Agriculture in Cameroon - Overview

Overview

Agriculture was the main source of growth and foreign exchange until 1978 when oil production replaced it as the cornerstone of growth for the formal economy. In 2004, agriculture contributed 44 percent to GDP. Agricultural development and productivity declined from neglect during the oil boom years of the early 1980s. Agriculture was the principal occupation of 56 percent of the economically active population in 2003, although only about 15.4 percent of the land was arable.