Empowering Rural Women Green : Market Initiative in Mbonjo

The second edition of the Green Market Initiative has taken place in Mbonjo, Bonalea Subdivision, in the Moungo division. During the event, women farmers from the islands, riverbanks, and coastal communities of the Moungo showcased their significant contributions to agriculture. Organised by the Cameroon Association of Peasant Farmers (Synarpacam) on December 3-4, 2025, the innovation fair aimed to promote local agricultural production, eco-friendly farming practices, and uplift rural women.
The event featured a blend of market exhibitions, cultural displays, and community discussions reflecting the challenges and opportunities faced by rural agriculture in Cameroon. This year’s initiative coincided with the International Day of Rural Women, which is celebrated every October 15, but was marked in December to accommodate riverine communities.
During the event, Emmanuel Elong, president of Synarpacam, praised the resilience of women farmers who “produce, transform, transport, market, and feed the nation” despite facing significant challenges. He emphasized that many rural women struggle to find reliable buyers and sell at fair prices.
“From the river islands to the creeks of Mbonjo and Pendaboko, our mothers farm in difficult conditions. They face high transportation costs and low prices from middlemen. The Green Market Initiative provides them a platform to showcase their produce and build direct connections with consumers”, Mr Elong stated. He also appealed for strengthened partnerships with government entities, councils, and development organizations to expand the impact of the Green Market Initiative across other regions. “Rural women must not remain invisible. With the right support, storage facilities, transport means, training, and funding, they can make significant contributions to both local and national economies”, he stressed.
Hundreds of women from various coastal villages displayed locally...