CDENO empowers North West farmers with livestock inputs.

Marking the fourth edition of the initiative, the ceremony was graced by the Governor of the North West Region, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, alongside senior administrative, traditional, and religious authorities.

Speaking at the event, the Director of CDENO, Shupong Michael, described the distribution as a “historic day” for livestock farmers, noting its inclusive approach. 

This year, persons with special needs were also prioritised, a move aimed at ensuring that disability is not a barrier to active participation in livestock production.

“We thank them for breaking this barrier and venturing into livestock activities that will not only yield them income, but also contribute to regional production,” Shupong said.

To further strengthen the sector, CDENO provided poultry, piggery, and dairy farmers with an impressive package of resources. These included 25,500 day-old chicks, 100 piglets, 25 tons of animal feed, 3,000 kilogrammes of Brachiaria seeds, 100 bags of cotton, rolls of barbed wire, cement, salt, and special brooded chicks for farmers living with disabilities.

Most of the distributed products were produced locally at CDENO’s hatchery and feed mill, which, the Director revealed, have recently doubled their production capacities due to increasing demand. 

He urged farmers to always approach CDENO directly to benefit from government subsidies, rather than relying on intermediaries.

Over the years, CDENO has been instrumental in supporting livestock farmers through infrastructure development, animal health protection, capacity building, and direct assistance. 

In recent months, the institution accompanied over 3,000 farmers through the Emergency Project to Combat Food Crisis in Cameroon, PULCCA.

The Director, in his keynote address, thanked the government, through the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, and the Ministry of Finance, for empowering CDENO to meet the growing needs of farmers, in line with Cameroon’s import substitution policy.

He assured farmers of the government’s continued support and called for effective use of the distributed inputs. 

“This activity today is aimed at intensifying partnership between livestock farmers and CDENO to increase productivity and ensure food security,” he emphasised. 

On their part, officials urged CDENO to continue to work closely with the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries to ensure that farmers make the most of the distributed inputs and contribute to long-term food security in the country.

PULCCA’s wider impact

The distribution aligns with the broader objectives of the PULCCA project, a World Bank funded initiative, to combat food insecurity in Cameroon. 

In the North West Region alone, PULCCA has assisted more than 3,000 farmers with inputs ranging from chicks, piglets and feed, to aquaculture and beekeeping kits.

Nationally, the programme has reached thousands of small-scale producers, supporting poultry, piggery, dairy, ruminant, fish, and honey farmers across all regions. 

By focusing on import substitution and building local capacity, PULCCA is said to be reducing reliance on imported food, improving livelihoods, and fostering resilience in communities affected by conflict.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3560 of Wednesday September 10, 2025