Need
70% of people in Cameroon depend on agriculture to survive, but population growth is increasing pressure on the land available. The way crops are grown leads to a decrease in soil fertility, meaning fewer crops and less food to eat and sell. The problem is worsened by climate change – longer dry seasons and harder rains which can’t be absorbed by the dry soil, but runs off causing a loss of the top soil. As people get poorer many cannot educate their children or build reserves for the future.
Solution
Training in organic farming and agro-forestry will help women to tackle poverty and hunger by replenishing the fertility of the land, thereby generating better harvests. Seed distribution will provide much needed resources to those without savings and storage. Working in close collaboration with local schools, the Food for Life project will also help children to set up school gardens and pig farms where they will learn organic vegetable gardening techniques and piggery management.
Aims
To help women develop skills using sustainable agriculture techniques such as agro-forestry.
Activities
» Run workshops on organic farming and agro-forestry for 12 women’s groups (150 women).
Success will be women using their newly-acquired skills to earn an income.
To help children learn that farming can be profitable and gain skills in vegetable & pig production.
Activities
» Train at least 100 children from two schools in organic vegetable gardening techniques.
» Train 80 children from two schools in pig rearing.
Success will be an increase in food production and number of pigs reared and an increase in income from schools where children have been trained in vegetable and pig production.
To help families increase their food production and grow and eat a greater variety of foods.
Activities
» Help the communities to access seedlings.
Success will be an increase in the food production of women who have been directly trained in organic farming and agro-forestry and their families eating a greater variety of food.
To help families increase their income and pay for school fees and medical care.
Activities
» Run workshops on organic farming and agro-forestry for 12 women’s groups (150 women).
Success will be an average increase in incomes of women who have been directly trained in organic farming and agro-forestry.
To help schools generate income from pig production.
Activities
» Help to set up two pig farms (one per school).
Success will be an increase in income of schools where teachers and pupils have been directly trained in pig rearing and management.
Impact
The project will help participants to increase the number and variety of crops they grow and to rear pigs for sale, leading to an increase in annual income for women and schools. Families will be able to eat regularly and pay for school fees and medical care. Over 230 children and 60 teachers will take part and share this with their families and the wider community - more people will acquire new skills. We will monitor the number of participants and the increase in production and profits.
Risk
Pigs may contract diseases – piggery managers will use preventative measures against disease. The livestock technician will monitor the pigs regularly and administer vaccines
Vegetables may be stolen – the farming areas will be fenced off and locked when no-one is there
Vegetables may rot if not preserved – unsold vegetables will be shared among teachers and pupils
Trees may dry up during the dry season – nurseries will be located near a water source and and will be watered regularly.
Reporting
Donors will receive two written reports showing the progress of the project – a six-monthly report in October 2012 and an end-of-project report in May 2013. This will show what has been achieved and detail the ongoing and planned activities for the project areas post April 2013.
Budget - Project Cost: £24,000
| |
Amount |
Heading |
Description |
| |
£6,152 |
Training |
Building a pig farm, holding pig farm workshops in 2 schools & training a farm management committee |
| |
£1,638 |
Training |
Holding agro-forestry and organic vegetable training workshops for 150 women |
| |
£5,624 |
Construction |
Building a water supply for school garden |
| |
£5,743 |
Staff costs |
Paying salaries and expenses |
| |
£4,843 |
Admin/ Capacity building costs |
Costs of administration, monitoring the project and helping to build the capacity of the org |
Location
The project will be implemented in Fako, Meme, and Kupe Muanenguba Divisions of south west Cameroon, a low-income developing country. Fifty four per cent of the population lives below the poverty line and the average life expectancy is 52 years.
Beneficiaries
Some of the poorest women and children in Cameroon will benefit directly from the project – increased incomes and a better standard of living in the future. The wider community will also benefit as the participants share the knowledge and skills that they learn through the project.
Why Us?
MRDF has been working with small, grassroots organisations for over 30 years and has had great success in helping them to tackle poverty and hunger in their communities. A number of MRDF-funded projects provide agricultural training to participants and so this is a development area that MRDF knows well. MRDF does not only support its partners financially but helps to build the capacity of the local organisations to provide solutions to their community’s problems.
Read more about the Charity running this project.
People
Mandie Jones
Mandie will manage the partnership between MRDF and the organisation in Cameroon. She has co-ordinated a project in India, where she lived for a year.
Akang Samuel Mwene
Samuel has been working on rural development projects for over 15 years and will oversee the project work in Cameroon.
