An impregnation workshop for the new Agroecology+ project implemented by SAILD was held from December 18 to 20, 2024 in Bertoua in the East Cameroon region.
“Scaling up agroecology to strengthen food and nutritional security in 04 departments of the East and Far North regions of Cameroon”, abbreviated to Agroecology+, is the new project currently underway at the Support Service for Local Development Initiatives (SAILD). The project, financed by the German organization “Bread for the World”, will last until April 2028 in the Lom-et-Djérem and Haut-Nyong departments in the East and the Diamaré and Mayo-Kani departments in the Far North of Cameroon.
The workshop was held in Bertoua to harmonize understanding and develop an implementation methodology for this new project. 16 members of the project team, including 04 women from Yaoundé, Maroua and Bertoua, took part. The three-day meeting enabled them to understand the project’s objectives, key concepts and challenges.
For Hozier Nana, Secretary General of SAILD, the “Agroecology+” project is a great opportunity. “The challenge is to consolidate SAILD’s position as the leading facilitator of agroecology promotion in Cameroon.To this end, we have a number of achievements to build on, including the results of the first agroecology forum in Cameroon, which was recently organized. To this end, I invite the staff present to make the most of the opportunities offered by this new project in terms of amplifying and improving the quality of services rendered in agroecology”, he declared.
Seven implementation activities planned
It was also an opportunity to present the usual activities and tools whose approach is geared towards creating an institutional and legal environment conducive to agroecology. On this basis, the reflections resulting from the group work enabled the stakeholders to draw up 07 activities for the first half of the year, taking into account the experience gained and the climatic and socio-cultural specificities of each region.
“First of all, we intend to raise awareness of agroecology among beneficiaries and strengthen farm schools. Then we’ll organize training sessions for model producers on agroecological practices to make them effective replicators; in fact, at the end of these training sessions, they’ll receive support in terms of inputs and equipment. Replication sessions on agroecology and open days at their farms and farm schools are planned for later in 2026”, explains Kévin Boucheke, a member of the project team.
Over a period of just over three years, this project aims to scale up agro-ecology by building capacity in agro-ecological practices and improving entrepreneurial skills, while contributing to the development of local, sustainable and sustained agro-ecological markets.
- Sharon Maché
