Cameroon's Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and the National Center for Studies and Experimentation in Agricultural Machinery (CENEEMA) signed an agreement in Yaoundé on August 20, 2026, aimed at combining agronomic research with on-the-ground mechanization.
The memorandum was signed in IRAD's meeting hall in Nkolbisson by the two institutions' directors general, Dr. Noé Woïn for IRAD and Caroline Mebande Bate for CENEEMA.
In practice, the two bodies plan to work together on experimental fields and mechanization demonstration plots across Cameroon's five agroecological zones, covering soil studies, land development, seed fields and irrigation.
The stakes go beyond the technical: agriculture accounts for 15 to 20% of Cameroon's GDP and employs more than 60% of the working population, yet yields remain held back by largely traditional methods and limited access to modern equipment.
By combining IRAD's varietal research with CENEEMA's mechanization capacity, the stated goal is to let producers work larger areas in less time, with less physical strain.
The agreement aligns with the goals of the National Development Strategy (SND30) — its real impact will be measured by how quickly these innovations move from experimental fields to the farms of producers who are often wary of changing their practices.
