Business

In both rural areas and in the cities of Cameroon, rice forms part of the staple foods and despite having the agricultural potential to produce it locally, it imports significant quantities of rice to meet domestic demand. Conventional rice farming is water-intensive, reliant on synthetic inputs, and generates substantial post-harvest losses.

Agri-Invest produces RIZICAM-BIO, a premium organic long-grain rice brand, through an integrated model spanning cultivation, processing, and direct distribution to B2B and B2C markets across Cameroon. They work with a network of over 5,300 smallholder farmers, creating a market for them that reduces post-harvest losses and supports livelihoods across some of Cameroon’s most food-insecure regions.

Impact

The company uses a farming method that reduces irrigation water use and can help increase yields per hectare, while eliminating synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. By replacing conventional flooded rice paddies with System of Rice Intensification (SRI) cultivation, especially in drought-prone regions like Extrême-Nord, Agri-Invest reduces irrigation water consumption and preserves groundwater. This farming practice also promotes organic composting and crop rotation to rebuild soil organic matter and microbial diversity. Consumers and investors can verify organic practices, farmer provenance, and carbon footprint per lot using their QR-code traceability system.