The Cameroon Government has supported five volunteer groups in the Southwest Region, trained under the National Civil Service Agency for Participation in Development Programme, NCSAPD, with FCFA 2.5 million.
Each of the groups will benefit FCFA 500,000 to enable it expand on its economic undertakings.
The money was handed over to the groups on November 28, at the Conference Hall of Southwest Governor’s Office in Buea.
The ceremony, carried out in all 10 regions of the country, is Government’s move to improve on the agricultural situation of Cameroon and also to encourage young people to engage in agriculture, since it is the livewire of most economies in the world.
Addressing the beneficiaries during the handing over ceremony, the Southwest Regional Coordinator of NCSAPD, Daniel Enow Agbor, said the five projects were chosen out of 27 submitted in the Southwest Region. These projects, he went on, were evaluated according to the terms proposed by NCSAPD.
To the Regional Coordinator, the selection exercise was not void of hitches, amongst which were the duration. According to him, two years was too long for the agency to put up a mechanism to follow up and evaluate some of the projects, making some of the groups to reduce their efforts in the activities.
“These groups are made up of members from different villages, which makes it difficult for them to engage in a common project, among others,” Enow Agbor stated.
He, however, encouraged the beneficiaries to put in more efforts in their endeavours and help the country in her emergence drive.
“Young people who have a piece of land can put themselves together, identify an activity and the agency will sponsor their project,” Agbor said.
Presiding over the ceremony, the Secretary General at the Southwest Governor’s, Clement Fon Ndikum, congratulated the beneficiaries for proving their worth. He encouraged them to continue to invest in their projects and exhorted other trainees to emulate their example.
“It is not a loan, but a special grant given by the Government to encourage young people to improve on their activities,” Fon Ndikum noted.
The beneficiaries thanked the Head of State for the grants and promised to used the money to expand their activities and contribute their own quota to the economic emergence of Cameroon by 2035.
The five beneficiary groups include; the Limbe Agro- Pastoral Group, Young Farmers Group from Banga-Pongo in Manyu Division, Star Poultry Farmers of Tombel II, Itumer Group of Isangele and Young Farmers of Mabanda.
