The African Development Bank has approved an €81.2 million, or approximately $94 million, loan to expand irrigation infrastructure and strengthen climate-resilient agriculture in northern Cameroon.
The financing will support the first phase of the Northern Agro-Industrial Development Programme. Together with an expected €7.54 million contribution from the Cameroonian government, the project will have a total cost of around €88.74 million, equivalent to about $103 million.
Approved on 13 July 2026, the initiative will finance the construction of three multipurpose hillside dams and the development of 618 hectares of irrigated farmland.
The dams will be built in Barkehi in the Gashiga municipality, Ndjam-Badi in the Bibémi district and near Poli in the Faro department. The locations were selected from five sites considered during earlier studies.
The new infrastructure will help farmers and livestock keepers maintain production during the region’s extended dry season. The reservoirs will also provide water for livestock, support fishing activities and improve the overall availability of water.
Authorities are examining whether the stored water could also supply nearby communities with drinking water. Technical assessments are being conducted to determine local demand, infrastructure needs and suitable distribution options.
The project covers more than irrigation construction. Financing will support water-storage and distribution systems, hydraulic equipment, engineering studies, environmental safeguards, construction supervision, livelihood restoration and programme management.
It is expected to generate employment and business opportunities in civil engineering, water management, environmental consulting, solar-powered irrigation and agricultural processing.
Some households may be affected by land acquisition, crop losses and involuntary resettlement. Compensation and environmental monitoring measures will therefore form an important part of project implementation.
The programme is intended to serve as the first stage of a much larger agricultural and water-management initiative. A proposed second phase could construct larger dams capable of storing around 500 million cubic metres of water and irrigating more than 40,000 hectares.
However, the cost, timetable and financing arrangements for the second phase have not yet been announced.
The African Development Bank said the project could help Cameroon unlock its agro-industrial potential, attract private investment, create jobs and strengthen the resilience of rural communities facing climate-related water shortages.
Its long-term success will depend on reliable infrastructure, effective maintenance, improved agricultural productivity and increased incomes for farmers and livestock-dependent households.
