Food security remains a pressing concern in Cameroon, with increasing demand for fresh produce, rising import costs, and the challenges of climate change affecting agricultural output. While the country possesses vast arable land, inefficiencies in farming practices, lack of access to quality inputs, and post-harvest losses continue to hinder sustainable food production.
To address these challenges, innovative solutions are needed. Solutions that empower local farmers, improve yields, and reduce reliance on imported foodstuffs. One man leading this agricultural transformation mission is Roland Fomundam, a Cameroonian entrepreneur and advocate for greenhouse farming. His journey, which began over a decade ago, has reshaped how food is grown, distributed, and consumed in Cameroon.
In a video statement shared on his Facebook page in March 2025, Fomundam recounted his mission to revolutionise agriculture in Cameroon.
"Fourteen years ago, I took a one-way ticket and landed in Douala, Cameroon, but this time with a mission to rediscover agriculture," he said.
Recognising that traditional farming methods were struggling to meet the needs of a growing population, Fomundam sought to develop what he calls "culturally adaptable solutions." He understood that true agricultural transformation could only be achieved by working closely with local farmers.
"If we had to do this right, we had to live and walk with the everyday farmer so as to create solutions that meet their true challenges," he explained.
His journey led to the creation of Cameroon’s first bamboo greenhouse in 2013 in his native village in Mbengwi Momo Division. This innovation was soon followed by the development of wooden and, later, metal greenhouses, allowing for more efficient farming methods that maximise yields while minimising land use.
Fomundam’s initiatives quickly gained traction, with the first large greenhouse farm in Cameroon consisting of ten greenhouses. It became a major attraction, drawing visitors from within the country and abroad.
"The amount of food produced in my backyard was more than what many harvested from multiple hectares in nearby farms," he recalled.
Seeing the impact of greenhouse technology, Fomundam established the Greenhouse Academy in 2015 to train the next generation of farmers. By applying these techniques across more than 100 locations in the Northwest Region, his team helped standardise and refine the technology, shifting from wood to metal structures for greater durability.
One of the biggest achievements in Fomundam’s journey came in 2021 when the Cameroonian government imposed higher taxes on imported bell peppers, encouraging local production. His company capitalised on this policy shift, dramatically increasing domestic output. By 2022, Cameroon was fully self-sufficient in bell pepper production.
"We brought the prices of bell peppers down from 13,700 CFA per kilogram to a mere 4,500 CFA per kilogram," Fomundam stated, emphasising the economic benefits of localising production. By 2023, bell pepper output had reached 500,000 tons, and over 400 greenhouse farms were operating across the country, growing a variety of crops.
His vision extended beyond Cameroon’s borders, leading to a development agreement with Turkey’s largest greenhouse farm developer in 2024. Dubbed the Sahel Greenhouse Project, this initiative has already begun in the Adamawa Region and is expected to expand further.
Fomundam’s latest initiative, the Ubuntu Agro Finance Programme (TUBAF), aims to provide financial support to aspiring greenhouse farmers. Announcing the launch, he stated, "Tuba TUBAF is here to provide financing. GHV will set up your farm, provide training, farm inputs, monitor production, and guarantee your market for every harvest."
By removing financial barriers, he hopes to make agriculture an attractive and profitable venture for young Cameroonians.
"We want to put greenhouse farms everywhere," he declared, urging citizens at home and abroad to take part in this agricultural revolution.
For Roland Fomundam, the mission is clear: to make agriculture in Cameroon great again. His innovative approach has already proven successful, reducing food insecurity, stabilising prices, and creating employment opportunities. As he concluded his statement, he left Cameroonians with a powerful message:
"The time is now. Let’s do what it takes so our kids will live without fear of food insecurity, without fear of unemployment, without fear of malnutrition, and without fear of chemical-laden foods. Let’s ensure they exceed their own life expectancies and that we all live happily ever after."
By Bakah Derick
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