Industrialization of Donga Mantung: FAINAP Gets FCFA 40 Million Equipment Support To Enhance for Maize Cluster

The Board meeting of the Frontier Argo-Industrial Programme –FAINAP held in Nkambe, divisional headquarters of the Donga Mantung Division on November 4, 2017. During the meeting, FAINAP representatives in the five sub Divisions represented their reports on the just ended 2017 farming season.

Addressing stakeholders, partners and special invitees, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Founder/Promoter of FAINAP who doubles as Secretary of state in the Ministry of Mines Industries and Technological Development-MINMITD said his ministry has supported the program with equipment worth FCFA 40 Million. The equipment according to Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry comprised of four motor bikes and a multi functional tractor. He emphasized that the support is intended to boost maize production given that “if you cannot produce, you cannot industrialize”. To Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, FAINAP main goal is to add value to agricultural and livestock produce. The bikes he reiterated will serve FAINAP representatives in following up field activities.

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry said he is amazed by the geometric increase in maize production that farmers recorded this year, thanks to the improved seed donated by PIDMA which has moved maize production from 1.5 tons per hectare to 4 tons per hectare reasons why the animal feed processing plant is imperative. The animal feed processing plant will process feed and grid, he added. With the already marked increase in the production of maize, the feed/grid processing plant is also expected soon.

 Ngabir Paul Bantar, Mayor of Nkambe, testified at the meeting that for all his life he has never witnessed such a yield. The main problem for now is storage, he added. As an indicator that maize production has increased in Donga Mantung Division, the Delegate for Agriculture says prices of a 15 liter bucket of corn is still as low as FCFA 2000 as compared to FCFA 4500 to 5000 last year.

It should be noted that more impetus is being put into this sector as Minister Fuh Calistus also revealed that experts from the World Bank will be visiting Ngu village in the Mbaw plain to finalize preparation for the construction of a maize storage facility. Upon completion of storage facility farmers would be exchanging corn for money on the spot. More so, the team from the World Bank will select some pilot farmers who will benefit input support to professionalize their activities. The first beneficiaries shall be selected in the Mbaw Plain.

Cattle Cluster

During the meeting, participants also exchanged ideas on how to kickstart the cattle cluster. It was however agreed that cattle fattening and milk processing will boost the sector. The Divisional delegate for Livestock elaborated that corn stalk can easily be transformed in to cattle feed to compliment the Brachiaria which are being planted. He revealed that since grass provides just 1/3 of the required nutrients for cattle, Donga Mantung is blessed with anthill which has silicate and can be mixed with crushed bones to fatten cattle. Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry said he is already in contact with some Italian partners who are specialized in branding. After branding, he added the produce could be sold in European Markets notwithstanding that an already big market is on standby in Nigeria.

Oil Palm Cluster

The Founder/Promoter of FAINAP also revealed that a FCFA 1.5 billion worth oil palm project submitted to the ministry of economy and planning and Regional Development- MINEPAT with the Production Basin (Agropole Project) has been approved and pending disbursement of funds. According to Dr. Fuh Calistus the project activity will consist of  setting up small transformation units in high production areas.

In his closing remarks, the 2^nd Assistant SDO for Donga Mantung lauded Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry for such an initiative aimed at alleviating poverty in the Division and called on elite to take advantage of this project to transform the lives of their people. He caution the concerned delegation to provide technical services to project as part of their normal function given that government is highly involved in encouraging agriculture. He also reechoed the fact that plots allocated to serve as demonstration plots should acquire the necessary documentation to avoid conflict.

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