Mamadou Mota, Vice-President of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), has voiced his disagreement with the rice donation offered by China to Cameroon. This reaction follows the announcement of substantial Chinese support, estimated at 20 million RMB, approximately 1.637 billion FCFA. The rice shipment is expected to arrive at the port of Douala in the coming days.
Mamadou Mota did not hesitate to express his astonishment at this situation. "How can we be Cameroon and accept a rice donation?" he questioned in a Facebook post. He emphasized that there is "no catastrophe, no major crisis" justifying such a donation.
This stance highlights questions about Cameroon's ability to ensure its own agricultural production, particularly in rice. Mamadou Mota insists on the country's agricultural potential, believing it is capable of producing enough rice to meet national demand. Other Cameroonian figures, such as Dr. Louis Marie Kakdeu, have also shared this view, pointing out that Cameroon should be able to export rice instead of importing it, given its agricultural assets.
The Chinese donation is intended for populations affected by conflicts in the North, Far North, Adamawa, Northwest, and Southwest regions, where cultivated land has decreased by 20 to 40%. This situation has led to a sharp increase in food prices in local markets.
In 2026, Cameroon aims for a local production of 400,000 tons of rice, in order to reduce the gap between supply and demand. Agriculture accounts for approximately 20-22% of Cameroon's GDP and employs over 60% of the population. The country is striving to increase its self-sufficiency, especially for staple crops like rice and maize.
China has made similar donations to Cameroon before, including in 2018, with food aid worth one billion FCFA for the Northwest and Southwest regions. In December 2025, significant donations were made to the Chantal Biya Foundation and vulnerable communities.
Rice is mainly grown in the Northern and Northwestern provinces of Cameroon. Rice production saw a significant increase between 2002 and 2021, rising from 44,548 tons to 362,294 tons. However, rice yield has decreased, from 3 t/ha between 2000 and 2001 to 1.22 t/ha in 2021. Despite efforts to boost local production, Cameroon remains dependent on imports to meet its rice consumption.
