After the North West Region on March 5th 2025, it was the turn of the Unions of Rice Cooperatives in the West Region to sign protocol agreements with the Rice Value Chain Development Project and the Fédération des Unions des Societes Cooperatives avec Consiel D’adminstration des Producteurs du Riz de L’Ouest, (FEUPRORIO FECOOP-CA) – also known as the Apex Structure, in a bid to lay a firm foundation for the smooth running of the activities of the Rice Value Chain Development Project.
In a ceremony which took place in the Conference Hall of the Regional Delegation for Agriculture and Rural Development for the West Region, two Protocol agreements were signed, 7th May 2025. The first protocol agreement was between the Rice Value Chain Development Project and the Apex Structure, while the second was between the Apex Structure and the two Unions of Rice Coopératives: the Unions des Sociétés Coopératives avec Consiel d’Administration Rizicoles de Santchou (UCORISA-UCOOP-CA) and the Unions des Sociétés Coopérative avec Consiel D’administration de Production et de Transformation du Riz de Bangorain (USOCOPTRIPBA-UCOOP-CA).
In his remarks, the National Coordinator of the RVCDP, Mr. Muluh Gregory, applauded the efforts of the Regional Delegate for Agriculture and Rural Development for the West Region, and the elite of the Region who did all within their power for the Government of Cameroon to approve the signing of the Financing agreement with OPEC Fund to effectively kick off RVCDP activities in the West Region. He called on the Cooperatives to put all hands on deck as, according to him, “…we are all going to be evaluated by the quality and quantity of rice we put on the market.” He encouraged team work and the respect of all the clauses stated in the protocol agreements.
On his part, the President of the Apex Structure, Prof. Anaclet Fomethe, expressed gratitude to the Government of Cameroon and the RVCDP for returning to the West Region to follow up on the promises made during the Technical Launch of the Project in Santchou in October 2024. He pledged the dedication of the farmers to the course and promised that Santchou Rice will be available in the market by October this year.
The project Agronomist then took to rostrum to give insights on the protocol agreements to be signed, the manual of operation and the philosophy of management of the cooperatives. This was an opportunity for all present, to ask questions and get clarification on the issues raised.
These presentations were followed by the signing of the various protocol agreements by the National Coordinator of the RVCDP and the Presidents of the Apex Structure, as well as the Presidents of the other Unions of Cooperatives concerned.
The Regional Delegate for Agriculture and Rural Development for the West Region, Mr. Denis Amiguim, was particularly elated that these partnership agreements were sealed as this was veritable proof of Governments’ dedication and commitment to the efforts to curb and subsequently put a stop to rice importation in Cameroon. He appreciated the management and staff of the RVDCP for the strides they are making towards the smooth running of the project. He urged the rice cooperatives to get the fields immediately and begin work so as to meet their own terms of the protocol agreement.This same exercise will be carried out in the Far North Region in the days ahead.