SIAGROS 2024 in Garoua: IRAD stands out in excellence, wins 1st prize for research, innovation.

 It was held in Garoua, North Region from June 10 to 16.

During the fair dedicated to players in the agricultural and livestock sectors, IRAD showcased its many innovations and technological packages, notably improved seeds and post-harvest processing products, among others.

In the same light, a team of researchers working on animal and fish production at IRAD’s Multipurpose Agricultural Research Station, SPRA, in Garoua, won the 1st Special Prize for Research and Innovation on June 12.

The winning innovation was developed by a group of researchers led by PhD student and agricultural engineer, Christophe Wang-Baa Temoa.

It is titled: “Design and dissemination of a rational management system for local forage potential in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon”. 

According to the team leader, Temoa, the innovation is a device used as a tool for securing, amending and rationalising local forage potential, natural and cultivated forage and crop residues.

He said the process is innovative as it is designed to optimise the rational use of available and accessible forage resources, because in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon, grazing land is a very limited resource.

“This system combines forage biomass treatment and improvement techniques with agricultural machinery. The aim is to secure and maximise the storage of available and accessible forage biomass. When improved with minerals the nutritional quality and palatability of stored forage biomass increases,” Temoa said.

Future prospects

The researchers, through their leader, pointed out that their work on the device is not complete and they will continue working hard on the device which is considered as futuristic until it is perfect for widespread use. 

“We will continue to work on the system, first by evaluating the nutritional qualities of the biomass produced by our devices, then we will carry out Bromatological analyses, to reassure agro-farmers that by using the device, they will not only have reduced losses, but will also have food of good nutritional quality, capable of reducing losses due to nutritional deficiencies in the dry season,” team leader, Temoa, explained. 

He added that once all characteristics have been established, they will multiply the system by creating a production unit for the various machines. He said they will also organise trainings on the use of the agro-industrial innovation. 

The device designers mentioned that the funds for the design of the device was as a result of a successful IRAD-CIRAD-SODECOTON agreement. 

For their win, the team leader was handed a check of 1,000,000 FCFA by the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr. Taïga.

The ceremony was graced with the attendance of State dignitaries, notably the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbaïrobe, as well as local authorities, agricultural entrepreneurs, and partners of SIAGROS.

SIAGROS is an innovative initiative designed to promote and enhance agro-pastoral activities in the three Northern regions of Adamawa, North and Far North.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3142 of Tuesday June 18, 2024