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Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute, signed a decree laying down the terms and conditions for managing water used for agricultural purposes and maintaining hydraulic infrastructure in Cameroon’s irrigated areas. The regulatory act lays down new conditions for exploiting and using underground and surface water resources in this Central African country, which is struggling with water shortages.
The Prime Minister specifies that before the start of each agricultural season, the public entity must define, based on hydrometeorological data, the quantities of water to be drawn by users who are co-contractors of the public entity from water mobilisation points under duly ratified conventions and the legislation in force. The Cameroonian authorities will also ensure compliance with the defined abstraction quantities, once the authorisations have been granted by the Cameroonian Ministry of Water and Energy, for a renewable period of five years.
As a reminder, any abstraction of surface or groundwater for industrial or commercial purposes is subject to the payment of a fee, the rate, basis, and method of collection of which are set by the Finance Act.
Irrigation and drainage of agricultural wastewater must be carried out under the technical protocol set out in the Code de gestion des périmètres, for which those in charge of agricultural perimeters will be responsible. In addition, penalties will be imposed for failure to comply with the specifications or for behaviour that compromises the operation of agricultural areas or the long-term viability of the infrastructure.
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In addition to rationalising water use, these new regulations aim to ensure equitable management of the resource for farmers, given the disparities in access to irrigation water, preserve water intended for consumption, and reduce food insecurity.
