Mechanized Agriculture : 500 Food Crop Producers To Be Lifted Out Poverty

Efforts of people in Akoeman in Nyong and So’o Division in Cameroon’s Centre Region to get out of the shackles of poverty are expected to become reality in the next three years. This follows the launch on Thursday, September 5, 2024 of a mechanized agricultural project in the locality by the international charity, Good Neighbors Cameroon. The event was performed by the Centre Regional Delegate for Agriculture and Rural Development, MINADER, Tsangue Paul Yves and the Divisional Officer for Akoeman, Musango Stephane. In the presence of Good Neighbors Cameroon Country Director, Daeseong Cho, Good Neighbors field staff and traditional authorities.

5,000 Eventual Beneficiaries 
The KIA Green Light Project in Cameroon (or “Reinforcing economic capacity for self-reliance through strengthening agricultural cooperatives in Akoeman, Nyong and So’o Division in the Centre Region of Cameroon”) runs for three years (2024-2026). Worth 257 million FCFA, the project is expected to directly benefit 500 food crop producers. And indirectly impact the livelihoods of 5,000 people in Akoeman. 

Joint Implementation 
The project will be jointly implemented by Good Neighbors Cameroon and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - through the Regional Delegation for Centre, Divisional Delegation for Nyong and So’o and the Sub-divisional Delegation for Akoeman. Amongst other stakeholders.  

Project Objectives     
KIA Green Light Project in Cameroon seeks to merge individual farmers to create cooperatives to increase yields and productivity. Build the capacity of cooperative members in community development, organic farming techniques, marketing and networking. Construct storage warehouses and facilitate processing for greater market value and support beneficiaries with agricultural equipment and machinery. As well as offer mobility support for transporting agricultural produce from farms to warehouses and from warehouses to the market. 

The Challenges To Address  
Meanwhile, KIA Green Light Project in Cameroon seeks to address issues of climate change which affects food crop production; insufficient basic agricultural infrastructure; poor marketing strategies; food crop production and productivity and post-harvest storage.  

Another Success Story? 
According to Daeseong Cho, Good Neighbors Cameroon has in the past 10 years offered much support to people in Akoeman, especially children. “I believe the agricultural project will be another success story. I am happy with the collaboration we have been receiving from the authorities and the community. With the cooperation and collaboration efforts of the population of Akoeman and the support of Good Neighbors, we look forward to the successful implementation of this project sponsored by KIA Motors from South Korea. I hope we will be able create harmony like we have done so far,” Good Neighbors Cameroon Country Director noted. 

Boosting Livelihoods Of The Vulnerable 
Dinga Tambi, Programme Manager, Good Neighbors Cameroon explained that their strategy is to introduce income-generating projects so that vulnerable communities can meet their livelihood needs. “We are grateful to KIA Motors in South Korea for sponsoring the KIA Green Light Project in Cameroon. This adds to what we have been doing in Akoeman before. The project will enable us to increase the number of beneficiaries and get more people out of poverty through agriculture,” Dinga explained.

Expected Project Outcomes 
“We thank the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for supporting us in past projects. We look forward to strong collaboration with all partners to implement the project at hand. The KIA Green Light Project in Cameroon is huge because it will increase food crop production, promote mechanized agriculture, donate agricultural machinery, support the community to harvest and store their produce. Harvesting will be mechanized. Three warehouses will be constructed to store produce to reduce post-harvest loss. The project also entails food crop processing to add value and create better market channels. Three mini-trucks will also be offered to enable beneficiaries transport their produce,” Dinga announced.

Government Pledges Support 
“We are grateful to Good Neighbors supporting agricultural producers – from their farms to the marketing of their produce. The project will help producers to sell at better prices, thereby improving their standards of living. As well as share knowhow in crop production,” said Tsangue Paul Yves, Centre Regional Delegate for Agriculture and Rural Development, MINADER. “We are ready and committed to support the project right through. We will do everything to ensure the project succeeds,” Tsangue pledged.     

Akoeman At Last!
Addressing the gathering, the Second Deputy Mayor for Akoeman, Balla Joseph Marie, said one of the projects they were until now used to watching on television has finally come to his council area. He assured Good Neighbors of the full cooperation of his council. 

No Room For Failure!
Musango Stephane, the Divisional Officer for Akoeman, lauded the high level of international cooperation between Cameroon and South Korea. The DO said by sponsoring the project, KIA Motors was contributing to uplifting the livelihoods of people in Akoeman. He appealed for the specific needs of the people to be taken into account. “The project must succeed; there is no room for failure. But its success depends on everyone,” Musango Stephane stressed.

Early Beginnings In Cameroon
Good Neighbors established its field office in Cameroon on December 15, 2014, to ensure that boys and girls of all ages are protected against violence, abuse, and marginalization. This was amidst the humanitarian crises in the country caused by insecurity and violence in the neighbouring Central African Republic and the influx of refugees from Northern Nigeria. In this regard, Good Neighbors Cameroon has prioritized protecting children and their rights, as they are the most vulnerable in this fragile context.

Pioneer Initiatives 
The first field initiative began in 2015 for rural community development and was later extended to urban areas, including the Centre and South Regions, in 2016. In a significant move to address the health needs of some communities in the Centre Region, a project on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), went operational in 2019. Additionally, two new community development projects were initiated in the rural areas of the Far North Region of Cameroon in 2022 and 2024.

Current State Of Projects 
Good Neighbors Cameroon is implementing four community development projects with nine community-level committees to strengthen the social and economic capacities of children, their famili...