6 - The National Produce Marketing Board in Cameroon, 1978–91: An Analysis of its Origin, Performance and Collapse
Corresponding Author(s) : Kingsly Awang Ollong
Afrika Zamani,
No. 22-23 (2015): Afrika Zamani: An Annual Journal of African History
Abstract
The operation of African export monopoly boards has been one of the intensively debated topics in the statutory marketing of agricultural produce. Following the reunification of the two Cameroons in October 1961, two agricultural boards were put in place to prevent the exploitation of farmers by freelance produce buyers. Against this backdrop, between 1961 and 1976, two produce boards emerged, the West Cameroon Marketing Board in West Cameroon and the Caisses de Stabilisation in East Cameroon, to control and stabilize the prices of agricultural produce. These boards merged in 1976, leading to the creation of the National Produce Marketing Board (NPMB). This article focuses on the rise, performance and collapse of the NPMB and the significance for produce marketing for the Cameroonian economy. It provides insight into the historical origins of the board, scope, activities, performance and the eventual collapse and liquidation of the National Produce Marketing Board in 1991. It highlights the fate of the coffee and cocoa sector by examining the implications of structural adjustment programmes on the activities of the National Produce Marketing Board.
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- Abbott, J.C. and Creupelandt, H.C., 1966, Agricultural Marketing Boards: Their Establishment and Operation, Rome: FAO.
- Africa Research Bulletin, 1989a, ‘Cameroon: market restructuring’, 26 (11), December: 9767.
- Africa Research Bulletin, 1989b, ‘Cameroon: state withdrawal from public companies’, 26 (9), October: 9713–14.
- Assoumou, J., 1977, L’Economie du Cacao, Paris.
- Bates, R., 2005, Markets and States in Tropical Africa: the political basis of agricultural policies, Berkeley: University of California Press.
- Bauer, P.T. and Yamey, B.S., 1968, Markets, Market Control, and Marketing Reform, Letchworth (UK): Garden City Press.
- Boutrais, J. et al., 1979, ‘Population, Plannification et Développement rural: Exemple du Cameroun’, CGN/CSES Publication 21: 65.
- Cameroon Ministry of Commerce, 1989, Performance Contract for the Office National pour le commercialisation des produits de base, Yaoundé: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Champaud, J., 1983, Villes et Campagnes du Cameroun de l’Ouest, Paris.
- Courade, G., 1988, ‘Organisation paysannes, sociétés rurales, Etat et développement au Cameroun’, paper presented at the conference on the Political Economy of Cameroon, Historical Perspectives, African Studies Centre, Leiden, June 1–4.
- FAO, 1990, Structural Adjustment and Agricultural Marketing, Selected Papers, Marketing and Rural Finance Service, Rome.
- Helleiner, G.K., 1996, Peasant Agriculture, Government and Economic Growth in Nigeria, Homewood.
- Hesp, P., 1985, ‘Agricultural pricing and Rural Development in Cameroon, 1960-1980’, Journal für Entwicklungspolitik 3: 112–30.
- Hesp, P. and Van der Laan, L., 1985, ‘Marketing boards in tropical Africa: a survey’, in Arhin, K., Hesp P. and van der Laan, L., eds, Marketing Boards in Tropical Africa, London.
- Hubbard, M. and Smith, M., 1996, ‘The Role of Government in Adjusting Economies’, Agricultural Marketing Sector Review, Paper 6, Birmingham: University of Birmingham Development Administration Group.
- Jua, N., 1990, ‘Economic Management in Neo-Colonial States: A Case Study of Cameroon’, Research Report N0 38/ 1990, African Studies Centre, Leiden.
- Lele U. and Christiansen R., 1989, Markets, Marketing Boards, and Cooperatives in Africa: Issues in Adjustment Policy, MADIA Discussion Paper 11, Washington DC: World Bank. Marchés Tropicaux et Méditerranéennes, 1962, Weekly Journal, Paris.
- Marchés Tropicaux et Méditerranéennes, 1979.
- Nlend, V., 1997, Etude de l’Impact et des Conséquences de la Libéralisation des Processus de Transformation et de Commercialisation du Cacao au Cameroun, FAO National Report, Douala.
- Ul Haque I., 2004. Commodities Under Neoliberalism: The Case of Cocoa, G- 24 Discussion Paper Series 25, Geneva: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
- UNCTAD, 1993, Government Policies Affecting Coffee Export Marketing, Workshop for Senior Government Policy-Makers, Nairobi, 29 November–3 December.
- Van Chi-Bonnardel, R.N., 1978, Vie de Relations au Sénégal: la Circulation des Biens, Dakar.
- Van der Laan, H., 1988, Cocoa and Coffee Buying in Cameroon: the role of the marketing boards in the South West and North West Provinces, 1978-1987, Working Paper No. 11.
- Van der Laan, H. & W.T.M. Van Haaren, 1990. African Marketing Boards under Structural: The Experience of Sub-Saharan Africa during the 1980s, Working Paper No. 13, African studies Centre Leiden.
References
Abbott, J.C. and Creupelandt, H.C., 1966, Agricultural Marketing Boards: Their Establishment and Operation, Rome: FAO.
Africa Research Bulletin, 1989a, ‘Cameroon: market restructuring’, 26 (11), December: 9767.
Africa Research Bulletin, 1989b, ‘Cameroon: state withdrawal from public companies’, 26 (9), October: 9713–14.
Assoumou, J., 1977, L’Economie du Cacao, Paris.
Bates, R., 2005, Markets and States in Tropical Africa: the political basis of agricultural policies, Berkeley: University of California Press.
Bauer, P.T. and Yamey, B.S., 1968, Markets, Market Control, and Marketing Reform, Letchworth (UK): Garden City Press.
Boutrais, J. et al., 1979, ‘Population, Plannification et Développement rural: Exemple du Cameroun’, CGN/CSES Publication 21: 65.
Cameroon Ministry of Commerce, 1989, Performance Contract for the Office National pour le commercialisation des produits de base, Yaoundé: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Champaud, J., 1983, Villes et Campagnes du Cameroun de l’Ouest, Paris.
Courade, G., 1988, ‘Organisation paysannes, sociétés rurales, Etat et développement au Cameroun’, paper presented at the conference on the Political Economy of Cameroon, Historical Perspectives, African Studies Centre, Leiden, June 1–4.
FAO, 1990, Structural Adjustment and Agricultural Marketing, Selected Papers, Marketing and Rural Finance Service, Rome.
Helleiner, G.K., 1996, Peasant Agriculture, Government and Economic Growth in Nigeria, Homewood.
Hesp, P., 1985, ‘Agricultural pricing and Rural Development in Cameroon, 1960-1980’, Journal für Entwicklungspolitik 3: 112–30.
Hesp, P. and Van der Laan, L., 1985, ‘Marketing boards in tropical Africa: a survey’, in Arhin, K., Hesp P. and van der Laan, L., eds, Marketing Boards in Tropical Africa, London.
Hubbard, M. and Smith, M., 1996, ‘The Role of Government in Adjusting Economies’, Agricultural Marketing Sector Review, Paper 6, Birmingham: University of Birmingham Development Administration Group.
Jua, N., 1990, ‘Economic Management in Neo-Colonial States: A Case Study of Cameroon’, Research Report N0 38/ 1990, African Studies Centre, Leiden.
Lele U. and Christiansen R., 1989, Markets, Marketing Boards, and Cooperatives in Africa: Issues in Adjustment Policy, MADIA Discussion Paper 11, Washington DC: World Bank. Marchés Tropicaux et Méditerranéennes, 1962, Weekly Journal, Paris.
Marchés Tropicaux et Méditerranéennes, 1979.
Nlend, V., 1997, Etude de l’Impact et des Conséquences de la Libéralisation des Processus de Transformation et de Commercialisation du Cacao au Cameroun, FAO National Report, Douala.
Ul Haque I., 2004. Commodities Under Neoliberalism: The Case of Cocoa, G- 24 Discussion Paper Series 25, Geneva: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
UNCTAD, 1993, Government Policies Affecting Coffee Export Marketing, Workshop for Senior Government Policy-Makers, Nairobi, 29 November–3 December.
Van Chi-Bonnardel, R.N., 1978, Vie de Relations au Sénégal: la Circulation des Biens, Dakar.
Van der Laan, H., 1988, Cocoa and Coffee Buying in Cameroon: the role of the marketing boards in the South West and North West Provinces, 1978-1987, Working Paper No. 11.
Van der Laan, H. & W.T.M. Van Haaren, 1990. African Marketing Boards under Structural: The Experience of Sub-Saharan Africa during the 1980s, Working Paper No. 13, African studies Centre Leiden.