If you want to invest your money, then Cameroon is your place. We have already looked for potential sectors in Cameroon to make investing easier for you. Livestock farming is key to Cameroon’s economy. It contributes about 13% of the GDP. It employs over 30% of the rural population and supports over a million households. The sector primarily focuses on cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, and pigs. Cattle are the most dominant among them.

Livestock farming is crucial in northern Cameroon. It is the economy’s backbone and is vital for food security and economic growth. It produces meat, dairy, and hides for export. The government has launched initiatives to modernize the industry. providing livelihoods for a large portion of the population, particularly in rural areas.

In Cameroon, the livestock sector supports direct employment and income for farmers. Livestock farming is also connected to crop farming systems in Cameroon. It provides manure for crops, thereby increasing the sustainability of food production. As a result, the livestock sector improves soil fertility and food production.

As of 2023, Cameroon had 8 million cattle, 12 million goats and sheep, and over 40 million poultry. By 2026, the production in Cameroon is expected to increase to almost 4.9 million. However, climate change, poor infrastructure, and disease outbreaks hinder progress. Urbanization and population growth are driving up demand for livestock products. The sector has great potential for growth if Cameroon can overcome these challenges.

1. Degraded pasturelands pose the biggest challenge for livestock farming in Cameroon. Overgrazing, deforestation, and desertification have depleted grazing resources in the north. Climate change has worsened the problem. It caused a shortage of quality livestock feed. It affected productivity and increased land competition. Without sustainable land management, this problem will persist. It will further threaten food security and livelihoods in the region.

2. Water scarcity is another major challenge. Many livestock farmers in the Far North and Adamawa struggle to find water for their herds. Prolonged dry seasons and erratic rains have hurt livestock. There are more deaths and lower production. This water shortage worsens conflicts between pastoralists and farmers over water.

3. Disease outbreaks also pose a significant threat. Livestock diseases, such as avian flu and foot-and-mouth disease, have led to mass culling, particularly of poultry. Limited access to vets and vaccines makes disease control hard. It leaves farmers vulnerable to economic losses. While these issues are being addressed, they continue to pose a significant challenge. Poor market access and transport systems hurt farmers’ ability to sell their products, cutting their profits.

A key solution to Cameroon’s livestock issues is the Livestock Development Project (PRODEL). This initiative aims to boost the productivity and sustainability of livestock farming. It will rehabilitate pasturelands and build vital infrastructure. The project has developed 7,000 hectares of grazing land. It has built over 98 water points in key livestock-rearing regions. These efforts ensure farmers can access resources to sustain their herds.

Also, for land rehabilitation, the project focuses on improving animal health services. PRODEL has built 160 animal health projects, including veterinary clinics. This has greatly improved farmers’ access to veterinary care. More than 20,000 livestock producers have been trained in best practices. These include disease prevention, forage cultivation, and animal feeding. These measures have reduced livestock mortality and enhanced productivity.

Furthermore, the project addresses socio-economic challenges by creating conflict management platforms. These platforms have resolved disputes between crop farmers and pastoralists. This is key in areas with high competition for land and water. This teamwork promotes sustainable resource sharing. It reduces tensions that destabilize farming communities.

Another initiative is the Cameroon Livestock and Fish Farming Value Chains Development Project (PDCVEP). This project focuses on enhancing the livestock and fish farming sectors. From the production stages to the marketing and sales of livestock and fish products, the project aims to improve all aspects, which will help ensure employment in rural areas. They train farmers, introduce modern farming techniques, and invest in infrastructure such as cold storage facilities and transportation, increasing the quality and quantity of production. As a result, production becomes more profitable

Cameroon has used a multi-faceted approach to develop livestock. It has focused on improving infrastructure, training, resolving conflicts, and accessing markets. Each step in the process targets specific challenges faced by livestock farmers.

Development of Infrastructure: 

The first major step was to rehabilitate and expand pasturelands and water points. In the Far North and Adamawa regions, they developed over 7,287 hectares of pastureland.  They also built 98 water points to ensure reliable access to water for livestock. These measures have eased stress on grazing lands. They have also provided vital resources for small and large farmers.

Animal Health Services: 

Another key aspect of implementation involved building animal health infrastructure. PRODEL set up 160 animal health centers. These centers previously provided veterinary services to farmers with limited access. Mobile veterinary units were also deployed to reach remote areas. Over 20,000 livestock farmers were trained in disease prevention, forage, and vet services. This initiative cut cattle deaths from 26.9% to 9.1%. It marked a big improvement in livestock health.

Capacity Building and Training: 

Training programs were launched to help farmers adopt better livestock management practices. It included guidance on climate-smart agriculture. This covered forage cultivation and rotational grazing techniques. Farmers were also taught best practices for animal feeding, vaccines, and disease control. This capacity-building effort empowered farmers to manage their herds and improve productivity sustainably.

Conflict Management and Resource Sharing: 

To address land and water conflicts, the project established 27 platforms for conflict management. These platforms promoted peaceful resource sharing between crop farmers and pastoralists. In the East, committees resolved land-use disputes. This eased tensions and helped farming.

The Livestock Development Project (PRODEL) in Cameroon has had positive results. A key result is a big drop in livestock deaths, especially in cattle. Before the project, cattle mortality rates in some areas hit 26.9%. After implementing better veterinary care and grazing management, the rate dropped to 9.1%. This improvement has had a profound impact on farmers’ productivity and income.

Additionally, livestock productivity has increased, accompanied by lower mortality rates. Farmers in the north and east report higher yields in milk, poultry, and meat. Sales grew by 14% across six value chains, including poultry and dairy. This sustained growth significantly boosted household incomes. These results show the project’s success. It focused on better grazing and veterinary services.

Market access has also improved. This is due to new cattle markets and better transport links. It has helped farmers better reach local and regional markets. They can now sell their products more effectively. These efforts have strengthened Cameroon’s livestock industry. They have improved the livelihoods of rural communities.

Cameroon’s livestock farming has improved, thanks to the PRODEL project. The sector has seen significant improvements in productivity, animal health, and market access. Cattle deaths are down. Incremental sales are up. This has improved the livelihoods of rural communities. These successes highlight the effectiveness of investments in infrastructure, training, and conflict resolution.

However, challenges remain, particularly with climate change and resource management. To grow the industry, Cameroon must focus on sustainable practices, better market access, and advanced veterinary care. It is vital to expand programs like PRODEL and to start new ones. They must tackle emerging threats, which will unlock the full potential of Cameroon’s livestock sector. With the right support, investment, and strategy, this industry can boost the economy, improve food security, and provide stable jobs for millions.