The Emergency Project to Combat the Food Crisis (PULCCA), with funding from the World Bank, has intensified efforts to strengthen food security in Cameroon’s North West Region through the distribution of modern fishing equipment to local fishermen.
On Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the esplanade of the North West Livestock Development Fund (CDENO) in Bamenda, 300 beneficiaries received complete artisanal fishing kits in a ceremony chaired by the Inspector General at the North West Governor’s Office, representing the Governor.
The initiative was implemented by the Artisanal Maritime Fisheries Development Authority (MIDEPECAM), under the supervision of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA).
The equipment distributed included 300 six-metre solid wood dugout canoes manufactured in Cameroon, alongside fishing nets, life jackets, raincoats, battery-operated head torches, hooks, floats and ropes. The overall value of the kits stands at over 234 million CFA francs, aimed at boosting productivity and improving the livelihoods of small-scale inland fishermen, particularly those in vulnerable communities.
Speaking during the ceremony, the representative of the North West Governor, Ignatius Ekale, the Inspector General praised the initiative as a clear demonstration of government commitment to food security, job creation and community development. He urged beneficiaries to use the equipment responsibly and sustainably to ensure long-term benefits for future generations.
The Managing Director of MIDEPECAM, Dr. Tambi Sammy Ako, explained that the North West is among the regions selected under the World Bank-sponsored project, with 300 complete fishing kits allocated to local fishermen. He noted that similar distributions had already taken place in the East, Adamawa and Far North Regions.
For his part, the Regional Coordinator of PULCCA, Dr. Mbakwa Louis Mbaku, described the event as more than a symbolic gesture, emphasizing that it reflects a collective resolve to fight food insecurity amid ongoing socio-political challenges. He stressed that transparency and equity guided the selection of beneficiaries, with priority given to small-scale and vulnerable fishermen.
Dr. Mbaku also highlighted that beyond equipment distribution, beneficiaries have been trained using the “family farmer school” approach to ensure proper fishing techniques, sustainability and improved yields. He called on traditional rulers, community groups and development partners to continue supporting fisheries as a backbone of regional and national development.
PULCCA’s intervention in the fisheries sector forms part of a broader national strategy to promote import substitution, strengthen local production and ensure a steady supply of quality fish to local markets. With World Bank support estimated at 1.16 billion CFA francs, the project aims to cushion the impact of food shortages while laying the foundation for long-term economic resilience in Cameroon’s most affected regions.
As fishing activities resume with renewed capacity, authorities and stakeholders express optimism that inland waters in the North West will soon yield increased fish production, contributing significantly to food availability and improved household incomes.
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