The recent arrival of 1,630 tons of rice and 880 tons of wheat from China as food aid to Cameroon has once again raised an important question: Why does Cameroon still depend on food assistance from abroad despite its huge agricultural potential?
While this aid helps address immediate food supply needs, it also highlights a deeper issue. Is Cameroon solving its food problems through temporary external support instead of strengthening its own ability to produce enough food?
China provides an interesting example. In China, food security is treated as a national priority. The government considers agriculture essential for the country's survival and stability. Through strong policies, subsidies, and long-term planning, China has built a system that ensures a stable food supply for its population.
Chinese farmers make the most of available land by growing crops several times a year and using modern farming methods to increase productivity. Instead of constantly expanding farmland, the focus is on producing more food from existing land.
China has also invested heavily in irrigation and water management systems, including dams, canals, and water diversion projects. These investments help farmers maintain production even during difficult weather conditions.
Technology plays a major role as well. Improved seeds, fertilizers, farm machinery, soil management techniques, smart farming systems, and drones have helped transform agriculture into a modern and highly productive sector.
In addition, China's rural workforce is well organized through cooperative systems that allow farmers to work together and improve efficiency. The country has also invested significantly in rural infrastructure such as roads, storage facilities, food processing plants, and cold storage systems. These investments reduce food losses after harvest and ensure that food reaches consumers efficiently.
At the heart of China's success is a simple principle: food security must come from within. The country prioritizes the production of staple foods and maintains strategic food reserves to protect itself against shortages and external shocks.
For Cameroon, the arrival of food aid, no matter how helpful in the short term, should encourage serious reflection. Is the country only responding to food shortages when they occur, or is it building a strong agricultural system that can prevent such shortages in the future?
The Chinese experience shows that lasting food security is achieved through investment in agriculture, proper planning, irrigation, mechanization, modern technology, infrastructure, and support for farmers.
Food aid can help during emergencies, but it cannot replace the foundations needed for long-term food independence. Without those foundations, dependence on external assistance may become a permanent reality rather than a temporary solution.
The lesson is clear: food security cannot be imported. It must be built through deliberate policies, investment, and commitment to agricultural development. Cameroon’s challenge is not simply to receive food aid when needed, but to transform its agricultural sector so that such assistance becomes unnecessary in the future.
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