New Delhi: On Wednesday, India dispatched a shipment of 1,000 metric tons of rice to Cameroon as part of its food grain assistance initiative.
Randhir Jaiswal, the Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasized that this action reflects India's dedication to fostering partnerships with the Global South.
In a message shared on X, Jaiswal stated, "India: A dedicated partner to the Global South. Today, a shipment of 1,000 MT of rice has left Nhava Sheva Port for Cameroon as food-grain assistance for its people."
India and Cameroon have maintained a cordial relationship since before Cameroon gained independence. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, this bilateral relationship has been strengthened by the establishment of India's resident mission in Yaoundé in 2019.
Bilateral trade has been on an upward trajectory, increasing from USD 523 million in 2018-19 to USD 1.1 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23. The MEA reports that India has provided two Lines of Credit (LoCs) totaling USD 79.65 million to Cameroon for projects involving rice, maize, and cassava cultivation.
Additionally, India has been aiding Cameroon in capacity building by offering training to officials in various sectors through the ITEC program and providing scholarships and fellowships under the ICCR.
Cameroon's food security crisis is attributed to multiple factors, primarily the diminished availability and accessibility of staple food stocks and livestock for milk and meat. The World Bank indicates that nearly 250,000 Cameroonians are experiencing severe or heightened food insecurity.
The Emergency Project to Combat the Food Crisis in Cameroon (PULCCA) aims to address this issue through an emergency school feeding program and initiatives to prevent acute malnutrition, focusing on children, pregnant and lactating women, and girls.
Local agricultural cooperatives will collaborate with public schools and health centers to supply fresh produce for school meals and malnutrition prevention packages.
