By Peter Kum & Mildred Mbah (UB Journalism Students On Internship)
Young farmers of the Mbang clan in Manyu Division have resolved to curb food crisis through alternative crop cultivation.
They took the decision during a one-day workshop in Sumbe Village organised recently by one of their elite, Rev. Victor Ayuk Enow.The workshop brought together more than 600 youths between 15 and 35 years from Ntenembang, Sumbe, Defang, Akriba and Fotabe. It had as theme; Participatory Development for Poverty Alleviation in the current face of food crisis.
In order to effectively stem food crisis in their area, the farmers agreed to form common initiative groups. Through these groups, according to them, they would mobilise everyone to ensure sufficient food in Upper Banyang and the entire nation.
The farmers said they would lay emphasis on the cultivation of yams, cassava, maize, egusi, ginger, rice, plantains. They also preferred to develop fish ponds, piggeries and poultries than cocoa and coffee.
Speaking during the workshop, Rev. Ayuk promised to follow up with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other Ministries concerned. "Farmers need constant capacity building workshops to change their mentality as they are concerned more with cocoa and coffee production," he said.
However, the workshop ended with a motion of support from the people of Mbang pledging their support to President Paul Biya. Meanwhile, 50 pieces of CPDM wrappers, 42 caps and 10 pairs of rain-boots were distributed to the people.
To effectively the fight against food crisis it is very paramount for farmers to cultivate enough food crops and then preserve the surplus for future use. This way, I am very certain that together we can fight hunger and ensure total food security at all times.
To be able to effectively do this, there is the need for an appropriate post harvest technology which will enable the grains to be properly stored for a longer life span after drying.
One US Company has recently emerged with representations in all the continents of the world. This Company by name GrainPro Inc, is specialized in the production and marketing of Chemical Free, Hermetic Storage Systems. These storage systems are very cost effective and are currently being used in over 35 countries of the world with results which are very impressive.
The GrainPro Hermetic Storage Technology has proved to be the sure way to store enough food for the fight against hunger while avoiding the use of chemicals (i.e. Fumigants, Pesticides etc.) I will there fore not hesitate to leaving the webpage address of this company for all stakeholders in the fight against world hunger to visit and get ample information about their products www.grainpro.com .
Let us all stand and fight against world hunger!!! We can do it!
Posted by: paapajean | Monday, 25 August 2008 at 10:23 AM
The food crisis isn't as a result of a shortage of food,it is as a result of a shortage of democracy.That's all !!!
The only Solution:
-Do away with the "killer subsidies" gov'ts in the western hemisphere make available to their farmers and which has made it virtually impossible for our local agriculture to thrive.
-Do away with the imperialistic partnership agreements like the Economic Partnership Agreements(EPA) which opens our borders to EU goods(including agric products) tariff free.Our markets have been swamped by chicken and dairy products from the EU.Our dairy products just can't compete with them.
-Design and impliment an agressive agricultural development project that will reverse the present agriculture chaos we are facing.A new Agrarian Revolution should be launched every after 5 years with precise objectives to be attained.
-Revise and revitalise those defunct agricultural companies that ensured Cameroon's food self-sufficiency in the '70's and 80's.For example SEMRY(Société d'Exploitation de la Riziculture de Yagoua) which ensured a very high rice productivity level in Cameroon.Also,create and encourage the creation of more specialised
agricultural companies.
-Create more worthy solvent farmer credit houses.
-Invest drastically in agricultural research etc.
Anything else apart from these fundamental measures is simply a temporary measure.We must become food self sufficient.
Posted by: Essono | Monday, 25 August 2008 at 11:44 AM