Challenges of New Coordinators of Agricultural Programmes

Four new coordinators of agricultural competitiveness enhancement programmes in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) have taken up duties amidst calls by the authorities to continue from where their predecessors ended and righting their wrongs for food security and safety in the country. Foudama for Food Security Programme, Ntang Nkama for the Anti-fungi Support Programme in the Cocoa and Coffee Sectors, Mpoh Eboue Joseph for Inland Valley Development Programme and Ndinkou Elie for Major Food Crop Pests Programme were installed on Tuesday August 13 by the Secretary General of MINADER, Jean Claude Eko'o Akouafane.

Enjoining the newly promoted to uphold the achievements of their predecessors as well as succeeding where they failed, the SG also prayed for creativity and commitment so as to surmount the challenges of the respective sectors for a food-self sufficient country. He advocated good governance and results-based management, stressing that unhealthy practices that tarnish the image of the ministry will be punished severely.

Praising his hierarchy for the confidence bestowed on him, Foudama, National Coordinator of the Food Security Programme said with his experience and goodwill, he and collaborators will leave nothing to chance to live up to and even go beyond expectation in diversifying production, boosting local processing and sale as well as upholding natural resources. "Our programme seeks to combat food insecurity to reduce hunger and malnutrition in the rural and semi-urban centres in the country," Mr Foudama said. He noted that his experience as a National Coordinator for Improving the Family Revenue of the Rural Milieu in the northern part of the country, the collaboration of personnel and the support of hierarchy will be put together to reach required target at the shortest time possible.

While Inland Valley Development Programme seeks to develop irrigation capable of improving sustainable production in marshy areas, Anti-fungi Support Programme in the Cocoa and Coffee Sectors is out to improve the living conditions of producers through the protection and control of cocoa and coffee plants from pests. Meanwhile, the Food Crop Pests Programme is to combat pests that compromise an optimal production of food crops.