Cameroon and China are devising ways through which they could cooperate to boost livestock, fisheries and animal production here, sectors which are yet to get the Chinese touch in their development agenda in Cameroon. This was at the centre of discussion yesterday during an audience granted the Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon, Xue Jinwei, by Cameroon’s Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Aboubakary Sarki.
Xue Jinwei said Cameroon and China share a lot in common, through life-changing projects in several sectors that the Chinese government is carrying out here, and that extending the cordial cooperation ties to the livestock, fisheries and animal sectors would accelerate ongoing government’s efforts at boosting them. He said his meeting with the minister was to know what potentials the country has and what it is doing to make the population self-sufficient in these areas. Although China, he said, is yet to undertake a giant project in these areas, there are possibilities of fruitful cooperation, especially as China has a vibrant fishery sector. Statistics show that fishery is responsible for more than 12% of Chinese agricultural value and is the fastest growing industry in the Chinese agriculture sector with an annual growth rate of about 10%. China is the top aquaculture producer, followed by India, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Chile and Norway.
Dr Aboubakary Sarki saluted the initiative and said it is timely stating that efforts are ongoing to develop aquaculture in the country. He said industrial fishing is not developed in the country and both officials agreed that this could not be unrelated with the persistent importation of fish into the country. The Minister disclosed that two of his personnel are in China reinforcing their capacities in aquaculture and will in turn use the knowledge to develop the sector when they come back. They also examine ongoing projects like milk processing currently going on in the Adamawa and North West Regions. Xue Jinwei assured Aboubakary Sarki of his country’s readiness to partner with Cameroon in developing the sectors.
