SOWEDA, INBAR train stakeholders on bamboo agroforestry.

The training which ran April 12-13, had as goal to initiate inhabitants of the South West Region on bamboo agroforestry techniques.

Speaking on the motivation for the workshop on bamboo agroforestry, General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr Besong Orgork Ntui, said it was a testament to the fact that the region is naturally blessed with bamboo. 

“Cameroon is actually blessed with a lot of natural resources that we are not exploiting and making the most of them. If we look at bamboo and rattan, the South West Region is a natural habitat and growing area for these two species. So, we were able to link up with the Resident Director for INBAR, here in Cameroon interested to work with us and get opportunities for our people in the region,” Dr Orgork explained. 

From the lessons learnt and practical skills gained, the General Manager expressed optimism that the farmers will take advantage of the opportunities presented by the training. 

“We have seen from the first series of lectures the big opportunity that is coming to benefit our local people involved in the processing of bamboo. Furthermore, people with land considered waste can turn it into a crop that they can open plantations. So SOWEDA, aims to provide alternative or diversified sources of income for our local people consider it a major step to take advantage of,” he added.

To improve on livelihood of farmers

On his part, Director and Head of Office of the Central African Regional Office for INBAR, Rene Kaam, expressed willingness to work with SOWEDA, to enable to improve the livelihood of farmers. 

“We are looking forward to working with SOWEDA in the region, to be able to make this project a reality in the region. We want to provide an alternative to our farmers to build their resilience against climate change. I want Cameroon to become a key player in the bamboo sector in the Central African sub region,” Kaam said. 

In the long-term, he said his organisation will work with the government and partner institutions, to develop the value chain of bamboo, so that farmers can make the maximum profits. 

“The idea is to work with the government of Cameroon through SOWEDA, to build the skills of the people to understand the potential of the resource and develop the value chain from resource development to value addition and commercialisation,” he added.

Shumbula Evangelista Siewe, a participant at the workshop, said she had learnt a lot, and will help educate her peers. 

“I am interested because I use bamboo to stake my yams and I try as much as possible to destroy them in the farm because other crops do not grow well with them. Nevertheless, in line with this workshop, I have learnt a lot to be able to incorporate bamboo with other crops, and the transformation of bamboo into furniture as well as food,” Shumbula said.

The stakeholders, after the training, will be able to engage in the production of bamboo in the Bakossi Bayang-Mbo landscape. 

In this light, participants were trained on how to identify different species of bamboo, its nursery as well as how they can establish and sustainably manage bamboo plantations.

Bamboo, it should be recalled, can be transformed by artisans into pieces of art, chairs, tables, and used for building houses, bridges and other infrastructures.

The latest workshop is part of SOWEDA’s drive to improve on the livelihood of denizens of the South West Region. In this light, Dr Besong urged the farmers to share their knowledge with those who could not attend the workshop. 

Furthermore, to achieve the goal of the workshop, he encouraged them to put into practice the knowledge gained.

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This was the focus of a two-day workshop organised by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation, INBAR, in collaboration with the South West Development Authority, SOWEDA. 

The training which ran April 12-13, had as goal to initiate inhabitants of the South West Region on bamboo agroforestry techniques.

Speaking on the motivation for the workshop on bamboo agroforestry, General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr Besong Orgork Ntui, said it was a testament to the fact that the region is naturally blessed with bamboo. 

“Cameroon is actually blessed with a lot of natural resources that we are not exploiting and making the most of them. If we look at bamboo and rattan, the South West Region is a natural habitat and growing area for these two species. So, we were able to link up with the Resident Director for INBAR, here in Cameroon interested to work with us and get opportunities for our people in the region,” Dr Orgork explained. 

From the lessons learnt and practical skills gained, the General Manager expressed optimism that the farmers will take advantage of the opportunities presented by the training. 

“We have seen from the first series of lectures the big opportunity that is coming to benefit our local people involved in the processing of bamboo. Furthermore, people with land considered waste can turn it into a crop that they can open plantations. So SOWEDA, aims to provide alternative or diversified sources of income for our local people consider it a major step to take advantage of,” he added.

To improve on livelihood of farmers

On his part, Director and Head of Office of the Central African Regional Office for INBAR, Rene Kaam, expressed willingness to work with SOWEDA, to enable to improve the livelihood of farmers. 

“We are looking forward to working with SOWEDA in the region, to be able to make this project a reality in the region. We want to provide an alternative to our farmers to build their resilience against climate change. I want Cameroon to become a key player in the bamboo sector in the Central African sub region,” Kaam said. 

In the long-term, he said his organisation will work with the government and partner institutions, to develop the value chain of bamboo, so that farmers can make the maximum profits. 

“The idea is to work with the government of Cameroon through SOWEDA, to build the skills of the people to understand the potential of the resource and develop the value chain from resource development to value addition and commercialisation,” he added.

Shumbula Evangelista Siewe, a participant at the workshop, said she had learnt a lot, and will help educate her peers. 

“I am interested because I use bamboo to stake my yams and I try as much as possible to destroy them in the farm because other crops do not grow well with them. Nevertheless, in line with this workshop, I have learnt a lot to be able to incorporate bamboo with other crops, and the transformation of bamboo into furniture as well as food,” Shumbula said.

The stakeholders, after the training, will be able to engage in the production of bamboo in the Bakossi Bayang-Mbo landscape. 

In this light, participants were trained on how to identify different species of bamboo, its nursery as well as how they can establish and sustainably manage bamboo plantations.

Bamboo, it should be recalled, can be transformed by artisans into pieces of art, chairs, tables, and used for building houses, bridges and other infrastructures.

The latest workshop is part of SOWEDA’s drive to improve on the livelihood of denizens of the South West Region. In this light, Dr Besong urged the farmers to share their knowledge with those who could not attend the workshop. 

Furthermore, to achieve the goal of the workshop, he encouraged them to put into practice the knowledge gained.

">

This was the focus of a two-day workshop organised by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation, INBAR, in collaboration with the South West Development Authority, SOWEDA. 

The training which ran April 12-13, had as goal to initiate inhabitants of the South West Region on bamboo agroforestry techniques.

Speaking on the motivation for the workshop on bamboo agroforestry, General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr Besong Orgork Ntui, said it was a testament to the fact that the region is naturally blessed with bamboo. 

“Cameroon is actually blessed with a lot of natural resources that we are not exploiting and making the most of them. If we look at bamboo and rattan, the South West Region is a natural habitat and growing area for these two species. So, we were able to link up with the Resident Director for INBAR, here in Cameroon interested to work with us and get opportunities for our people in the region,” Dr Orgork explained. 

From the lessons learnt and practical skills gained, the General Manager expressed optimism that the farmers will take advantage of the opportunities presented by the training. 

“We have seen from the first series of lectures the big opportunity that is coming to benefit our local people involved in the processing of bamboo. Furthermore, people with land considered waste can turn it into a crop that they can open plantations. So SOWEDA, aims to provide alternative or diversified sources of income for our local people consider it a major step to take advantage of,” he added.

To improve on livelihood of farmers

On his part, Director and Head of Office of the Central African Regional Office for INBAR, Rene Kaam, expressed willingness to work with SOWEDA, to enable to improve the livelihood of farmers. 

“We are looking forward to working with SOWEDA in the region, to be able to make this project a reality in the region. We want to provide an alternative to our farmers to build their resilience against climate change. I want Cameroon to become a key player in the bamboo sector in the Central African sub region,” Kaam said. 

In the long-term, he said his organisation will work with the government and partner institutions, to develop the value chain of bamboo, so that farmers can make the maximum profits. 

“The idea is to work with the government of Cameroon through SOWEDA, to build the skills of the people to understand the potential of the resource and develop the value chain from resource development to value addition and commercialisation,” he added.

Shumbula Evangelista Siewe, a participant at the workshop, said she had learnt a lot, and will help educate her peers. 

“I am interested because I use bamboo to stake my yams and I try as much as possible to destroy them in the farm because other crops do not grow well with them. Nevertheless, in line with this workshop, I have learnt a lot to be able to incorporate bamboo with other crops, and the transformation of bamboo into furniture as well as food,” Shumbula said.

The stakeholders, after the training, will be able to engage in the production of bamboo in the Bakossi Bayang-Mbo landscape. 

In this light, participants were trained on how to identify different species of bamboo, its nursery as well as how they can establish and sustainably manage bamboo plantations.

Bamboo, it should be recalled, can be transformed by artisans into pieces of art, chairs, tables, and used for building houses, bridges and other infrastructures.

The latest workshop is part of SOWEDA’s drive to improve on the livelihood of denizens of the South West Region. In this light, Dr Besong urged the farmers to share their knowledge with those who could not attend the workshop. 

Furthermore, to achieve the goal of the workshop, he encouraged them to put into practice the knowledge gained.

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This was the focus of a two-day workshop organised by the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation, INBAR, in collaboration with the South West Development Authority, SOWEDA. 

The training which ran April 12-13, had as goal to initiate inhabitants of the South West Region on bamboo agroforestry techniques.

Speaking on the motivation for the workshop on bamboo agroforestry, General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr Besong Orgork Ntui, said it was a testament to the fact that the region is naturally blessed with bamboo. 

“Cameroon is actually blessed with a lot of natural resources that we are not exploiting and making the most of them. If we look at bamboo and rattan, the South West Region is a natural habitat and growing area for these two species. So, we were able to link up with the Resident Director for INBAR, here in Cameroon interested to work with us and get opportunities for our people in the region,” Dr Orgork explained. 

From the lessons learnt and practical skills gained, the General Manager expressed optimism that the farmers will take advantage of the opportunities presented by the training. 

“We have seen from the first series of lectures the big opportunity that is coming to benefit our local people involved in the processing of bamboo. Furthermore, people with land considered waste can turn it into a crop that they can open plantations. So SOWEDA, aims to provide alternative or diversified sources of income for our local people consider it a major step to take advantage of,” he added.

To improve on livelihood of farmers

On his part, Director and Head of Office of the Central African Regional Office for INBAR, Rene Kaam, expressed willingness to work with SOWEDA, to enable to improve the livelihood of farmers. 

“We are looking forward to working with SOWEDA in the region, to be able to make this project a reality in the region. We want to provide an alternative to our farmers to build their resilience against climate change. I want Cameroon to become a key player in the bamboo sector in the Central African sub region,” Kaam said. 

In the long-term, he said his organisation will work with the government and partner institutions, to develop the value chain of bamboo, so that farmers can make the maximum profits. 

“The idea is to work with the government of Cameroon through SOWEDA, to build the skills of the people to understand the potential of the resource and develop the value chain from resource development to value addition and commercialisation,” he added.

Shumbula Evangelista Siewe, a participant at the workshop, said she had learnt a lot, and will help educate her peers. 

“I am interested because I use bamboo to stake my yams and I try as much as possible to destroy them in the farm because other crops do not grow well with them. Nevertheless, in line with this workshop, I have learnt a lot to be able to incorporate bamboo with other crops, and the transformation of bamboo into furniture as well as food,” Shumbula said.

The stakeholders, after the training, will be able to engage in the production of bamboo in the Bakossi Bayang-Mbo landscape. 

In this light, participants were trained on how to identify different species of bamboo, its nursery as well as how they can establish and sustainably manage bamboo plantations.

Bamboo, it should be recalled, can be transformed by artisans into pieces of art, chairs, tables, and used for building houses, bridges and other infrastructures.

The latest workshop is part of SOWEDA’s drive to improve on the livelihood of denizens of the South West Region. In this light, Dr Besong urged the farmers to share their knowledge with those who could not attend the workshop. 

Furthermore, to achieve the goal of the workshop, he encouraged them to put into practice the knowledge gained.