In tribute to the visionary agronomist Bernard Njonga, the second study day on the farming world was held on February 24, 2026, in Yaoundé. The aim was to analyze the vision of one of the pioneers of the farming world, who died on February 21, 2021.
This initiative was organized by the Department of Sociology of the Faculty of Arts, Letters, and Humanities at the University of Yaoundé 1 and the Cameroonian Laboratory for Studies and Research on Contemporary Sciences (CERESC) in collaboration with the Support Service for Local Development Initiatives (SAILD). Students, experts, and researchers from several Cameroonian and African universities took part with the common goal of deciphering the work of the politician Bernard Njonga. .
This study day on the peasant world is a continuation of the one launched in May 2022, whose objective remains the conceptualization of Bernard Njonga so that he remains a historical icon in rural sociology in Cameroon.
Presentations on the man were given succinctly, covering his career and his vision for Cameroon’s development, starting with the development of the rural world. Present at the opening, Hozier Nana, Secretary General of SAILD, expressed his interest in capitalizing on the results of this second edition. « SAILD, which Bernard founded in 1988, has always been committed to promoting rural development and supporting local initiatives in farming communities. Today we are gathering to reflect on the future of the rural world and to honor the memory of this visionary agronomist who dedicated his life to defending farmers and promoting agricultural entrepreneurship. This study day is an important opportunity to share our experiences, knowledge, and reflections on the challenges and opportunities facing the rural world. The presentations by sociologists, researchers, and community development actors will give us a better understanding of the issues at stake in rural development and help us find solutions to improve farmers’ living conditions. SAILD looks forward to seeing the results of this study day on the farming world so that it can use them in its activities, » he said.
Soon a book for the visionary
The work took place in the form of panels. Discussions focused on issues affecting the farming community, changes in agricultural systems, and the living conditions of rural populations. Participants attending in person and online from Maroua, Burkina Faso, and Belgium encouraged the production of knowledge useful for the development of Cameroon’s farming community.
Sociologists living abroad took part in the event. According to the organizers, a book on the subject is due to be published shortly. Marc Poncelet is Professor of Sociology at the University of Liège in Belgium. In his overview of the contributions to the book in progress, he emphasized the empirical and political dimensions of the future of the peasant world. For him, the sovereignty of the peasant world is essential and must be a priority for politicians.
- Raïssa Fotio
