This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025 Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement became the first product from the French-speaking region of Africa to get geographical indication protection at the EU in March The man behind the success is René Claude Metomo the president of the local farmer’s cooperative Claude Metomo also owns one of the biggest pepper plantations in the region which probably made it easy for him to identify the need for recognition The European Commission granted the protection after a 17-month application process during which Claude Metomo secured support from the African Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation Project helping the farmers’ association fulfil the conditions required to secure a grant The recognition allows Penja Pepper Producers to use the name Poivre de Penja exclusively and prevent other producers from unfairly riding on the reputation of the product in the EU The pepper received its first protected designation of origin classification from the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle in 2013 spurring an increase in production of between 20% and 30% and fetching farmers a higher value for their products over the next two years The EU’s latest recognition is expected to boost its market value further Claude Metomo’s efforts to secure the rights of local farmers in Cameroon earned him a place in this year’s list which you can navigate by selecting the appropriate section below ▲ Back to top of category list You have reached the limit for gifting for this month This photo taken on Jan. 16, 2023 shows white pepper for sale at a grocery store in Yaounde, Cameroon. The penja white pepper produced in Cameroon's Littoral Region is world-renowned that is now in its harvest season. Plantation workers pick mature pepper fruits, soak them into water and ferment them, then remove the flesh to get white pepper seeds, which can be sold or processed after drying.(Photo: Xinhua) A man picks pepper fruits at a plantation in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region, Cameroon, Jan. 13, 2023. The penja white pepper produced in Cameroon's Littoral Region is world-renowned that is now in its harvest season. Plantation workers pick mature pepper fruits, soak them into water and ferment them, then remove the flesh to get white pepper seeds, which can be sold or processed after drying.(Photo: Xinhua) Villagers pick pepper fruits at a plantation in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region, Cameroon, Jan. 13, 2023. The penja white pepper produced in Cameroon's Littoral Region is world-renowned that is now in its harvest season. Plantation workers pick mature pepper fruits, soak them into water and ferment them, then remove the flesh to get white pepper seeds, which can be sold or processed after drying.(Photo: Xinhua) A man displays freshly picked pepper fruits in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region, Cameroon, Jan. 13, 2023. The penja white pepper produced in Cameroon's Littoral Region is world-renowned that is now in its harvest season. Plantation workers pick mature pepper fruits, soak them into water and ferment them, then remove the flesh to get white pepper seeds, which can be sold or processed after drying.(Photo: Xinhua) Connecting decision makers to a dynamic network of information, people and ideas, Bloomberg quickly and accurately delivers business and financial information, news and insight around the world Penja pepper fetches as much as 31.25 euros ($35.65) per 100 grams (3.5 ounces) at Edelices compared with the equivalent of 2.80 euros for the ordinary white variety at Tesco Plc supermarkets It’s one of three African foods to obtain the protected geographical indications label under a system that the European Union wants recognized worldwide (Business in Cameroon) - Several problems are affecting the smooth operations of the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label awarded to the Penja Pepper in Cameroon the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) reveals in a 2021 report assessing the project PPOV - aimed at Strengthening and Promoting the Plant Variety Protection System Despite the development potentials the Penja Pepper offers the local economy several factors contributed to the decline the industry fell into since 2016 the continuous drop in the price of Penja Pepper in local markets [less than XAF10,000 per kilogrm] insecurity in the areas covered by the geographical indication label producers’ disregard for the conditions of the PGI Consumers are scammed by sellers who sell other varieties of pepper as Penja pepper since there are noticeably no signs to distinguish fake Penja Peppers from real ones "Hence the interest of a logo to be stamped on the original products Penja pepper has a higher value and must therefore be sold at a higher price the main challenges for the group in charge of the Penja Pepper label are to revitalize the sector boost producers’ access to profitable markets and fight frauds and counterfeiting both inside and outside Cameroon President of the Group of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Penja Pepper producers signed a performance contract for the implementation of the geographical indication’s plan on January 28 The performance contract has two main goals: strengthening the technical and financial autonomy of the GR-IGPP and the Penja Pepper Sorting and Packaging Center (CAC) as well as ensuring the development of the Penja Pepper Protected geographical indication by attracting small farmers into the sector The Penja Pepper Protected Geographical Indication label was awarded by the OAPI in 2013 The GR-IGPP ensures the geographical indication conditions are met to guarantee the quality of the Penja pepper According to the Bangui agreement creating the OAPI  "Geographical Indication ("GI") is a sign which identifies goods as originating from a specific locality or region in a country or other characteristics are essentially attributable to the specific locality or region." Kribi Bitumen Plant Set to Start Construction in 2025 with Government Backing CEMAC Bond Market Hits CFA 8.45 Trillion in March 2025, Interest Rates Drop Cameroon’s Timber Output Projected to Rise in 2025 Despite Higher Export Taxes Central Africa Stock Exchange Sees 98% Drop in Trading Value in Q1 2025 Every week the economy and investment news from Cameroon Mboa Paris Trains 30 Young Cameroonians to Boost Tech and Entrepreneurship Cameroon Audit Targets Former Officials for Mismanagement in Agricultural Project Camwater Seeks Global Bids to Launch Bottled Water Lines in Five Cities Bafoussam Workshop Highlights Benefits of Cameroon-EU Trade Agreement Cameroon Could Reach 350,100 Tons of Cotton in 2025 (Beac) Paul Biya Appoints Johnny Razack as Chair of Cameroon’s National Investment Company Cameroon Refuses Work Visa Renewal for Casino and Super U Boss Over Toxic Workplace Claims Cameroon Joins Global Charter to Fight Illegal Fishing A man picks pepper fruits at a plantation in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region The penja white pepper produced in Cameroon's Littoral Region is world-renowned that is now in its harvest season 18 (Xinhua) -- The penja white pepper produced in Cameroon's Littoral Region is world-renowned that is now in its harvest season Plantation workers pick mature pepper fruits then remove the flesh to get white pepper seeds which can be sold or processed after drying A man transfers freshly picked pepper fruits in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region Villagers pick pepper fruits at a plantation in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region A woman picks pepper fruits at a plantation in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region Workers dry white pepper in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region 2023 shows white pepper for sale at a grocery store in Yaounde People transport harvested plantains in a plantation in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region the Njombe-Penja sub-division nurtures plenty of plantations where plantains can be harvested all year round People work in a plantation in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region 2023 shows plantains on sale in a market in Yaounde Farmers in the Penja locality of southwestern Cameroon are spicing up their lives with the production of pepper a farmer in the Penja locality of southwestern Cameroon pointed happily to bags of just-harvested pepper which he planned to supply to supermarkets in the commercial hub of Douala It was the crack of dawn on an early January morning as the sun shone on Tazune's four-hectare pepper farm lying beneath an imposing mountain Other workers were also busy harvesting pepper The father of 12 is one of over 400 farmers who have found fortune in the cultivation of pepper in the locality It's pepper season in Penja and this is like World Cup to us," said the 54-year-old like many other farmers in the semi-urban locality used to grow coffee and cocoa but torrential rains biting drought and a woeful drop in prices took a heavy toll on him and the cash crops agrotechnicians arrived in the area and discovered that the land is appropriate for pepper cultivation Located within the hills and gullies of Moungo division of the Littoral region highland climate and a combination of volcanic soil suitable for growing the crop.   Today the zone is famous for its production of white and black pepper fondly called Penja Pepper Penja pepper became the first sub-Saharan African product to obtain a Protected Geographical Indication label from the African Intellectual Property Organization This allows its producers to sell it at competitive prices.    The Penja Pepper production zone consists of the localities of Loum Njombe-Penja and Tombel which cut across two regions of Cameroon including the Littoral and Southwest Approximately 60 percent of the product is consumed locally and in neighboring countries and 40 percent is exported to European markets Tazune said the price is encouraging and motivating them to work even harder a kilo was sold at 12,000 xaf (about 20 U.S That price was good for us and it encouraged us to cultivate pepper," said Tazune who is married to three wives (polygamy is legal in Cameroon) you can make six million and you take good care of your family." Penja has established pepper planting as a leading industry to help farmers increase their incomes and an impetus for poverty alleviation and rural revitalization said Richard Medjiotou Mieghu who owns 1.5 hectares of pepper farm His family has benefited from pepper growing since 2015 the once impoverished household shook off poverty and now has a house with modern home appliances "I used to live in a house constructed of wood (where less privileged people in Cameroon live) I have sent two of my children to the university and my family feeds well," said the 50-year-old father of 10 the locality produces between 300 and 500 tons annually A man displays freshly picked pepper fruits in Njombe-Penja sub-division of Littoral Region a hairdresser by profession who hoped to earn money working on the pepper farms in a bid to open a salon save (money) and do other things at home," said the 24-year-old we employ people and it makes them not to find themselves in any atrocity," added 35-year-old Gabel whose job is to supervise the workers "They (workers) make 5,000 to 10,000 xaf a day depending on work output" Cameroon aims to increase its exports of Penja pepper and diversify its agricultural exports to niche markets at the regional and international levels it must be able to support farmers to ensure high-quality products by providing them with "much-needed" pesticides ND — Police in Fargo are no longer looking for a suspect in a weekend stabbing They were trying to track down Penja Lawuya after a stabbing Sunday in the 4300 block of Calico Drive South But police say the victim is not cooperating with the investigation so the department is no longer looking for Lawuya The victim was last reported to be in stable condition Cameroonian subsidiary of Compagnie fruitière de Marseille far below the 40 tons harvested some years ago this production drop is the consequence of the reduction of cultivable areas because of biological pests Those pests notably destroy the plants’ roots experts simply advised us to relocate our plantations,” Jules Kamdem explains Official sources reveal that PHP’s former pepper production farms have been converted into banana farms because of the pests the group’s pepper production areas dropped from 40 to 21 hectares “You sure have noticed that since its labelling This is due to the fungi that destroy our pepper plants Researchers must move to the site to find a solution for these biological pests,” he adds the French Development Agency funded a research programme to avoid the danger threatening the survival of Penja pepper It is also worth reminding that it is that same development agency that helped label the product Thanks to the labelling a spice liked by best cooks around the world Because of biological pests that are developing in Penja producers are not yet reaping the rewards of this labelling (Business in Cameroon) - Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP) expects an output of nine tons this year the subsidiary of Compagnie fruitière de Marseille this is three tons less than it produced in 2018 The drop is attributable to a fungi infestation that drove the firm to abandon some of its plantations (Business in Cameroon) - To improve the production of the Penja pepper and facilitate its access to international markets the European Union (EU) representation in Yaoundé will support a development project led by Coleacp (Liaison Committee Europe-Africa-Caribbean-Pacific) with €720,000 (about XAF471.6 million) "To meet the sanitary and phytosanitary challenges in a sustainable framework that respects traditional know-how the Geographical Indication of Penja Pepper (IGPP) has obtained thanks to the technical support of the Cameroon Chamber of Commerce a grant from the Standards and Trade Development Fund (STDF) (...) The STDF and its partners selected Coleacp to implement the project [until 2022]," says the project’s term sheet considered one of the best peppers in the world is the first protected geographical indication (PGI) in sub-Saharan Africa It is grown in the Njombé-Penja area (the country's coastal region) and is a major source of rural employment With the completion of its labeling process in 2018 the price per kilogram of Penja pepper has risen from XAF2,500 to XAF14,000 its production is gradually turning into a nightmare because of pests that have taken over the land in the locality of Penja (Business in Cameroon) - Pozzolana mining company SETP (Société d’extraction et de transformation de pouzzolane) is currently clashing with the municipal authorities of Njombé-Penja regarding the exploitation of an eight-hectare pozzolana quarry After several letters and a summon dated May 18 suspended Setp’s operations for 15 days for "illegal exploitation activities" of the quarry in question the mayor demanded "a monthly payment of between CFAF 3 and 5 million in the framework of a shared management agreement between the quarry operator and the municipality of Penja." indicates that its activities are "legal " and comply with Law No It points out that Article 71 of the code subjects the exploitation of quarry substances to "prior obtention of prospecting permit for new sites or an access authorization for old quarries,” as is the case here a careful analysis of both the letter and of the Law N°2019/024 of December 24 on the General Code of Decentralized Territorial Communities shows that the exploitation of industrial quarries is not among the powers transferred to municipalities by the State of Cameroon," Setp’s management adds the company is bound to the commune of Penja by an agreement setting out the terms of payment of the transport tax at CFAF 1.3 million the payment for the current month has already been made The company also indicates that every year it dedicates CFAF 1 million to finance micro-projects for the benefit of disadvantaged groups It also provides 100 shipments of 15 m3 of pozzolana each to the commune (Business in Cameroon) - A research to improve the quality of Penja pepper has just been published in Douala The study conducted by the chamber of commerce and the Canadian expert Bertrand Yvon delineated the growing regions in order to keep the pepper’s organoleptic profile This delineation took into account the soil characteristics The research also indicates some good practices to be respected by producers to ensure that the pepper produced complies with the European Union’s standards Penja pepper was labeled in the framework of a programme funded by the French Agency for Development Cameroonian producers are producing it in great quantity moreso when the pepper’s price rose from CFA2,500 to CFA14,000 per kilogram This is a real opportunity for producers whose 300 tons produced in 2015 was mainly exported (Business in Cameroon) - The participation of Cameroon’s economic operators in Durban fair in South Africa from September 25 to October 1 some South African partners have signed a contract to be supplied with Penja pepper. This was revealed on January 25 during a ceremony of presentation of New Year’s wishes to Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana the Cameroonian coffee roaster has obtained the firm promise of another South African partner to distribute Cameroon’s coffee in that country with 55 million consumers (Business in Cameroon) - Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP) Cameroonian subsidiary of French Compagnie fruitière de Marseille recently launched a 3-lot bid solicitation for the supply of 12 agricultural tractors is funded by a grant from the European Union in the framework of the measures initiated to support ACP banana supplying countries should be done at Quai fruitier 12 inside the autonomous Port of Douala The bids will be opened on April 1st at the headquarters of PHP in Njombé Leader of the banana production market in Cameroon PHP exported 13,847 tons of banana n February 2020 Compared with the 19,737 tons it exported in February 2019 This drop was the main reason Cameroon’s overall banana exports were down in February 2020 According to figures revealed by the banana exporters association Assobacam the country’s banana exports were 6,500 tons down year-over-year during the period under review (Business in Cameroon) - According to Emmanuel Nzenowo Executive Secretary of the IG Poivre de Penja group the production of this spice highly sought worldwide for its unique taste reached 300 tons during 2015 approximately 60% of this production was consumed locally the remainder exported to the European market This production development follows a jump in the number of producers which according to Emmanuel Nzenowo,  considerably increased to reach 200 farmers over a period of 3 years which gets its name from the town in the Littoral region of Cameroon where it is grown is attracting more and more farmers since 2013 year during which the Protected Geographical Indication (IGP in French) from the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) was awarded to this pepper From FCfa 2,500 per kilogram before September 2013 the price of the Penja pepper certified by OAPI with the support of AFD reached FCfa 8,000 per kilogram in 2014 and peaked at FCfa 14,000 per kilogram during 2015 Prices which seem to have made "2015 the year of the Penja pepper" as foreseen at the beginning of the year by Erwann de Kerros founder of "Terre exotique" and main distributor of this spice on the international market "when we do  blind tests with sommeliers and chefs which was exhibited during the last edition of the Salon de l’Agriculture de Paris should soon be introduced in the Maggi cube recipe This culinary stock officially represents 90% of the production of the Nestlé Cameroun factory (Business in Cameroon) - After a 4-year process Nestlé Cameroon began to sell its Cameroonian coffee-based beverages on January 29 According to inside sources at the company Swiss agro-foods giant’s Cameroonian subsidiary plans to add Penja pepper to its Maggi cube ingredients The project will enable farmers of this Cameroonian pepper to have a great break since Maggi cubes represent close to 90% of Maggi production at the Nestlé factory in Douala (only in Central Africa) where all products (Maggi bouillon cubes Nescafé) bring in 5 million FCFA per month in the six CEMAC countries – Cameroon Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea Oku Honey from the North West Region and Penja pepper from the Littoral now have international certificates from the African Intellectual Property Rights Organisation (OAPI) The certificates awarded to officials of the two products on Friday September 13 in a ceremony chaired by the Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Taiga recognise the geographical locations of the products and protect their trademarks became the first country in Africa where two geographical products are given international recognition the pepper is reportedly grown by over 20,000 people and annual production is in the neighbourhood of 70 metric tons some 1,500 people are involved in bee farming producing about 30 tons of honey per annum 04-09-2013 - Penja Pepper Gets Label On Sept. 13 06-03-2013 - Certified Oku Honey, PenjaPepper, Unique Cameroon Products in the Market Soon the African Intellectual Property Organizatin (OAPI) has launched in Yaoundé the second phase of its programme for Extending the Protection of Geographical Indications 15 Cameroonian products were presented for labelling Cameroon wants to bring to light the peculiarities of products like the Kilichi of Ngadouéré after it successfully labeled Penja pepper and Oku honey during the 1st edition of the program “We are now aware that labeling contributes to the protection of traditional knowledge and know-how while at the same time generating consistent income for producers” said to explain the program which is backed by the French Development Agency (AFD) a dried and spicy meat covered in crushed peanuts could soon be certified as part of the Support program for the establishment of geographical indicators (IG in French) of the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI) who just attended the signing of the convention for the financing of the 2nd phase of this program between AFD and OAPI for a total amount slightly in excess of FCfa 2 billion to be among the beneficiaries of the "IG" certification as part of this second phase of the program Cameroon was already the big winner of the first phase of this program the Cameroonian agricultural sector had featured 2 products: the Oku honey made in the North-Western region and the Penja pepper whose price per kilogram has since moved from FCfa 5,000 to 16,000 (Business in Cameroon) - In addition to the over 7,413 acres that it already operates in the Moungo department in the Coastal region Société des plantations du Haut Penja (PHP) an agro-foods company run by Compagnie fruitière de Marseille is planning to create a new banana plantation on over 1,976 acres in Dehane a district located in the Ocean department in the southern region of Cameroon This information was revealed in a call for tenders published on July 7 2014 by the agro-industrial company regarding “the acquisition of complete under-tree irrigation equipment” “PHP is currently in the process of expanding its banana plantations in Dehane This expansion will be done in several phases covering an area of over 1,976 acres we will be irrigating a little over 128 acres we need under-tree equipment to prepare the surfaces to be used,” states the call for tenders in two parts one concerning the modernisation of the irrigation systems used by the company’s plantations in the Moungo department and the fruit of the merger-acquisition of Société des bananeraies de la Mbome (SBM) de la Société des plantations nouvelles de Penja (SPNP) and Plantations du Haut Penja (PHP) this company has exported 55,518 tonnes of banana out of the 133,000 tonnes exported by Cameroon for the first half of 2014 Its annual production is estimated to be 120,000 tonnes according to the Cameroon Banana Association (Assobacam) Cameroon’s national banana dessert producer expects to harvest 40 tonnes of Penja pepper in 2015 Granted a “protected geographical location” label since September 13 2013 within the framework of the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI in French) named after the place where it is cultivated Penja pepper will soon be an ingredient in Maggi bouillon cubes produced in Cameroon by the Swiss agro-foods company which is currently conducting a programme to reduce raw material imports by 75% (Business in Cameroon) - Two agricultural products origin and commercial value grown in the North-West will soon be protected by the African Intellectual Property Rights Organisation (OAPI) “Placing a product under such protection reduces the likelihood of piracy fraud and counterfeiting but significantly boosts farmers’ incomes” told Cameroon Tribune during a two-day regional seminar on geographic indications In the case of Penja paper grown in Mbanaga it took four years of work and lobbying to arrive at this stage and it was financed partly by the French Development Agency (AFD) to the tune of 655 million francs CFA.A kilogram of Penja pepper (small grains) cost CFAF 7500