An evaluation team toured experimental plots in four regions.

The Cameroon French Debt Relief Programme, C2D-PAR, on agricultural research managed by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, MINRESI, has recorded progress beyond projections, officials say. The FCFA 5.3 billion scheme that went operational in 2014 to end in December 2016, is almost midway executed. The project was carefully designed to scale-up agricultural production and ensure food security in Cameroon through the provision of improved rice, cassava, plantain, potato, fruit plants and bird seeds.

The General Manager of the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD, Noé Woin, revealed that C2D-PAR is one of the best projects his institution is running. He disclosed that IRAD in 18 months has been able to produce reasonable results beyond projections. The Executive Secretary of C2D-PAR in MINRESI, Isaac Roger Tchouamo disclosed that the project’s financial execution stands at 45.81 per cent.

Over 200 Cassava Varieties Undergoing Trial

IRAD experimental plots in Nkolbisson in Yaounde, Ekona in the South West, and Njombe in the Littoral, are playing host to research for the enhancement of productivity and competitiveness of the cassava value chain as well as dissemination of improved technologies to users. The Project Coordinator, Francis Ngome, says increasing production from 10 to 15 metric tonnes per hectare, reducing cassava pests and diseases by 10 per cent and providing best quality products for processing, is primordial.

Results from Nkolbisson with 89 varieties, Ekona with 18 varieties and Njombe with 78 varieties, revealed that trials on production systems (crop rotation and associations) as well as the application of mineral and organic fertilizers to enhance soil fertility for cassava production, were progressing.

Poultry Farming At 40 Per cent

The FCFA 140 million C2D-PAR project with trial farms in IRAD Mankon in the North West Region can boost of over 250 parent stocks that are expected to start producing broiler birds (table birds) in three months. The project laboratory has been set up where Laboratory Technician, Lilian Ndi and the Project Coordinator, Jean Marin Fotso Tagny, assemble iron, fiber, protein and oil for good animal feed. The project objective of improving annual production in quality and quality has been executed at 40 per cent, with laboratory analyses for adaptable feed per area of poultry farming partially obtained.

Rice Project Progressing

According to IRAD Nkolbisson sources, 80 per cent of rice consumed in Cameroon is imported. The 20 per cent locally-produced rice is not of very good quality, with most of it cultivated in rudimentary conditions. Hitting the 65,000-tonne target set by the national strategy to boost rice production means improving seed quality and disseminating research technologies, experts say.

Dorothy Malaa revealed that though her project has been executed at only 30 per cent, the results are promising, with a database on quality seeds and new farming technologies almost ready. The project has been able to transfer technology to a common initiative group on best practices of cultivating upland farm with respect to seasons.

Horticulture: Impressive Experimentation Plot  

C2D-PAR’s project on horticulture (the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants) has developed new technologies on improving productivity and making vegetable seeds available. According to the Coordinator, Gabriel Ambroise Manga, the project has rehabilitated and enriched its fruit collection at the IRAD Njombe site in the Littoral Region, with over 30, 000 fruit plants of avocado, mango, soursop and plume.

Other sites in Ekona in the South West Region, Garoua in the North Region, Foumbot in the West Region and Barombi in the South West Region, also have reasonable plant seeds ready for dissemination.

Healthy, Massive Plantain Suckers

The FCFA 370 million plantain project of the C2D-PAR, like others, is witnessing strides with quantitative and qualitative results to show. The three-year project has witnessed the identification of massive and improved plantain suckers with its execution evaluated at 100 per cent, the Project Coordinator, Pascal Noupadja, told the visiting team. The project team has also produced virus-free planting material at 35 per cent.

Hybrid Potato Seeds In 90 Days

The Upper Farms demonstration farm in Tubah in the North West Region has three varieties (Cipira, Tubira and Jacobs) with the Project Coordinator, Solange Meka Sinje Dieumou and her researchers evaluating progress at over 50 per cent. The improved varieties have 90 days on the fields after which humming is done.

The seeds are harvested after two weeks and stored for distribution. However, understanding the complexities of partnership and acquiring movable material remain major challenges to the execution of the projects.