The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Henri Ayebe Ayissi, was in the North West Region last weekend to inaugurate a rice processing plant and donate farm inputs to farmers in Tingu located in lower Bafut Sub-Division.

This was the first official visit of the minister since his appointment last year.

This rice processing and marketing factory donated by government is aimed at encouraging mass production of rice as farmers won’t have to process locally, a thing that was strenuous and time-consuming.

With the support of the Commodity Development Value Chain Programme, Common Initiative Groups in the low lands of Bafut Subdivision had set up irrigating schemes for the production of rice.

In the company of the Regional Coordination of the Agricultural Development for Central and West Africa, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development created extensive rice farms in the locality of Tinguh.

Minister Henri Ayebe Ayissi was informed that with the introduction of upland rice farming with improved seedlings of the new rice for Africa, yields have moved from 3 to 5.5 tons per hectare.

After listening to the impressive report on the evolution of rice production in the locality, Minister Ayissi reaffirmed government’s continuous commitment to re-energise the agricultural sector to ensure food security in the country as a gateway to second generation agriculture.

As a booster to these farmers, the minister donated some farm inputs and equipment before officially cutting the ribbon to kick-start the rice processing and marketing factory.

This move, according to Minister Henri Ayebe Ayissi, would give the opportunity for Cameroonians in the near future to consume mostly Cameroon rice. Impressed by this gesture from Government, the traditional ruler of Bafut, HRH Fon Abumbi II adorned both the minister and some officials in his entourage with traditional outfits.