The industrialization bet for fruit processing

If all goes as planned, the locality of Mungo Nlohé in the department, Littoral region, should within three years, produce 100% natural pineapple juice.

As part of Agropole production, processing and marketing of pineapples launched last Thursday by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Planning (Minepat) ,initiated a project for the construction of a semi-industrial plant transformation pineapple juice.

According to (Minepat) a total investment of 1.9 billion F to benefit from the added value of these fruits production will be increased to 30 000 tonnes a year. This project falls in line with government objectives regarding the fruit industry.

Indeed, thanks to the launch of the Culture Development Program fruit trees in Cameroon late July, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), Essimi Menye, emitted the wish that the countries with the 2020, exports fruit juice.

A wish already expressed a few months earlier, at the launch of the growing season in 2015 on behalf of the northern part, in the town of Ngong, North are mango and foléré (sorrel juice).

He stated that these are the foundations of a strong agricultural industry. With upstream availability of raw materials in quantity and quality, to supply downstream processing units.

Again, it will start with the production and distribution of improved seedlings. The program has just been launched by MINADER with the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and will , initially, focus on the production of these seedlings fruit trees and the training of farmers in cultivation techniques.

The youth are the GIC and agricultural cooperatives which are referred to develop this fruit crop. Areas targeted are : the Vina in Adamawa; Lekié and the Mbam and Inoubou in the Centre, the Benue and Mayo-Louti in the North; Diamaré and the Mayo-Danay in the Far North.

On the implementation of this program in its practical phase, already being worked on. Information reaching MINADER reveals that nurseries were established in different localities of the country. These are primarily plants of mango and citrus (oranges, lemons, etc.) grown there.

At the same time, a data collection work is underway to establish a diagnosis of the sector. But already, the chances that the expected results under the program are met are great.

Yet in the opinion of some experts, the quite varied climate of the country offers the opportunity to produce fruit all year round. A major asset in a context where the current offer is the seasons in the different production areas.

It also means broadening the income of producers. Another element of analysis, the strong demand for natural juices in the market where consumers are demanding more and more these natural juices without preservatives or chemicals.He added

For now, the fruit juices transformation initiatives already exist. Individuals, GIC and cooperatives gradually penetrate the market. Although it is now difficult to make an exact figure on their activities, they refuel hotels, restaurants and supermarkets in the country.

These small local units must work together with the availability of raw materials including fruits that are not accessible permanently. The other problem is the conservation and the lack of equipment suitable for processing. The narrowness of both financial and human resources reduced the quantities produced, thus curbing the competitiveness with foreign brands still dominate the shelves.

Also,training farmers for growing fruit trees as planned in the program launched by the government is a first response. Just as the development of nurseries. Actions that should be accompanied by support for existing initiatives to modernize their equipment, their lashings with international standards and conquering markets.

Objective: To recover and face larger market to competite