By Helena NSOSUNGNINE NSAMENKA.
JUNE 2ND 2010.
This report describes the work accomplished by GeoAid-Cameroon for the period of May 1st through May 30th 2010. The work aligns with GeoAid Cameroon’s annual program in relation to the service contract with Geovic Cameroon in the sectors of Health, Agriculture, Education and Micro-Enterprise.
A. AGRICULTURE:
I) Update on pilot projects in Lomie:
1. CAFT: (Seed Multiplication)
This project has greatly improved after GeoAid’s evaluation and restitution. CAFT has created a demonstration farm to facilitate the teaching of techniques of transplanting the nursed seeds. The last training session took place on the 12 and 13th of May 2010. Apart from the 12 women formerly trained in seed nursing, 2 others from the Dja forest reserve added this month. These women have been taught:
a) Seed transplanting methods: the 4 species of seeds, taking into consideration the procedures and rules like distances separating one plant from the other (the space of 3m square between each plantain plant) and the favorable seasons for transplanting these seeds.
b) Intercropping procedures: Cocoyam should be panted between the plantains with a distance of 1m square separating one plant from another. The choice of cocoyam is because it thrives well with shade which can be derived from the plantain leaves.
c) Land use and sustaining gardens to reduce forest clearing: These women were also taught the techniques of using one piece of land for several years without necessary clearing new land pieces, this will help against deforestation. The trainers took the trainees on a practical phase demonstrating how cocoyam can be planted along side with plantain and techniques of rotating these plants by simply not planting on the same hole during the next cultivation season.
d) Reforestation: Plans for Non-Timber Products to Support to Geovic Mining Commitments: In order to prepare for reforestation of the Geovic mine as mentioned in the biodiversity plan, a nursery of forest fruit trees has been planted. The main plant, pentaclotra macrophylla locally called “MBALAKA,” a plant that produces seeds used in producing edible oil, and is highly nutritive with a high demand in the neighboring Nigeria. These Nigerians come and buy it locally but CAFT is presently studying the market as the Association intends to sell it internationally on a larger, more profitable scale. This plant also has high ecological value as it enriches and sustains the soil. It has high economic value as well, being sold at very high prices (100kgs cost 20.000 FRS cfa, about $45 USD.)
e) Prevention of plant diseases: They continue to treat nurseries against plant diseases to the seedlings ready for the multiplication and transplanting.
f) Plantain and banana expansion: nursing of other plantain and banana species out of the 12 originally identified.
g) Nutrition and food variety: Fruit trees have been nursed like guava, oranges and mangoes. This will greatly boost the nutrition and food variety of the community as well as increase their revenue.
h) Next Steps: CAFT will plan to start training the second group of women on the other 4 developed plant species. Their environment has been cleared and a resource center is under construction to facilitate their work and trainings.
II) Garden project:
GeoAid has gathered indigenous and local farmers and assigned them to 3 groups of at least 7 people.
a) Marketing:
GeoAid has collected data on market dynamics such as available vegetable suppliers, principal buyers in Lomie and prospective buyer which will be Sodexho or Geovic Cameroon. Market surveys have been and will continue to be performed to differentiate consumer preferences for product variation and expanded regional, local and external markets will be identified and analyzed. An example of a vegetable is huckleberry which has been identified to be of very high demand at the local market and the few suppliers are farmers who merely sell the excess to the market. Also, fruiting trees is still practiced at the subsistence level. This has to also be intensified to improve their nutrition as well as boost their economic well being from the sales.
b) Farmer Activities—Garden Preparation: Farmers have tilled the soil with their own tools to demonstrate their dedication and readiness to partner with GeoAid and help improve their living conditions. For example, the Baka community of Lomie ( Sissok quarter) made up of 5 men and 2 women have a farm of about 800meters square. This group had long worked with GeoAid’s Master Gardener Robert, originally supported informally by a former Geovic Cameroon manager in Lomie. The association of farmers of Lomie have a tilled farm of more than 600 meters square.
c) Baka Involvement: The Baka tribes will be an integral aspect of this project as their community is most vulnerable and has been historically marginalized by contemporary development projects. Furthermore, the wealth of information available from non-timber forest products beyond these vegetables will support variation and expansion into new markets and greater control for indigenous populations. (A detail proposal plan on the garden project is being prepared now
d) Demonstration Garden at Lomie.’The demonstration garden at the GeoAid residence managed by Master Robert Nzoussi is a good learning ground for these Gardeners. Robert is already self sustaining from the sales of vegetables from the small farm. Currently, he is clearing a new piece of land to cultivate new crops with most of the seeds harvested from the GeoAid demonstration garden in Lomie.
B) LIVESTOCK
I) Cane Rat Project:
Among the 10 cane rat farms which are operational, production has been suspended for the past two months as they want to market/sell the available Cane rats before continuing. A good example is in the FETRO cane rat farm which registers 25 animals in search of market. Contacts continue with the Delegate of Livestock in Abong-Mbang and Lomie and also with Living Earth Foundation who will help us find a market. GeoAid is actively negotiating and promoting that Cane rat breeders should come together to form an association to facilitate the sales and to help each other to benefit from their skills.
II) Poultry:
In conformity to the plea of the people of this region to be supported in the breeding of some ruminants like chicken, pigs etc. GeoAid has made studies on chicken farming within Lomie. These studies reveal that chicken farming is not intensive thus not responding to the demand of the community. GeoAid has therefore decided to initiate a pilot project for this program and will support two identified farmers to solve this problem. This project aims at contributing to food security, to the conservation of wildlife, employment and also to create an alternative source of revenue to local populations
a) Identification of local capacity: Three poultry farmers were identified within the zone who had earlier worked in this field.
b) Initial farmers identified and engaged: Two farmers have already prepared the breeding building, prepared the equipments and are waiting to have the chicks and food which should be supplied by GeoAid.
c) Market Study/Estimates: An estimate of income from this project has been made and a strategic plan of the activities is being developed to help in the follow-up of activities.
In the same light, an initial and short-term contract will be written and signed between the two parties, bringing out the responsibilities of each of them. The success of this project and the demand of chicken in the market will determine if the number of poultry farms will be increased. The poultry farmers and GeoAid will work in close collaboration to ensure the success of the program, before expansion.
C) MICRO ENTERPRISE:
I) Sewing Project:
Since the re-launch of the activities, work in this project has been going on well without hitches. The main problem that stands is the remuneration of the trainers which have not been increased as was recommended and co-signed by the GeoAid and CADEFE during the restitution of the mid-term evaluations. However, the trainers continue to offer to the ladies registered, sewing techniques to produce examples of their work for showing during a trade fare exhibition for the center scheduled for the end of June during which GeoAid will be present. Notably, CADAFE has been awarded a contract to sew workers uniforms of CamIron, a mining company at Mballam.
D) HEALTH.
I) Monitoring & Facilitation of donated medicines & supplies: The GeoAid Health Representative visited the government health center at Ngoyla in which some medication was distributed in February 2010.The chief nurse of the hospital Mr. Akameyong who together with the pharmacist explained how the medication were used. They reported that the medication is offered to the poor free of charge after prescription. However, it is given out to the population generally at a very cheap rate (administrative expense only). From our observations, ¾ of the drugs had been given out. They also complained that they lacked other medical supplies like syringes, gauze, betadine, cotton. They were told to write down the list of those medical needs and send to Dr. Ngon, the District Dr. who had promised to give out these medical supplies (from the stock GeoAid donated) to the health centers upon request.
II) Donation of medication: An authorization to distribute PEPCID COMPLETE was also received from the MINSANTE. This medication was given to the Lomie District Hospital. This medication is meant for stomach ulcer or heart burn. Part of this was equally donated to the CBF as all could not be consumed in Lomie before the expiry date.
III) Donation of Crutches to handicaps: Within the month of May in addition to the 06 people who received crutches last month, 12 more people received crutches. This sums up the number to 18 out of the 33 people registered for this purpose. It is worth noting that these 18 beneficiaries of this gift of crutches are spread out in the 3 administrative zones of Lomie, Messok, and Ngoyla. Physically disabled people from different ethnic groups (Baka, Nzime, Maka, Bamoun, Djem…) resident in Lomie were also given the crutches. All the beneficiaries of the crutches have expressed their gratitude to GeoAid for this kind gesture.
IV) Evacuation: Within this month 3 evacuation cases were registered. All three were evacuated to Yaoundé. It is worth noting that the agreement between the Lomie District hospital and GeoAid on the functioning of the ambulance will expire in June 30th. Putting into consideration the importance of the ambulance and the contributions of GeoAid on the charges of the ambulance, we suggest that a general assembly be held at the end of the contract with leaders from Lomie, Messok, and Ngoyla, representatives of the Lomie Hospital and representatives of Geovic/GeoAid who will come to an appropriate agreement on the long-term use, operation, and management of the ambulance.
V) Reports: Prepared and submitted a report to MINSANTE on GeoAid’s Health activities from January 2010 to May 2010, more particularly on the distribution of medications and supplies. This report is in conformity with GeoAid’s MOU with the MINSANTE.
VI) Acquisition of medical needs of the District hospitals of Lomie and the Chantal Biya Foundation. The CBF also granted the consignee agreement to receive the next container of medical supplies for GeoAid.
D) COORDINATION & MEETINGS.
I) Internal Meetings; Weekly Planning meetings.
In the course of the month, we carried out four weekly planning meetings during which the activities planned were carried out. These activities have been described in this report.
* Coordination meeting: Two coordination meetings with leaders of Geovic, GeoAid, Emploi Service and SODHEXHO with the aim of ameliorating their work in the field were held within the month.
II) External Meetings.
05 External meetings were held within the month: 02 preparatory meetings for the International Labor Day (May 1st) activities; 2 preparatory meetings for the National day coupled with the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Cameroon, all at the Sous- Prefet’s office Lomie.
Another meeting was held between the GeoAid staff and the Lomie District Hospital staff represented by the chief nurse Mr. Bidja Jules on the management of the ambulance. The Chief Nurse apologized on how the hospital has managed the ambulance not considering the terms of the contract. The Chief Nurse in this light suggested that GeoAid should continue to manage the ambulance for the benefit of those in the communities.
III Other Visits:
Within the month of May, 2010, we paid two visits to the new Delegate of Livestock of Lomie. The first was a courtesy visit and the second visit was to present the activities of GeoAid in the Livestock domain. The Delegate was very pleased with the activities GeoAid is carrying out in this field and promised to work in collaboration with GeoAid. During our meetings, we planned to visit all the cane rat cages mid next month and from there he will be able to advise on how the activity can be further improved.
Conclusion:
Though interspaced with a lot of public holidays, the month of May was however rich in activities as the activities of the pilot projects were re-launched. The fact that the garden and poultry activities were also introduced continues to build on the community relationships and build confidence and cooperation with our partner, Geovic Cameroon as well as key stakeholders.
