Community Groups Produce Compost and Quality Seed
In the Far North Region of Cameroon, farmers face challenges accessing quality seeds. Though the program is primarily focused on cereal banking, it has also been helping to address the seed access issue by bringing community groups together to establish seed fields. These fields serve as both a local resource for high quality seed and an income generating opportunity for group members.
Déli is part of the Gourringuel Common Initiative Group. He said, “I thank RELUFA for supporting us for two consecutive years in the creation of a community seed field. This year, we are self-sufficient and we are now recognized nationally, with people coming from everywhere to buy our grains. For this year’s sales, we sold seed for 700,000 FCFA ($1,200) and from this money we gave 30,000 FCFA ($51) per parent for notebooks and children’s schooling. We also thank RELUFA for the training on compost making, and we will never abandon the seed field because we have seen that it brings us a lot of profit.”
Compost making has been a beneficial skill for other program participants as well. Dawet is part of the Gouzlom Common Initiative Group. He said, “RELUFA trained us on making compost, and we can see that the leaves are really green because of it. Before, we used to farm with chemical fertilizers, but with the compost, we noticed that the plants stay fresh even during the dry season. We are really thankful to RELUFA for their support in making compost and biopesticides. They also gave us a lot of insight into the potential of agriculture, and now we can see the results. Before, on a quarter of a plot, I would get one and a half sacks; with the compost, on the same area I get four to five bags.”
Addressing key challenges like soil fertility and access to quality seeds is a simple, but effective way to improve food security for the people in the program communities and far beyond.
Cameroon Far North is led by Presbyterian Church (USA) and local partner Reseau de Latte Contre la Faim (RELUFA)