Society

To boost import substitution drive: IRAD steps up local juice, jam production in Njombé.

by Mercy Fosoh
30 Sep 2026 20:05
51 views

Photo of fruit processing

The Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD, is producing natural juices, nectars, fruit cocktails and jams from locally-grown fruits at its Njombé research station in the Littoral Region.
Officials said the initiative forms part of IRAD’s efforts to promote the processing of locally-produced agricultural products and support Cameroon’s import-substitution policy.

The products, IRAD said, are processed at the post-harvest products processing laboratory of IRAD’s Multipurpose Agricultural Research Station.

The institution added that they are made from pineapple, papaya, lemon, soursop, guava, orange and other fruits harvested from the station’s orchards.

According to information made public by IRAD, the laboratory’s activities were assessed recently by a monitoring and evaluation mission focusing on the station’s fruit sector.

IRAD revealed that Consultant Imele Elena, née Stoyanova, visited the facility during the exercise and assessed the post-harvest processing of fruits harvested at the station. The institution said she commended the researchers for their work at the facility.

“It is a dynamic team of researchers that I met in the field…,” Imele Elena said. IRAD disclosed that a sensory evaluation session was also organised at the laboratory to assess consumer appreciation of the products.

It said pineapple juice, fruit cocktails and organic pineapple and papaya jams were among the products presented for tasting.

According to information from the institute, the products received positive feedback during the tasting exercise. The laboratory, IRAD said, is still in its early stages and requires additional equipment and materials to improve fruit processing, packaging and labelling.

IRAD added that the Njombé initiative is similar to activities being carried out in some of its other laboratories across Cameroon.

The institute, headed by Dr Noé Woin, said the processing of locally-grown fruits is intended to add value to domestic agricultural production while supporting the government’s import-substitution policy.

The policy, according to IRAD, seeks to encourage increased local production and processing of goods that can replace some products currently imported into the country.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3923 of Monday September 28, 2026