Cameroon Agribusiness Report Q4 2017

Cameroon Agribusiness Report Q4 2017

BMI View: While we remain broadly positive in our view of Cameroon's agribusiness sector, we have madea number of downward revisions in our forecasts this quarter which will see its growth trajectory slow, andin some cases, slump across our five-year forecast period to 2021. Despite these downgrades, we see all ofthe sub-sectors we track - with the exception of coffee consumption - recording growth across our five-yearforecast period to 2020/21. Focussing on the corn sector, the downgrade in our forecasts now sees outputand demand averaging an annual growth rate of 0.6% and 3.6%, respectively, across our forecast period.

This is down from a level of 0.8% and 4.8% forecasted previously. Despite the downgrade, we continue tosee corn as Cameroon's most significant grain crop and a major food staple in the country. The country'smost important cash crop continues to be cocoa, however, for which we hold a positive outlook of bothstrong growth in production (despite a slight downgrade this quarter) and consumption, as it has ampleroom for growth and increasingly stable access to export markets. Over the remainder of our five-yearforecast period, we believe improved production techniques will give cocoa farmers new opportunities tosell greater quantities of beans on international markets. More broadly, we see growth in the productionand consumption of all key soft commodities in Cameroon, including sugar and coffee (with the exception ofcoffee demand). Increasing government support and the ratification of the new trade deal with the EU willboth help to maintain investment and growth in these crops.