof Integrated SUBSTATIONS development. 6 days per year, while inthe V Agronomic Research (IRA) Sahelian north total rainfall is became the organization less than 800mm distributed throtigh which the NCRE over a period of less than 90 project was implknted. IRA days. Inbetween these has under its jurigiction a extremes is a regular National Cereals Research succession of climatic zones Program, one of 22 different broken by intervening progranis for agronomic mountains and plateau areas research in Cameroon. which affect both temperature In keeping with the and rainfall. government's policy of Soils in Cameroon are integrated development, IRA highly variable in composition, works throughout the country. fertility and in their Burning crop residues underground is a There are research centers and geographic distribution. These the first year but destroys soilorganic stations located in each agro­ matter and soil structure. Cereals range from highly weathered research can provide alternatives to tradi- climatic zone. Programs such soils in the southern forest tioral practices,such as this one which as IRAs cereals research with low nutrient holding program join with these capacity to alfisols and grown. In this respect, the centers and stations, as vertisols of the savanna, both IRA network of research appropriate, for research of moderate to high centers and stations provided across a range of agro-climatic productivity. There are also an excellent staging ground conditions and cropping or soils of volcanic origin found for cereals research and the farming systems. in Camerjon. These soils, basis for the NCRE project to Most of the cereal crops in along with the sedimentary strengthen the cereals research Cameroon are grown either as materials of the flood plains program within