Cameroon’s meat production faces 23.8% decline in 2024

CAMEROON – Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute has announced that Cameroon’s meat production for 2024 reached 235,960 tons, representing a sharp 23.8% drop from the 310,000 tons recorded in 2023. 

The data, provided by the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries (Minepia), represent a significant reduction of 74,040 tons year-on-year.

Cattle farming remains the leading contributor to the country’s meat production, generating 94,300 tons in 2024. 

This is followed by poultry at 50,836 tons, pork at 39,676 tons, goat meat at 28,885 tons, and sheep meat at 22,263 tons. 

Despite providing the figures, the Prime Minister did not elaborate on the reasons behind the decline, even though the government has invested heavily in the livestock sector.

Production has fallen across all major categories. 

Beef production, in particular, has decreased by 35,869 tons, down from 130,000 tons in 2023 to 94,300 tons this year. 

Experts attribute the decline to deteriorating grazing lands and water scarcity in the North region, one of Cameroon’s key cattle farming areas. 

Insecurity and livestock theft have further exacerbated the situation, affecting overall output.

In response, the government has announced plans to establish two industrial cattle slaughterhouses, one in Douala and another in Bamenda, located in the conflict-affected Northwest region. 

These facilities are part of a broader effort to address the challenges facing the sector.

Additionally, the National Seed Production Center in Wakwa, situated in the Adamaoua region—Cameroon’s main livestock hub—is expected to support production efforts. 

The center aims to generate over 500,000 doses of cattle semen and 300 embryos annually.

Although these measures are intended to enhance production, questions remain about how effective they will be in countering the persistent challenges of environmental degradation and insecurity, which continue to hinder growth in the livestock sector.

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