In the face of soaring food prices, the government of Cameroon has launched an emergency plan to boost local food production and make the country an agriculture-based economy.
Cameroon, which depends heavily on oil revenues, uses less than 20 per cent of its fertile land and imports most of the food requirement.
Under the plan, the government aims to double local production of essential commodities by 2009. It plans to create free seed banks, subsidize fertilizer, tractors and other farm equipment and offer modern technological guidance to those who follow traditional farming. The government has also called on people to change their food habits and rely mostly on local food produces.