Boosting agricultural output:

Southwest farmers to benefit 30bn from Islamic Bank

IDB Officails pose with SOWEFCU members

Some over one million farmers from the six Divisions of the Southwest region will in no distant future benefit over 60 million dollar (about 30 billion FCFA) being a project funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). This was the conclusion that emerged from recent talks between the government of Cameroon and the IDB. The revelation was made to farmers’ groups in Kumba, when their representatives met with a visiting Islamic Development Bank delegation. 

Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the visit, the leader of the IDB delegation, MUR Abdi, revealed that the bank will step in to help the agric sector of the SW region through loans and grants. He explained that the IDB is an old financier of the government of Cameroon but noted that the project in view is the first by the IDB in the southwest region aimed to improve on the value chain of agric products.

                “We are building a project that will address issues of the value chain in the SW region. The project is going to build on the successes of the Rumpi project. You will recall that Rumpi did a lot in distribution and production. This time around we want to add value to what these farmers are producing. We want to in fact develope the value chain of commodities that this region produces. We are addressing oil palm, cocoa, cassava and of course rice which is a staple crop that a majority of the population consume,” Abdi explained, noting that the project could be extended to also touch other crops. 

                On his part, the coordinator of the Rumpi Project, Dr. BissongOgorkNtui, traced the history and origin of the IDB project which he said dates back to 2015. Ogork noted that the IDB validated the project after successful feasibility studies in 2016.

                “The project concept was approved at the level of IDB reason why the visiting team is in Cameroon,” he explained, adding that the visit to the confederation of farmer cooperatives (SOWEFCU) in Kumba was aimed to strengthen the project design,  access the challenges and expectations of the farmers and help IDB in knowing the key areas of concentration. 

                Noting that the IDB project is different from the Rumpi project, Dr. OgorkBissong however revealed that the project’s implementation and references will be made with respect to the achievements of the Rumpi project.

                “The IDB project will not hesitate to use technicians from the Rumpi project,” Ogork enthused.

                Welcoming the IDB delegation, the president of Southwest Farmers’ Cooperative Union SOWEFCU, Esapa Patrick said the visit was a milestone to the development of the agricultural sector of the SWR, as farmers are ever ready and willing to add value to their products.