Cameroon’s Ministry of Agriculture has granted 265 million francs CFA to the National Institute of Agricultural Research, IRAD to produce 15 tons of hybrid maize seeds by the end of this year.
The Minister of Agriculture, Essimi Menye and IRAD’s Director, Noé Woin signed a convention to this effect on April 17, 2013 in Yaoundé.
According to the Minister, government wants to reduce the deficit and promote intensive agriculture in the country.
For the Director of IRAD, “the seeds will increase production and reduce our dependency on importation”.
Hybrid maize seeds have a high yielding capacity-over nine tons per hectare as compared to two for ordinary improved seeds and half for simple seeds.
Still in the same ceremony, IRAD received 548 million francs CFA to produce 5.4 million plantain-banana suckers, destined for 3,500 hectares of banana-plantain by 2015.
Government, according to the Minister of Agriculture will extend the practice to yams, potatoes and other crops.
Last January, the Ministry of Agriculture and IRAD signed a memorandum of understanding for the production of improved seeds by the later.