Fako Division: MEVCUDA donates farm inputs farmers to fight hunger, food scarcity.

This was during the second edition of Meveo Cultural and Development Association, MEVCUDA, agro-sylvo pastoral exhibition and farmers support scheme.

The MEVCUDA agro-sylvo pastoral exhibition and farmers support scheme began on August 26, 2024, with visits to different farms with specific problems.

This was followed by an exhibition, sales of farming products at affordable prices, animation, and commercial breaks to allow farmers to network and interact with industry officials on professionalising their trade.

Addressing farmers during the ceremony, the National Coordinator of MEVCUDA, His Royal Majesty Chief Ndiko Fonderson Henry, said the event contributes towards food security by reducing food scarcity and the high cost of living. 

The MEVCUDA agro-sylvo pastoral exhibition and farmers support scheme falls in line with three key strategies of the organisation viz; capacity building, cultural integration and farmers support scheme. 

The organisation has been at the centre of major events for the last decade integrating students, farmers, fishermen, moto bikers, handcrafters, cultural promoters, footballers, and persons with disabilities, to promote peacebuilding and sustainable development.

After visiting the stands at the exhibition ground, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Fako, Viang Mekala Engelbert, expressed satisfaction with the items displayed by the farmers and the donation by MEVCUDA. 

He encouraged both donors and farmers to continue with such initiatives.

“Cameroon is a country that depends a lot on agriculture, which is why the Head of State has encouraged everyone like businesspersons, entrepreneurs, civil servants, young people and others to invest in agriculture. Our farmers are taking the President’s call to join agriculture seriously and produce the food we need,” the SDO said.

Speaking to the press after the ceremony, the National Coordinator of MEVCUDA explained that such exhibitions will help overcome the food shortage experienced in the region as a result of farmers in the crop and seafood sector fleeing because of the Anglophone crisis to other parts of the country.

“Because these farmers are no longer in their communities to cultivate, harvest and sell their produce, the market has witnessed a shortfall leading to an increase in prices and thus food scarcity,” Chief Fonderson stated. 

According to him, such an initiative will thus empower the few farmers who are still in the sector to double or triple their production to be able to reach the market.

“…after supporting farmers for five years, it was time for them to come and show us what they have been doing with the inputs we gave them for us to assess them and see how they impact their local communities,” the traditional ruler explained.

The MEVCUDA organising Committee adopted the Farmers Support Scheme in 2018 to fight against food shortage as well as to increase food production in the South West Region in particular and our country in general. 

Hundreds of farmers have benefited from the scheme since its inception with equipment, tools, seedlings and other items.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3220 of Thursday, September 5, 2024