Cameroun: the seeds of entrepreneurs in agribusiness

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With the TRANSFORM program, AFD and its partners are giving Cameroonian entrepreneurs the opportunity of bringing their initiatives to fruition. An innovative and effective way of reviving Cameroon’s agriculture sector, prior to extending the program to other countries.

Cameroon’s agribusiness sector benefits from a favorable ground: its urban market and agriculture sector are booming. However, farmers have difficulty finding sufficient outlets for their production, as they have limited access to the formal market. They consequently end up selling off their crops on the informal market at a cheap price. Farmers and small entrepreneurs in the sector also come up against barriers in obtaining supplies of agricultural raw materials, packaging… They also suffer from a lack of expertise and capital. Finally, small entities have trouble in expanding their activity.

AFD and the European Institute for Cooperation and Development (IECD) set out to remove these barriers by launching the TRANSFORM project in 2015. This original mechanism combats the insecurity of farmers by offering them more stable and lucrative outlets. Its action revolves around the TRANSFORM center: a place where farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs interact. The center trains and provides individual support to partner farmers. It is also a laboratory to supervise the processing of local farming products and acts as an incubator for innovative agribusiness SMEs. Finally, it facilitates the transport of agricultural products and processed products to the large urban distribution centers.

Robertine: “a hard work but what a satisfaction!”

Robertine started making fruit syrups and liqueurs 25 years ago. “At the beginning, I only did it for my family and friends. I fancied working with my hands and I made a job out of this passion. I went for it and opened my shop. I have never regretted it, despite all the obstacles.”

Thanks to the training, I made a lot of progress in management, organization and medium and long-term planning. As for my labels, they have also seen quite a few changes. At the beginning, they were all handwritten, but little by little I developed the graphics and quality. I’ve always had a lot of trouble to find packaging for my bottles, which are made out of recycled glass. I now target suppliers so that I can have original bottles to make me stand out.

But I keep on working in an artisanal way so that I can maintain optimal quality. I focus on a market segment which demands quality products. I’ve also just heard some very good news: I’ve got my first purchase order with Carrefour. I’m now a selected supplier with them. I’d been waiting for that for a really long time. This has come about through long and hard work, but what a satisfaction!

Gilles: “today, I employ over ten people!”

Gilles and his bakery joined TRANSFORM barely a year ago with very limited means. “I started in my parents’ kitchen. Today, I have my own premises and I employ over ten people.

When I started out, I used to sleep in my shop, I used to work day and night. Thanks to TRANSFORM, I learned how to organize my production and calculate my cost prices. I know how to manage my team and I’m sometimes even able to free up some time. I can now handle the food hygiene and safety rules better. The manufacturing processes are more clear and each product is graded.

With the training, I learned how to substantially diversify my product range. I make brioches, pastry cakes, wedding and birthday cakes… I only used to have four references! I realized that I was able to develop my activity despite my limited means. I gradually bought equipment to make my work easier, a small oven, a motorbike… and a few days ago I was even able to buy myself a car.

I’ve had proposals to set up a chain of bakeries, but for the time being I prefer to take things step by step. In the short term, I would prefer to do deliveries: I think I will be able to deliver at least 500 brioches a day in the next six months.”

TRANSFORM wants to export itself

Following the success of the TRANSFORM center in Cameroon, its twin has come into being in Côte d’Ivoire. The two centers have given themselves three years to achieve the following objectives:

Train and support 80 entrepreneurs or project initiators;

Professionalize 400 agricultural producers and give them access to formal channels;

Build networks among producers, processors and distributors in order to create new areas of activity;

Launch a social business to provide services with subsidized prices to partners in agricultural and agribusiness sectors (equipment rental, expertise services…).

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