Colonial agricultural research center in Nkoemvone, Cameroon: a fading legacy

In the heart of southern Cameroon, the sprawling Nkoemvone site—over 300 hectares, with ten actively managed—stands as a silent testament to colonial ambition. Lined by a paved road and dotted with crumbling structures, the area is designated as the «agricultural polyvalent station of Nkoemvone,» falling under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Despite its dilapidated buildings, the station remains operational, with a primary focus on cocoa plant multiplication and distribution—a legacy that endures decades after its colonial inception.

Established in 1944, the Nkoemvone Cocoa Experimental Station is a prime example of what historian Hélène Blais describes as an «object-garden» within the French colonial empire. This model, particularly prevalent in the 20th century, emphasized plant reproduction as a cornerstone of colonial agricultural policy. While less documented than its counterparts like the station in Bambey, Senegal, Nkoemvone played a crucial role in reshaping agricultural practices in colonized societies by introducing elite cocoa varieties designed to boost export-driven economies.

From colonial experimentation to post-independence neglect

The 1929 global economic crisis forced a shift in French colonial policies, pushing the administration to prioritize infrastructure and export crops while addressing the living conditions of colonized populations. This marked the emergence of a «developmentalist» colonial state, a trend solidified during the Brazzaville Conference of January–February 1944. Led by Charles de Gaulle, the conference aimed to revive the French economy while planning the «improvement» of colonial subjects through structured development initiatives.

In Cameroon, this shift led to administrative reforms. On June 8, 1944, French Governor Eugène Paul Carras dissolved the Technical Council for Agriculture and Livestock, replacing it with three dedicated services: Agriculture, Livestock, and Forestry. This reorganization underscored the colony’s commitment to agricultural modernization. By 1946, the new Agriculture Service included research stations in Dschang, Maroua, and Nkoemvone, with the latter specializing in cocoa—a crop central to Cameroon’s export economy.

A station born of ambition and struggle

The Nkoemvone station was envisioned as a hub for selecting high-yield cocoa varieties to distribute among farmers. According to agronomist Raymond Juliat, its initial mandate was to «propagate only the best-producing cocoa plants.» However, its construction faced immediate hurdles. In 1947, 300 hectares were allocated, but labor shortages, equipment deficiencies, and the absence of a comprehensive plan stalled progress. The absence of formal legal recognition until 1949 further complicated its establishment. By 1956, the station had expanded to include housing for workers and researchers, alongside laboratories, potable water systems, and essential infrastructure. By the time Cameroon gained independence in 1960, the station was a fully operational agricultural research hub.

The shadow of forced labor

The station’s construction relied heavily on labor, though the nature of this workforce remains contested. While High Commissioner Renée Hoffherr banned forced recruitment in 1947, historian Léon Kaptué notes that compulsory labor persisted until 1949. To attract workers, the colonial administration built housing within the station—a common practice in colonial projects. By 1956, 58 permanent structures housed 130 to 140 families, ensuring a steady supply of workers for both construction and research activities.

From propaganda tool to postcolonial decline

Beyond its scientific role, the Nkoemvone station served as a propaganda tool for the French administration during the 1950s—a period marked by violent repression of Cameroonian nationalists, particularly in the cocoa-producing regions of southern Cameroon. In 1958, French propaganda chief André Boyer released a film titled «The Nkoemvone Cocoa Center,» aiming to «reintegrate the misled into normal life» and showcase France’s benevolent intentions in Cameroon. The station was also showcased to international observers, including a 1958 UN mission, which praised its efforts to improve cocoa yields through elite plant distribution.

After independence in 1960, Cameroon signed agreements with France, allowing the former colonial power to retain control over key research institutions like Nkoemvone. French agronomists continued to lead the station until 1975, a period during which it gained international visibility, hosting dignitaries such as the U.S. and German ambassadors, as well as African heads of state. However, this visibility coincided with a gradual decline in scientific output, accelerated by the economic crises of the 1980s and 1990s. Funding shortages, salary delays, and the devaluation of researchers’ wages led to the abandonment of numerous programs, including those focused on cocoa at Nkoemvone.

In 1996, the station was rebranded as a multidisciplinary agricultural research center under the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD). Yet, this restructuring did little to reverse its fortunes. Natural disasters, such as a violent storm in 2006 that destroyed experimental plots and administrative buildings, further exacerbated its decline. Today, the station’s vast size—once a symbol of colonial extractivist ambition—has become an obstacle to its revival, as maintenance costs outstrip available resources.

A legacy of contradictions

The Nkoemvone station encapsulates the contradictions of colonial modernity: a project born of extractivist ambitions and developmentalist rhetoric that ultimately failed to adapt to postcolonial realities. While it once embodied the promise of scientific progress for Cameroon’s agricultural sector, its decline reflects the broader challenges of sustaining research institutions in the face of economic instability and shifting national priorities. Today, the station stands as a haunting reminder of what was—and what could have been.