LOCALLY MANUFACTURED FOOD EQUIPMENTS AND THEIR IMPACT IN THE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CAMEROON: CASE OF THE CITY OF MAROUA

Abstract

An analysis of the main food equipments manufactured in Maroua was carried out with the aim of highlighting their impact in the technological appropriation by the local populations and the industrial development of the city. Research carried out enabled the researcher to administer survey forms and to observe the design and realisation of the equipment models. Results indicate that the main equipments are mills for cereals (millet, sorghum, corn) and fruit, huskers, ginners (grains removers) and oil expellers. These equipments are mainly operated at the level of the village units. They suffer from low spread. The technological parameters of the dimensioning are not always controlled (capacity, temperature, input and output particle size), as well as the technical parameters (shape, materials used, maintenance). The scale of manufacture and the lack of innovation in the design of these equipments do not allow the installation of real “small industries”. This situation delays the technological development not only of the city and the region, but also of Cameroon because the Far-North region is a great supplier of agricultural products (cereals, tubers, vegetables, oilseeds, fruits) of economic importance.