Yaounde: FCFA 71 Million For Agricultural Cooperatives

 Some 17 Common Initiative Groups specialized in agro pastoral activities have been handed cheques worth FCFA 71 million.

The ceremony at the Chamber of Agriculture in Yaounde on July 26, 2016 was part of the co-financing agreement of the Programme, for the Improvement of Competitiveness of Family Agro-Pastoral farms, ACEFA piloted by the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development and of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries with funding from the French Debt Reduction and Development Contract, C2D.

Most of the beneficiaries were selected by the Divisional Project Commission on the basis of their convincing cocoa and livestock (poultry and piggery) farming projects. Grants issued to producer groups range from 500,000 FCFA to 6 million FCFA. Professional agro-pastoral organisations benefit grants worth 5 million FCFA to 30 million as grants. The National Coordinator of the support scheme, Bouba Moumini cautioned beneficiaries on the need to use the funds as was requested for.

The common initiative groups from the Lekie Division of the Centre Division were told that changing their livelihoods largely depended on how well they will put the acquired funds to use. It is the second time farmer groups from the division are benefitting from the investment schemes. The financing is expected to improve productivity, modernise their farms, increase their revenue and improve the...