The Cameroon Poultry Interprofessional Association, IPAVIC, has confirmed that the processing of chickens and table eggs will be a central topic at the fifth edition of the International Poultry Exhibition of Yaoundé, SAVI, which opened in Yaoundé yesterday.  This year’s theme, “Cameroonian Poultry, Heading Towards Transformation,” reflects the industry’s focus on processing, as stated by François Djonou, the president of IPAVIC.

Djonou’s comments highlight the significant strides made by local producers. While recent data is lacking, IPAVIC commends the progress of Cameroonian producers. From 2003 to 2014, Cameroon’s annual chicken production rose from 13.5 million to nearly 75 million. This growth continues despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, Cameroon currently produces over half of the table eggs consumed in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) zone. For IPAVIC, the logical next step is transformation.

The aspiration towards processing isn’t a new concept for IPAVIC. It was considered as early as 2014 during the launch of the first SAVI. Jean-Paul Fouda Ottou, the then-permanent secretary, noted the challenges of marketing live chickens and emphasized the need for processing.

Fast forward ten years, and IPAVIC is once again stressing the urgency of transformation. The intervening years have seen the implementation of the National Development Strategy 2020-2030 (SND30), which advocates for import substitution.

Import Substitution

Echoing his predecessor’s sentiments from 2014, Djonou believes that the initial step towards transformation involves establishing slaughter chains for chickens to be plucked and portioned, allowing meat to be sold by the kilogram. “This will enable every household to purchase according to their budget,” Djonou explains.

The challenge now lies in securing the necessary funding to construct these slaughter chains. Potential solutions are expected to be presented at SAVI by industry experts. Additionally, strategies for increasing the transformation of table eggs, particularly into products like mayonnaise, need to be identified.

IPAVIC’s mission is to champion the Cameroonian poultry industry and decrease the country’s reliance on imports. To facilitate dialogue and collaboration among industry professionals, IPAVIC organizes the SAVI event biennially.

Michel Ange Nga