Aimed at promoting the manufacture of biscuits made from rice, thirty participants consisting of five researchers and representatives of peasant organizations of the central regions, North and far North, took part recently in a three-day training program on production techniques.

This took place at the Institute of agricultural research for development (Irad) in Nkolbisson , Yaoundé. It was also an opportunity to strengthen the capacity of farmers, processors and local rice traders to enable them to apply new technologies and techniques for obtaining best rice-based products.

"The participants for this meeting were selected in the large basins of rice production. Its goal was to enable them to produce a large number of cookies without resorting to imports of rice because it is possible to make treats with the local variety like the rice of Ndop", said Eliane Flore Eyenga Dongmo, researcher at the Irad.

The making of this recipe requires inter alia, rice flour, wheat flour, eggs, sugar, salt, butter, and aroma. It is possible for a housewife to make a profit of 9,500 F after spending 2,000 F on the ingredients. Packaging is done in plastic bags and a package of more than 14 cookies costs 500 F. For more nutritional value, Zoe powder (commonly called Plum) and cocoa can be added during the preparation.

For Pauline Mounjouenpou, Chief of the food technology laboratory at the Irad, "this training fit in the tasks assigned to the laboratory; namely, those transferring the technologies developed by it. It is therefore a question to bring added value to local products through technologies to combat food insufficiency".

After this impregnation completed yesterday, participants will in turn train other members of their organizations on the techniques of manufacturing these cookies. "It is a good initiative which will allow women to make money and to fight against poverty," welcomed Zénabou Gnamtam Zénabou Hamadou, participant.

The project was funded by the Canadian development agency, Africa rice, in partnership with the Irad.