Chapter 4. The case of Cameroon 127
Box 1. Management of cocoa and coffee sectors between 1960 and 1986 (Cont.)For this, the government freely provided support to farmers in terms of production, funding for crop
treatment and marketing. Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and development companies such
as SODECAO brought the necessary technical assistance to ensure production in terms of quality and
quantity. In general, at the institutional, legislative and regulatory level, cocoa and coffee supply chains
were developed and organized through these steps:Implementation of law 73/15 of 7 December 1973 whose aim was to standardize provisions
applicable to cooperatives throughout the country.
Creating the Cooperation and Mutuality Department within the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI)
and assign it with the main task of monitoring and managing cooperatives;
Creating cooperative schools for training officers responsible for boosting the cooperative
movement;
Creating the National Fund for Rural Development (FONADER) to provide credit to farmers. This
structure will disappear in the 80s, with results described as “mixed”.
The establishment, by Decree No. 74/874 of 29 October 1974, of integrated projects such as
Integrated Priority Action Zones in the east and central parts of the country to improve the marketing
of agricultural products (coffee in particular) and boost the region’s economic development;
The establishment of the National Cocoa Development Company (SODECAO) by Decree No. 74/83
of 2 February 1974, with the main objective to promote cocoa cultivation in central and southern
parts of the country.
Creating in September 1976 the National Marketing Commodities Agency (ONCPC). This new
structure supported activities of the various stabilization funds by product and the “Produce
Marketing Board”. ONCPB was then responsible for regulating the purchase price of commodities
from farmers, ensuring compensation between the guaranteed producer prices and export sales
prices, organizing and monitoring domestic and international marketing, representing producers
and defending the image of the product internationally. ONCPB had a virtual monopoly on cocoa
and coffee exports and provided funding for all research, extension, production, information, etc.,
through development companies, projects, media and cooperatives.