May 13, 2004
Cameroon Poultry Farmers Threatened By EU Imports
Many poultry farmers in Cameroon forced into a corner by a surge in cheap frozen chicken imports from Europe. Local campaigners fear many more will go out of business.
According to a report by consumer protection and local development groups, Cameroon imported 22 154 tons of frozen chicken from the EU last year, up from just 978 tons in 1996.
Data from the ministry of livestock, fisheries and animal industries show that domestic production of live chickens fell to 19 500 tons in 2002 from 26 500 tons in 1997.
Bernard Njonga, the general manager of the Sailid local development group, said: "At the rate at which things are going, in the next four years there will be 112 000 tons of frozen chicken imported into Cameroon, more than enough to kill the local industry."
Of 100 poultry farmers identified in 1996 by the study, only eight were still active last year.
The report estimates that every ton of frozen chicken imported prevents the local production of 500 birds, the consumption of 1.5 tons of home-grown maize and the loss of three rural jobs.
The study says frozen chicken is brought in from Europe for about $1 (R6.98) a kilogram and sold in Cameroon for roughly twice that. That is still a third or half the price of local birds.
Local campaigners accuse European producers of dumping chicken parts on African markets, once the preferred chicken breasts have been sold at high prices to European customers.
Njonga said: "The thighs and wings are considered low-quality products, or giblets that can be sold at any price."
"That is what makes good business for our importers. This is dumping at its best."
Local activists complain that far more frozen chicken comes into Cameroon than is officially recorded. They accuse government officials of supplying extra quotas for cash.
EU trade commissioner Pascal Lamy said the chicken problem was not a trade issue, as the EU gave little or no export subsidies to European firms exporting chickens to Africa.
