Cameroon covers about 475,000 km² and is often described as “Africa in miniature” because of its varied geography. The country includes coastal plains along the Gulf of Guinea, volcanic highlands such as Mount Cameroon, fertile plateaus and northern savannas. Its climate ranges from humid tropical conditions in the south to semi-arid zones in the north, creating diverse agricultural environments.
Before European colonisation, local communities practised subsistence farming. During German and later French and British colonial rule, plantation agriculture expanded, producing export crops such as cocoa and rubber. After independence in 1960, agriculture remained central to the economy.
Today, the primary sector contributes around 15–20% of GDP and employs a large share of the population. Approximately 20% of the land is used for agriculture. Cameroon produces a range of crops. Cocoa and coffee are major export products, while bananas, palm oil and cotton are also important. Food crops such as maize, cassava and yams are widely grown for domestic consumption. Livestock farming is more prominent in the northern savanna regions, where cattle, goats and sheep are raised.
Forests cover nearly 40% of Cameroon’s territory, particularly in the south. Forestry is economically important, with timber being a key export.
Cameroon’s Atlantic coastline supports fisheries, including shrimp and small pelagic fish, while inland fisheries also contribute to food supply.
Overall, Cameroon’s primary sector reflects its environmental diversity: plantation crops in the humid south, food farming across the country, livestock in northern savannas and forestry in tropical rainforest regions. Despite growing industry and services, agriculture, forestry and fishing remain vital for employment and exports.
In April 2016 Gerold was on a business trip with Stefan Schulze (GIZ Ethiopia) to Arne Schuffenhauer, the executive director of the Green Innovation Centres in Cameroon. They stayed there for 5 days and drove from Yaounde to the northwest to Dschang and Bamenda (400 km) to his project area in the mountains (1700 m asl). In 2023, Gerold was in Cameroon at the river bank of the Sangha River, on my trip from Brazzaville to Dzanga Sangha. Was just a short lunch stop, but feet were on the ground in the country.