Cameroon: New Cocoa Processing Mill Inaugurated in Kumba. Kumba, Cameroon — The Cameroonian government has marked a significant milestone in its cocoa sector with the official inauguration of a new cocoa processing mill in Kumba, South West Region.
The event, which took place on Thursday, was attended by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe, and marked the culmination of the Agriculture Infrastructure Value Chain Development Project (AIVDP).
According to local reports, the mill is the first of its kind in the South West and the first nationwide to be built under the AIVDP project. Managed by a cooperative, it is designed to transform dry cocoa beans into cocoa powder and other derivatives, thereby enhancing value addition to the local cocoa industry.
The mill, which is expected to boost farmer incomes and support youth and women’s employment, is a strategic move by the government to increase farmer incomes and improve the trade balance.
Speaking during the inauguration, Minister Mbairobe emphasized the importance of local transformation and encouraged other cooperatives to emulate the organizational strength of the South West Association of Cooperative Unions (SWACU).
However, despite the positive impact of the new mill, challenges remain. Local leaders highlighted issues such as rising input costs, unstable cocoa prices, and persistent electricity shortages in Kumba.
They also called for a second phase of the AIVDP project to ensure continuity.
The AIVDP Coordinator and General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr Besong Ogork Ntui, noted that the mill has a capacity of one ton per hour and costs 714. 4 million FCFA.
The equipment is imported from China and includes a roaster, grinders, conveyor belts, press stations, packaging systems, and a quality — control laboratory. Further details are expected regarding the mill’s operations and the government’s plans to address the challenges faced by cocoa farmers in the region.
