Mini-agro Pastoral Show: Local goods encouraged

Heavy bunches of plantain from Ndom in Sanaga-Maritime Division, big tubers of yam from Yabassi in Nkam Division, tonnes of cassava from Wouri Division and abundant white pepper from Njombé-Penja in the Moungo Division - all in the Littoral Region -caught visitors’ attention at the 15th Mini-agro Pastoral Show in Bepanda, Douala, on December 21, 2015.

Opening the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Eyebe Ayissi Henri, emphasised that it was aimed at fighting the high cost of living, especially as the countdown to end-of-year feasts draws nearer. Seeing the potentials of farmers in the Littoral Region with tonnes of good-looking plantain, yams, sweet potato, Irish potato, tomatoes, pepper, garri, rice, and spices like ginger, onion, white pepper, garlic etc on exhibition, the Minister encouraged the population to consume local products.

 He assured inhabitants of cosmopolitan Douala that all was being put in place to ensure food sufficiency. He encouraged farmers to produce more, saying government was working with the Ministries of Trade and Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industry to facilitate production.

According to sources at the Littoral Regional Delegation of Agriculture and Rural Development, plantain is the most cultivated foodstuff. Projections for 2015 show that 572,440 metric tonnes of plantain and 435,570 metric tonnes of cassava could be produced. According to Ndongo Erna, representative of the Association of Agricultural Professionals in in the Littoral, production is not without difficulties.

“Lack and scarcity of quality seed, high cost of fertilizers and bad roads, are stumbling blocks to increased production,” she explained. Another producer, Gabriel Ngock, appealed to government to subsidise the cost of fertilizers. To encourage producers, dozens of wheelbarrows, hand carts, watering cans and sacks of fertilizers, machetes, rain boats, generating sets and water reservoirs, were handed to some Common Initiative Groups. Around to witness the event were the Governor of Littoral, Samuel Ivaha Diboua, the Senior Divisional Officer for Wouri, Naseri Paul Bea and the Littoral Regional Delegate for National Security.