Backed by the Opportunity Fund project under the aegis of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Initiative, collaboratively organised by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA), a Cameroonian delegation undertook an exploratory journey to China. The delegation, visiting between the 18th and 21st of July 2023, consisted of representatives from various ministries in Cameroon, including Basic Education, Agriculture and Rural Development, Economy, Planning and Regional Development, External Relations, along with delegates from the WFP Cameroon Office.
Throughout the study tour, WFP China and the Cameroonian delegation engaged in insightful exchanges and deliberated on subjects such as the WFP Preschool Children Nutrition Improvement Programme, Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, and South-South Cooperation (SSC). The Cameroonian delegates also partook in WFP’s 60th-anniversary Commemoration at the UN Compound in Beijing. Furthermore, they initiated a dialogue with the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), and journeyed to Hainan Province to explore the cooperation opportunities on tropical agriculture research, production, and industry development, as well as to exchange experience on the nutrition enhancement scheme for rural students.
During their discussions with WFP China, the delegation noted that the WFP's Preschool Nutrition Improvement Programme in China offered valuable insights for Cameroon, particularly as the nation is currently devising its school meal policies and plans. They also appreciated the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme as a sustainable model for fostering the agriculture value chain by harnessing local resources.
Zhang Yi, the Deputy Director-General of CICETE, gave a concise overview of China's assistance initiatives in Cameroon and illuminated the application procedure for the Global Development Fund during the meeting with the Cameroonian delegation. The delegation expressed profound gratitude to the Chinese Government for its assistance to Cameroon in areas such as infrastructure construction, agricultural development, as well as its food aid through the WFP. They also stated their intent to liaise with the relevant departments post-trip to apply for the Global Development Fund, in hopes of implementing school feeding schemes and agricultural development projects in their homeland.
During a visit to Beijing’s Yanqing District, the delegation visited the International Potato Centre - China Centre for Asia Pacific (CCCAP) and Beijing Xisen Potato Co. Ltd. Acknowledging China's comprehensive system for the potato industry, the delegates indicated their interest in leveraging China's resources and experience in potato production technology and training to bolster the potato industry in Cameroon.
Cameroon shares similar climatic conditions with South China's Hainan Province, with many commonalities in their agricultural produce. The delegates discussed the development of tropical agriculture with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Hainan. They admired Hainan's unique approach to agriculture and believed that bolstering farmers' income through industry development was a lesson worth emulating from Hainan.
The Cameroonian delegates also learned about China’s school nutrition schemes. Representatives from the Education Department of Hainan Province offered a detailed insight into their implementation of nutrition improvement programs for rural students in compulsory education, addressing queries pertaining to financial arrangement, funds distribution, and programme execution.
At the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) in Hainan, the delegation toured the Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Exhibition Park, the Rubber Research Achievement Exhibition, and the Academy's Science and Technology Achievement Exhibition. They expressed keen interest in broad prospects for cooperation in areas like cassava, crop genetic resources, and international cooperation. The delegation also visited the Hainan Nanguo Foodstuff Industry Co., Ltd., expressing amazement at the company's diverse range of coconut products.
Wanja Kaaria, the country director of the WFP Cameroon Office, underscored that this visit marked the inception of SSC between Cameroon and China, foreseeing more future cooperation in areas such as high-level visits, cassava and potato value chains, rice value chain, and school nutrition programmes, with the continued support of the WFP China Office.
