By Haruna Mohammadou
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| Maize section of the show |
Agriculture is
the only reliable source of income to over 80% of the population of Babessi
Council area in Ngoketunjia of the North West Region. Yet, access to loans and
credits is the major handicap. In a bit to solve this perennial problem, the
mayor of Babessi council has revealed that his council is determined to set up
a farmer’s bank to sustain farming activities. To this, the Father/Initiator of
Mini Agropastoral Shows in Cameroon, Choh Isah Buba made the revelation on
December 5 at the council esplanade in Babessi during this year’s mini
agropastoral and forestry show better known as farmers’ feast. The quality of
prizes that were handed to farmers also clearly demonstrated that the mayor of
Babessi is not a man to pigeon-hole with when it comes to the promotion of
agriculture, forestry and handicraft activities. It was a farmer’s feast in its
true sense.
Harping on the
importance of a farmers Bank, Choh Isah said that it will lead to an increase
in production as
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| Chairs made of bamboo exhibited at the show |
well as bridge the gab between farmers and access to
pre-financing which is the major problem in rural areas. According to the
mayor, the putting in place of a farmer’s bank will ensure food security,
improve the livelihood of the population and above all, contribute
significantly to sustainable development.
The quality and
quantity of farm products that were exhibited to the public confirmed the
mayor’s description of Babessi council area as the breadbasket for the North
West Region. In his speech, the mayor of Babessi, Choh Isah Buba was very categorical
that for the second generation agricultural policy to make its mark in
Cameroon, government need to embark on the construction of farms to market
roads, make available improved seedlings, fertilizers and chemicals, train more
extension workers to support farmers in modern techniques on how to increase
yields to ensure food sufficiency. He thanked the ministry of agriculture and
rural development for supporting the farmers’ show.
Farm produce of various varieties were on
display beginning with cereals such as rice both the
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| Kuela Valery SDO for Ngoketunjia |
improved/traditional Ndop
short grains , maize, groundnuts, beans(white, black, red, MIDENO, Meringue)
coffee, and tubers such as ginger, cassava, Ibo-coco, white yams, collocasia,
plantains, sugarcane and vegetables such as okra, dried cow-piece, huckleberry,
cabbage, tomatoes, yellow pepper. Forest product such as bush pepper, honey,
beewax and others were also displayed.
Yet, l Choh Isa
Buba says if more impetus is injected into the sector it will curb rural exodus
which in turn leads to the rampant banditry witnessed in the country. He says
government can better fight or curb rural exodus and banditry in the country by
investing more in the agricultural sector. To him low yields force many young
people to seek greener pastures in cities where jobs are in short supply
thereby forcing them to join gangs of armed robbers to make ends meet.
The visionary
Mayor Choh Isah Buba has challenged the government to carry out reforms in the
sector and witness the drastic change thereof.
On the part of the Babessi council, the cradle of mini agropastoral show
in the country, is envisaging in the days ahead to source for funding and put
in place a farmers’ bank to assist farmers with seasonal loans, in order to
boost agriculture and most especially to encourage second generation
agriculture in the municipality. According to Mayor Choh Isah Buba, farmers are
in dire need of agricultural financing through inputs such as improved seeds,
pesticides and fertilizers in order to meet today’s food need.
On his part the Senior Divisional Officer for Ngoketunjia applauded Babessi mayor for organizing the show
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| Choh Isah Buba, Initiator of Mini Agropastoral/Handicraft Show in Cameroon |
for farmers and craft men and women to show-case their strength. According to Kuela Valery agriculture is the backbone of the economy and the action by the council is in line with government efforts to promote agro pastoral, forestry and handicraft production and perfection.
It should be
noted that Choh Isah and the former mayor of Bafut, Neba were the two
individuals who initiated the notion of mini agropastoral show in the 1997
after the collapsed of the National Agropastoral show. Today, not only councils
in the North West also organize mini agropastoral shows, but it has been
imitated by all the 350 councils in Cameroon. With this new initiative of a
farmer’s bank, it is hoped that in the nearest future, it shall be told as
another success story.
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| Rice (Ndop rice) |
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| Beans |
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| tomato/onion |
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| Craft |
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| white/yellow gari |
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa
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