Minister Eyebe Ayissi X-rays agro-pastoral potentials

Dubbed the “Bread Basket" of the Nation, the South West in all its agro-pastoral facets, came out with a veritable display of what the Region can produce. It was in Buea for two days, 18 to 19 December, 2015, during the 8th edition of the Agro-pastoral show which had as guest of honour the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), Henri Eyebe Ayissi.

He was not only impressed when he observed the massive turn out of some 1, 200 farmers but equally elated with the quantity and quality of crops exhibited. Yams, bananas, plantains, potatoes, cocoyams, tomatoes and other items were in abundance and caught the attention of the Minister who hailed what he saw as a “true agricultural revolution” which is in line with the second-generation agriculture towards Cameroon’s emergence by 2035. Addressing the farmers, the Minister recalled governments diverse initiatives geared towards professionalizing the agricultural sector, ensuring food security and food self-sufficiency.

He invited producers especially the youth to organize themselves in associations to be better assisted by MINADER. Assured of the availability of quality and cheap foodstuff especially at this festive period, the Minister made a gesture of some FCFA 35 million in inputs that were donated to farmers.

Second Largest Employer

The agro-industrial sector was not left out during the Minister’s first maiden visit to the Region. The second largest employer after the State, the CDC, which has total work force of 20,581 workers, was privileged when the Minister visited some installations. At the CDC Ndongo Estate where 1,093 hectares of bananas are cultivated, the Minister was briefed on the planting, processing and marketing process of the “Makossa Banana”.

At the Central Rubber Factory Tiko which is the biggest factory among the five Rubber Factories of the CDC, the Minister got in-depth details on the process flow and the 2015 total estimated production of 8,138 tons of dry rubber. The Bota Palms Nursery was another major highlight of the Minister’s visit as he listened carefully to explanations from the management staff of the CDC and the General Manager Franklin Ngoni Njie.

The Community Development Specialization Training School (Kumba), the Rural Development Specialisation Training School in Kumba, the Cocoa and Coffee Seedlings Projects (Barombi Kang) and IRAD Ekona drew the Ministers attention. After listening to the objectives of their institutions, he promised meticulous study to the problems raised for effective solutions.