CAMEROON – Dr. Taïga, Minister of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries (Minepia), officiated the inauguration of a cutting-edge animal feed production plant in Olembe, north of Yaoundé, on April 24. 

The state-of-the-art facility, owned by the Noutchogouin Jean Samuel (NJS) group, represents a significant investment by Provenderie du Centre, amounting to nearly CFA5 billion (US$8.2 million).

The plant, which spans a one-hectare site, was established in collaboration with undisclosed Belgian investors holding a 20% stake valued at one billion CFA (US$1.6 million). 

It boasts an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons of animal feed for various age groups, including poultry, livestock, and fish.

According to Managing Director Bart Buytaert, Provenderie du Centre initially focused on pelleted and crumbled feed for livestock and poultry but aims to expand its production to include fish feed and soybean processing.

The plant’s strategic location in Olembe caters to the burgeoning demand for animal feed in the Central, Southern, and Eastern regions and neighboring countries such as Chad, CAR, Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. 

Additionally, the factory will supply feed to the NJS group’s parent farm in Obala, ensuring a steady supply chain for the group’s livestock operations.

Managing Director Bart Buytaert emphasized the strategic significance of the plant’s location, stating, “This new unit of the NJS group is designed to manage production in the central region, supplementing the existing facility in the West. The Central region holds immense potential for livestock, accounting for a significant portion of the group’s turnover.

Marcel Tchagongom, Chairman of the NJS group’s board of directors, highlighted the plant’s role in achieving operational autonomy and meeting the growing demands of customers across the agricultural value chain in the Central, Southern, and Eastern regions.

Minister Dr. Taïga underscored the plant’s contribution to the government’s import-substitution policy outlined in the 2020-2030 National Development Strategy (SND30). 

He emphasized the significance of modernizing production methods and reducing imports to foster agricultural development, echoing the president’s vision of realizing an agricultural revolution.

The inauguration of the animal feed plant signals a pivotal moment in Cameroon’s agricultural landscape, marking a concerted effort towards self-sufficiency and sustainable agricultural practices in the region.

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