Cameroon is one of the largest cassava producers in Africa, but this sector struggles to create value. With most of the produce sold or exported in its raw form rather than as a finished product, the cassava sector remains significantly undervalued, failing to maximize local economic potential.

The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can transform and unlock the true economic value of this sector. The centralization of processing units, cumbersome export procedures, and weak market coordination hinder producers from fully capitalizing on the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA. To benefit from the agreement, Cameroon should decentralize processing, redirect public incentives towards competitiveness, and strengthen market coordination.

Cameroon produces more than 6 million tons of cassava per year, making it one of Africa's leading producers. Yet, post-harvest losses can reach 30 percent due to the lack of processing and storage infrastructure. Limited cassava processing and poorly structured markets reduce the sector's appeal to agribusiness investors, limiting income prospects for rural producers.

This situation hinders the development of regional exports and job creation along the value chain. Without targeted adjustments, Cameroon may struggle to fully capitalize on the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA.

Decentralizing cassava processing is one of the most effective ways to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA. Presently, most processing units in Cameroon are concentrated around urban centers, far from production areas. This increases transportation costs, post-harvest losses, and limits the capacity to meet large regional orders.

Establishing small-and medium-sized processing units near production basins would enable cassava to be processed into higher-value-added products, such as flour, starch, and gari, in accordance with the AfCFTA's harmonized standards.

The above solution has demonstrated effectiveness in other African countries. For instance, Nigeria’s decentralized processing units, supported by private investors and cooperatives, have facilitated the export of high-quality cassava flour.

Cameroon can draw inspiration from this model by streamlining approval procedures for rural processors, introducing targeted fiscal incentives for processing equipment, and strengthening cooperative support mechanisms. Such reforms would deliver rapid gains, including reduced post-harvest losses, lower logistical costs, improved product quality, and higher incomes for producers.

Cameroon's current agricultural support policies are focused on import management rather than surplus production for export. It is essential to redirect public incentives toward productivity and compliance with regional standards. Small-scale producers require access to affordable credit, improved cassava varieties, and extension services to help them meet health and quality standards.

Within this framework, state-guaranteed credit lines would reduce banks' risks, while research institutes would accelerate the dissemination of high-yielding, disease-resistant cassava varieties. This integrated system could be piloted through the creation of a cassava export desk.

The desk would help producers and SMEs understand the rules of origin and documentary procedures of the AfCFTA. These reforms would encourage formalization, attract private investment, and strengthen the competitiveness of the sector.

The cassava sector in Cameroon suffers from poor coordination between producers, processors, transporters, and buyers. However, the AfCFTA requires sufficient volumes of cassava products, consistent product quality, and predictable supply schedules; elements that are rarely provided by informal markets.

Establishing community aggregation centers can enable the full potential of the AfCFTA to be realized. Such centers would enable the consolidation of large volumes of cassava, standardize quality, and facilitate better price negotiations.

This solution, when paired with a digital platform connecting producers, processors, and regional buyers, would improve price transparency and reduce transaction costs. Similar experiences with aggregation systems and digital market platforms in Kenya and Rwanda have strengthened the efficiency of regional agricultural trade. Better coordination would enable Cameroon to sustainably integrate into regional cassava value chains, benefiting both farmers and the national economy.

Decentralizing cassava processing increases added value. Targeted incentives improve competitiveness, and better market coordination facilitates regional integration. These solutions, if implemented, would benefit rural producers, processors, consumers, and the national economy. Beyond cassava, they can also reduce food imports, alleviate rural poverty, and enhance Cameroon’s credibility in implementing the AfCFTA.