South-West: Over FCFA 3.8 billion for poverty alleviation

Some FCFA 3.8 billion will be available for poverty alleviation in the South-West Region within the next three-years.

The money to be managed by SOWEDA (South West Development Authority), thanks to a three year Performance Contract from 2016 - 2018, carries a restructuring plan intended to empower SOWEDA to accomplish its primary mission of alleviating poverty in the South West and Cameroon in general.

Reason why, SOWEDA, through its Board Chairman Mbongo Molongo Noah, expressed appreciation to stakeholder Ministries particularly Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), Finance (MINFI) and Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) for their active participation in drawing up the Performance Contract and especially to government for granting the enormous financial package of FCFA 3.879.000.000.

While chairing the 34th Board of Directors session on Friday, November 27, 2015, he disclosed that the session was devoted to examine and adopt the Programme of Work of SOWEDA for 2016.

The General Manager of SOWEDA, Andrew Eneme Ngome, was optimistic that SOWEDA is poised to better address the rural development challenges in 2016. "2015 like any other budgetary year has its challenges," he said.

"Climate change is one of such challenges that have more of negative than positive effects on us. We have not been able to follow the agricultural calendar due to either the late coming of rain or in some areas no rain at all, or therefore no water."

Talking to the press, he said new vehicles thanks to Government, will help SOWEDA to better function in the field. He revealed that in 2015, SOWEDA built about two market hangars, two roads, and provided water to some villages, among others.

He assured that in 2016, SOWEDA will continue in the same vein of producing planting materials to farmers, road infrastructure in some divisions, working on the accounting system, rehabilitation of the equipment pool, amongst others.