Gilles Foka Herman, General Manager of the Integrated Priority Action for Agricultural Development in Cameroon, (SAPIDACAM S.A.)

How soon will the banana and plantain processing project go operational, sequel to the agreement your company signed with Spanish investors in Yaounde?

After signing the contract in Yaounde on June 9, 2016, our partner will make some studies on the site in Esse, in the Centre Region and in the laboratory in Madrid. They will also take two or three months to finish their installation in Cameroon. The construction would last 28 months. So, we expect that in the next 36 months, our plant will be ready.

How was the project born?

Our project is an extension of the PREBAP programme. The stage at which we have reached is the result of the combined efforts of different partners, including the State of Cameroon, partners and service providers.

What is the added value of the project to the sector?

The training we organise. It will also secure opportunities and revenue for industry players. We are talking about 15, 000 farmers who are been trained to sell their products to Sapidacam. Other players will be added with time. Also, banana and plantain processing will take roots.

What are the guarantees that the project will not crumble like many others in the past?

We have been working on the project since 2004. From 2007 to 2011, we trained more than 15, 000 farmers and more than 5, 000 are still active. The main sites for our project are ready. Our partner has already received the money to build a turnkey unit plant. The 125 billion FCFA we’ve secured is not a gift, thus we are determined to succeed.

What assistance has the project received or is expecting to receive from government?

Our project is developed under the Public Private Partnership framework with government. In 2012, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with government for financial assistance to the tune of FCFA 6 billion for the putting in place of the first agropole.

Over 30 per cent of the funds are intended for infrastructure and production equipment as well as 100 per cent for community equipment. We have also had assistance from the Investment Promotion Agency. Government gave us the greenlight to help us mobilize funds.

Government also gave us an agreement to build more than 5,000 social houses for farmers. We also received an agreement to build a bio ethanol plant in Cameroon, and lands concession.