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Table of Contents

Editorial supervisionDr TAÏGA

PublisherDr Abouame Salé

Managing EditorLéon Bernard Gara

Editorial AdviserOdilia Renata Hebga

Editor-in-ChiefTélesphore Mba Bizo

Quality CommitteePérin Melchior NziéIsraël Salla BamelaPaulin Okala AwonoLaurice Nkongo à Boull

Computer GraphicsPaulin Okala Awono

ContributorsDr BourdanneDr Marcel MandengAlain YagmpamHabibou MahamatDr Hamadou GamboDr Jean-Marcial BellDaniel Roger Kam

Contacts:

Phone: (237) 677 34 93 66 699 20 25 96 [email protected]

Editorial .........................................................................................................

PRODEL IN BRIEF Context and Development objective ................................................Component I ............................................................................................Component II ..........................................................................................Component III .........................................................................................Component IV ..........................................................................................

ANIMAL HEALTHVaccination Against “Peste des Petits Ruminants” ..........................

INCREASE IN NATIONAL MILK PRODUCTIONConsidered Solution ..................................................................................

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT AND MILK PRODUCTIONRaising Awareness Among Potential Cow BeneficiariesImproved ......................................................................................................

PASTORAL RESOURCESBackground .................................................................................................Signing of agreements with councils ...................................................Implementation in the Far North ..........................................................Invasion by «Bokassa Grass” ...................................................................Gbiti International Livestock Market ....................................................Implementation at Gbiti ...........................................................................Emergency for the safety of sales outlets ...........................................Boubara Is Hopeful ....................................................................................Guest of the News .....................................................................................

SUPPORT FOR THE BAKARaising Awareness in the East Region .................................

RESILIENCESupport for Poverty-Stricken and Conflict-Affected Women and Households ...................................................................................................

BUSINESS PLANSFirst Funding ................................................................................................Meeting Partner Financial Institutions ................................................Meeting Producer Organisations ...........................................................

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CONTEXT AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

Livestock Aspect of SecondGeneration Agriculture !National Coordinator, Dr. Abouame Sale, explains the genesis of the Livestock Development Project, PRODEL.

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Editorial

The trigger came from a presidential will. The city of Ebolowa in the South was

hosting its National Agro-Pastoral Show in 2011. President Paul Biya expressed some regret. Cameroon has been producing what she does not consume. She has been consuming what she does not produce. The rural exodus has forced young people to go for an urban adventure. City dwellers might risk to starve themselves because there are no workers back in the village for farming.

The solution lies in the advent of second generation agriculture. It aims at modernising the production tool. It has to be done in such a way that few people can sow and harvest large quantities of foodstuff in order to feed thousands of individuals. It happens through the involvement of machines. The other aspects are local processing, and professional and contractual marketing in the

name of the «Greater Achievements» of economic emergence. According to the Head of State, «Cameroon relies above all on the primary sector, in particular agriculture, livestock farming, fishing and crafts, or to become, by 2035, an emerging country. Agriculture, in its broad meaning, that is including livestock farming and fishing, is the actual wealth of our country, and that mining and oil revenues, however useful they might be, cannot be the only basis for our development.»

The relative control of the fall in oil prices has made Cameroon a model of economic diversity in Central Africa, thanks in part to agriculture. It employs 60% of citizens. Among them, 30% are livestock farmers: poultry farming 85.9%, sheep 55.1%, goats 27.2%, pigs 23.3% and cattle 17.9%. Cattle, poultry, pigs and small ruminants, those PRODEL’s sectors, in addition to honey, are sources of income that improve the living conditions of rural households. These speculations ensure nutrition and food security.

One of the concrete second generation agricultural objectives in terms of livestock farming is therefore the implementation of PRODEL. Its development objective reads:«improve the productivity of targeted production systems and

the marketing of their products to the selected beneficiaries and provide an immediate and effective response in the event of an eligible crisis or emergency”. The said objective addresses constraints such as the poor education of farmers, prevalence of parasites and infectious diseases among 70% of livestock farms, low productivity of local species, approximation of advisory services, limited access to rural credit/funding and to processing and marketing infrastructure. However, they are able to maximise the added value for the benefit of livestock farmers.

PRODEL therefore has until January 2023 to reverse the trends deplored above. The aim is to have a planned, positive and measurable impact on 120,000 pastoral households, including shepherds, producer organisations and their umbrella associations, 20,000 small and medium-sized private operators and companies, vulnerable groups (women, youth and other at-risk people such as the Baka) and livestock farming support services (public livestock research and accessibility services and service providers involved in the targeted livestock value chains in the Project areas). Everything is done against the backdrop of compliance with a livestock farming model known as climate smart.

Dr Abouame Sale, National Coordinator of PRODEL

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PRODEL IN BRIEF

CONTEXT AND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

A Gold Mine of Opportunities

The Livestock Development Project, PRODEL, was officially launched on 29 November 2017 in Yaounde.

PRODEL was created on 7 June 2017. Cameroon and the World Bank signed a

funding agreement for over CFA F 60 billion, including matching funds. It was in favour of the implementation of that project. This is unprecedented in sub-Saharan Africa. PRODEL is unique in its kind : 100% livestock

farming. It makes it exclusive at the level of the World Bank in Black Africa. As a reminder, the Project Development Objective, PDO, is to improve the productivity of the selected production systems, marketing of their products for targeted beneficiaries and provide an immediate and effective response in the event

of an eligible crisis or emergency in the livestock sector. 6 sectors are eligible for PRODEL funding: bovine milk, small ruminants (goats and sheep), pigs, chicken and honey.

Front view of the National Project Coordination Unit, NPCU, in Bastos-Yaounde.

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PRODEL IN BRIEF

COMPONENT I

Challenges in Animal Health and Production

Focus on Genetic Improvement

PRODEL is working to strengthen the monitoring and control of major animal

diseases, namely contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, « peste des petits ruminants », Newscastle disease

Component I works to improve beneficiaries’ access to main livestock services, including

PRODEL supports the development and implementation of the national

genetic improvement strategy. This option justifies the importation of an exotic core group of high milk potential heifers that are adaptable to the host country. The said

against poultry and African swine fever. The Project also provides the Department of veterinary services with an information system. PRODEL has also embarked on settling young veterinarians. They get support for

strategy also promotes artificial insemination without encouraging the disappearance of local breeds. The genetic improvement characteristics in bovine milk sector are identical to those that apply to bovine meat. As for small ruminants, they call for the rehabilitation of the Louguéré

the setting-up of private veterinarian offices. It thus provides multifaceted support to the National Veterinary Order of Cameroon, ONVC. The Project supports MINEPIA in the vaccination against « peste des petits ruminants ».

and Dogba stations. PRODEL is also endeavouring to renew the breeding pigs that have aged in Kounden in the Noun. It also runs a cross-breeding programme to maintain the genetic potential of successful breeds.

A brief Stop in Crisis and Animal Disaster Management

A crisis can occur anywhere and at any time. This means that PRODEL has been assigned to

watch out on a permanent basis. The Project therefore supports MINEPIA in the response to emergencies and animal disasters.

Training

Quite a number of training courses are cluttered with an excess of theories. The lack of

practice has been made obvious in the way that most of the available curricula operate. This diagnostic

calls for some kind of practical rebalancing through capacity building. This portrays the whole task of the training component in PRODEL. Its technical tool is the Training Plan. It has been developed to get staff

from MINEPIA and PRODEL up-date their knowledge. Identifying training needs was a prerequisite. It resulted in the production of a Training plan.

Training of divisional focal points of zone III in possible crisis and disaster response in Koutaba

animal health services, high-performance genetic material and other quality inputs.

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PRODEL IN BRIEF

COMPONENT II

Pastoral Farming and Social Aspects of PRODEL

Individual and Collective Consideration for Women

Resilience : Link between the Social Aspect and Pastoral Farming

The supply of beef, goats, sheep and poultry to markets has been effective. But there is room

for improvement. This is possible if pastoral areas contribute to it. Pastoral Resource Management Plans, PRMPs, are the answer to the concern about increasing meat volumes in markets. Stakeholders agree on the needs for water points, fodder, transhumance corridors, access roads and spaces. Actors

Peace is gradually returning to the Far North region. Even current violent and periodic

incursions keep on weakening the woman. She has been suffering physical and psychological violence. The Project is trying to relieve her of her suffering. PRODEL provides

PRODEL has to hand over productive assets to vulnerable people. These are donations of about ten goats

and sheep, veterinary supplies, food supplements and processing or storage equipment. Indeed, households in the Far North and North regions are even more vulnerable by far. Tensions and various conflicts exacerbate their vulnerability.

agree on weed control, «tsetse» and other biting flies.PRMPs imbody council plans. Thirty councils in the Far North, North, Adamawa and East regions are targeted. They are 90% co-funded. The beneficiary council provides the remaining 10%. The setting-up and operation of pasture and pastoral infrastructure management committees is the responsibility of the PRMP.

her with productive assets. These are donations of small ruminants. Women will receive about ten goats or sheep. The objective is to help them to regenerate their population of small ruminants. The new number of sheep and goats has to reach the figure of pre-war comfort. The Project assists women as individuals

The role of PRMPs is also to improve productivity, including animal fertility, health management, fodder production, food supplements, animal fattening, manure management and identification of animals for sale. There is the establishment of links between producers and buyers. The transport of animals and other livestock products to markets follows.

and associations as well. In this regard, women’s groups will receive support in terms of small livestock equipment. PRODEL is interested in getting women to use innovative technologies. This concerns the possible use of improved stoves and bio-digesters.

A herd of cattle at the Wakwa livestock station near Ngaoundere.

The second component, for its part, has been assigned to increase the contribution of pastoral areas to

meat supply in the country, especially urban markets to be specific, while improving livestock production systems

(cattle, small ruminants, poultry) for poverty-striken and conflict-affected communities.

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PRODEL IN BRIEF

COMPONENT III

Business aspectof PRODEL

Business Plans

Each corner of the triangle is inhabited: producer organisers, POs, partner financial institutions, PFIs, and PRODEL.

POs submit business plans, BP. They cover the production, processing and/or marketing of meat, milk and/or honey from the targeted products : cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and bees. Product purchase contracts bind POs to buyers. Partner financial institutions are part of the transaction as providers of funds. This triangular collaboration becomes a productive partnership.

At least 200 business plans are to be financed. The PO presents a production, processing or

marketing plan. PRODEL assumes to subsidise 60%, i.e. a ceiling of 75 million francs. Partner financial institutions grant credits amounting to 30%. Making banking transactions accessible provides guarantees for the sustainability of the PO when the Project’ support has been exhausted. The contribution of POs is set at 10%. It done in cash. But it all starts with an identification form. Its evaluation precedes the development of a business plan. Local service providers, PLS, assist producer organisations that lack experience in BP development.

Signing of an agreement between CAMCUL, a partner financial institution, and PRODEL.

Officials of 3 of the 17 partner financial institutions at the signing ceremony of the agreements.

The third component has to do with business in the livestock sub-sector. This component

aims at creating an environment that is conducive to the development of direct and sustainable trade

relationships between the producers and buyers of targeted value chains, and partner financial institutions. The component is also used in order to improve the financial capacities of producer organisations. It is in

a bid to increase the productivity and production of selected livestock products in the targeted value chains.

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PRODEL IN BRIEF

COMPONENT IV

Strategic Planning, Coordination and Implementation Support

Socio-Environmental Safeguards

Monitoring Evaluation, Communication, Production and Sharing of knowledge

The sub-component organizes the establishment and functioning of Steering

committees, ST, and Technical Monitoring Groups, TMG, of the Project. It supervises meetings

The implementation of PRODEL’s activities comply with national social and environmental

policies. The Project is committed

The work here has to do with the monitoring and evaluation of both the performance and

impact of financial, environmental and social aspects of the Project. The development of communication activities requires to inform stakeholders and disseminate visibility tools, results and best practices with a focus on the implementation of the Project. Knowledge production and sharing through key studies aims at preparing the implementation of the Project and documenting the lessons learnt for dissemination at the local, regional and national levels.

in Yaoundé and in the regions on a regular basis. These meetings involve various stakeholders, including representatives of relevant divisions of MINEPIA, civil society organisations, producer

to avoiding negative impacts on the physical environment (air, water and land), living environment, health and safety of populations. For every negative or Business Plan, it is

organisations/and their umbrella associations, research institutes and the private sector involved in the value chains of targeted products.

required to indicate the mitigation or correction measures being considered.

Family picture of the result-oriented management workshop in Edea.

It addresses all aspects of the management of the Project, including fiduciary aspects

(financial management and public contracts), monitoring and evaluation, knowledge generation

and management, communication and monitoring of mitigation measures for safeguarding.

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LE PRODEL EN BREF

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ANIMAL HEALTH

VACCINATION AGAINST “PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANTS”

International Challenge of a Successful Campaign

Categorical imperative. It concerns the eradication of “peste des petits ruminants”.

2030 is known to be the unbeatable horizon. The campaign is a global programme. Cameroon has joined it. A National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of the disease has been carefully prepared by the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries. It was supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, FAO, and the World Trade Organisation, WTO.

Its implementation falls within the scope of the emergencies listed in MINEPIA’s priorities. The document is in line with Cameroon’s Economic, Financial, Social and Cultural Programme. The government speech disclosed the figure of 8 million sheep and goats to be vaccinated. MINEPIA via PRODEL prefered to raise the target to 9 million; that is one additional million. The Director of Veterinary Services, DVS, Dr Casimir Ndongo Kounou, talked of a repetitive operation over 3 years: 2019,2020 and 2021. As early as

2022, «We will to start monitoring the disease. It will be a matter of ensuring that the virus is no longer circulating in the national herd. ”Sheep and goats also suffer from other diseases. But “peste des petits ruminants” is the most serious disease, according to the DVS: “The government’s technical and political preference goes to the PPR vaccine. It’s the most dangerous killer. ”

By Télesphore Mba Bizo

PRODEL plans to vaccinate sheep and goats against “peste des petits ruminants” as from 2019 for many reasons.

ISNEBO, an artist symbolizing the acceptance PPR vaccine by livestock farmers.

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ANIMAL HEALTH


Socio-Economic stakes

The sale of meat from small ruminants helps save money for health issues. These savings

are used to treat the family in case of illness. This happens to be true for Ali. He has been in the business for 10 years now in Ebebda: “My parents live in the Far North region. Their survival, especially hospital fees, depends on my savings. They come exclusively from sheep and goats trade.”

The sale of small ruminants mainly secures money for school concerns. Ali always resorted to it during affluent years: “The sale of my sheep allowed me to send the children to school. I no longer had any problems buying school supplies.” Raising small ruminants is an even more than an academic activity for Abdouraman Daouda, a community relay, in Ebedda. He is the father of two girls. The elder is a student in a high-school in the same city. As for the last-born, she is still a pupil. Each of the daughter takes care of a sheep or a goat. The animals shall be sold come August or September on the eve of back to school. This secures them basic school fees and items : “Each family member is responsible for a few heads. The one in the high school right in front of you knows that she goes to school thanks to her ram. If she neglects it, she could risk destroying her own future.”

Abdouraman Daouda cannot do without sheep and goats. Animals give him a prominent place in organizing religious, traditional and

even institutional rituals: “I am a Muslim. So I have two holidays per year: Ramadan and Tabaski. I no longer buy sheep. All I have to do is to sacrifice one in my herd. I share this meal with friends and brothers. This saves me money. In addition, a friend can come up with a problem such as buying a goat or sheep. So I can only sell him an animal. The money I earn from it allows me to solve my own problems. I am the father of a large family. I am the main supplier of sheep and goats to the authorities.” Faustin Bessala says that these are representative components of traditional chieftaincy. The opinion of the village chief of Djounyat is an indisputable verdict: «Sheep and goats help you as you have to receive strangers. They are ritual

animals to be sacrificed when your children get married”. PRODEL’s Animal Health Specialist ends it this way: “Small ruminants are raised by low-income citizens. These are animals for rural populations. Their restraint is easier. Bearing this in mind, small ruminants are animals for women and children. They use it to build savings. Small ruminants are part of short-cycle livestock farming species. Their reproduction is fast. Milk is consumed in some places. Goat’s milk is of better quality and produces popular cheese. ”


To this end, CRTV, public service media, will have a crucial role to play.

Ali’s daughter from Ebebda is a symbol with her sheep, the promise of the funding of her studies.

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ANIMAL HEALTH


Community Awareness Raising

Relaxed atmosphere under trees. Door-to-door information campaigns preceded the two

meetings under the shade of mango trees. Community relays had already counted households with small ruminant farmers. Each goat or sheep owner keenly listened to the details provided by MINEPIA team. The crew developed the following themes: media campaign, local awareness raising, pre- and post-vaccination sampling, vaccination proper, disease control situation via a guarantee of absence of virus circulation, surveys in favour of the recognition of Cameroon as a disease-free country and, finally, the eradication of « peste des petits ruminants ».

Vaccination therefore does not end with the appearance of agents from the ministry. According to

the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Casimir Ndongo Kounou: «Each village might count 30 to 40 people. They make up the Small Ruminants Development Committee. The livestock farmer signs on the form and write down the current date. This shall be duplicated in the 33 villages of the sub division. They will constitute a sub-divisional committee. The administrative authority shall supervise vaccination teams in the presence of the village chiefs».

The question-and-answer phase intensified the awareness-raising outing. Each participant asked his/her questions without any self-censorship. The public asked about the consumption of meat from a newly vaccinated goat. According to Dr Feussom, Sub-Director of Animal Health: “Consuming the

meat of a vaccinated goat does not cause any human health problem. It can therefore be put into the pot without delay.” Populations say they are used to the early consumption of animals that are suspected to be sick. Dr Gaelle Tinak dampened their hopes: «It is not advisable to eat any sick animal. Its flesh is neither healthy nor mature and always questionable. As a result, it can affect the human body. The person can develop drug resistance. A sick animal does not provide the body with the sufficient nutrients that it needs. It is advisable to wait and go to the vet. Compliance with waiting times is an essential measure».


Two pilot villages in the sub division of Ebebda received the MINEPIA awareness raising team on 3 January 2019.

The Director of Veterinary Services, DVS, Dr Casimir Ndongo Kounou, the head of theawareness-raising and counting of animals for the PPR campaign.

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ANIMAL HEALTH


Possible Suspicion of Cases of “Peste”

What problems do you have with sheep goats? The question of Dr Feussom

provided relevant answers: sudden death, diarrhoea, drooling, tearing or eye discharges, weight loss, zero nutrition, spots on the mouth and others. The Director of Veterinary Services agreed with the majority of the audience: «Snakes bite goats. These are deadly bites. They are one of the causes of sudden deaths. This state of affairs questions the way you raise your animals. You leave them in a raving state. This negligence exposes them to many dangers such as the devastating venom of savannah snakes. A goat would graze almost everything in dry season. It

can swallow a poisonous herb. It then causes sudden death. Finally, sudden death might be caused by ‘peste des petits ruminants’. The most fragile animals get to die at the slightest PPR attack. The most resistant goats carry the disease.” As contagious as it is, it will contaminate other herds. Goats in average health develop the disease gradually. Sudden death allows people to realise it. Diarrhoea is the second symptom of PPR. The goat has eye discharges. A white snot clutters its nostrils. The slobber makes his mouth dirty. This is an irretrievable stage. It rather becomes impossible to administer the vaccine. All goats and sheep have intestinal worms. They heal themselves. Worm

medicines should be taken every three months. Many herders lose goats by strangling them. In fact, they don’t tie the rope around their necks properly. The best way is to hook it up just before the protection knot. The technique ensures a safety and breathing diameter at the height of the goat’s neck.” All these explanations do not in any way cancel consultations with veterinary teams at their disposal.


The awareness-raising team took time to explain the clinical signs of the disease to the population.

The Head of Small Ruminants Service, Dr Ciewé, in an awareness-raising campaign in Djounyat.

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ANIMAL HEALTH


Meetings with Victims of “peste”

‘Death is not curable’; especially when it all comes to sheep and goats during outbreaks of ‘‘peste

des petits ruminants’’. This is a monologue from a grieving livestock farmer. The hand was holding Ali’s own chin. He was a desperate livestock owner. He was looking at his visitors, that is the coverage crew, with sorrowful eyes. The ravages of ‘‘peste des petits ruminants’’ prevented him from smiling. He almost choked to remember the number of heads that made up his former flock: 80. The memory of

happy days has been affecting him. Revealing the new figure of his livestock farming makes him sad: 24 sheep and goats. This is a significant loss of almost ¾ of his breeding. Like death, ‘‘peste des petits ruminants’’ enjoys taking advantage of the surprise effect in killing its victims: “It never gave me time to notice the animal’s disease and to treat it. Two or three days were enough to kill the beast. I was losing two, three and even four per day,” Ali cried in a burst of repressed tears. “No drug in my possession has ever saved a sick

animal here. It is the announcement of the vaccination campaign that is bringing back hope. Otherwise, I could even had given up this activity,» he explained with renewed dignity. Indeed, «Vaccination will allow us to have healthy animals. This will produce more meat and milk for us’’, said Dr. Ciéwé, Head of the PPR service.


The devastating effects of ‘‘peste des petits ruminants’’ have caused grief and despair among livestock farmers in Ebebda in the Centre Region.

The shepherd of Abdouraman’s livestock farm in Ebebda.

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ANIMAL HEALTH


Campaign Development Plan

An administration that is closer to the people that it serves. The Director of Veterinary

Services thus explained the adopted methodology to the audience : «You stay at home. It is the State that comes to you. We have your names and phone numbers. The Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries or his office might decide to call a few people by chance. He will know if the animals have been vaccinated or not. MINEPIA agents will introduce themselves to you. The traditional authority will assess them. Each Chief shall sign the vaccination form. Even the livestock

farmer signs and notes down the date of vaccination. ”Two major actors are entering the organisation and conduct of the campaign. First and foremost, it is the administrative authority. Indeed, the Divisional Officer convenes all village Chiefs in his sub-division. In turn, village Chiefs, the second major actors, appoint two people. They come from the community imperatively. People know and trust them. The two people shall «go door-to-door». They shall record the name of each lifestock farmer and the number of his sheep and goats on a form. MINEPIA agents shall use this list

to prepare vaccination equipment. ‘’It is a free operation. We ask those present to pass on this information to those who are absent,» said Dr Ciéwé, Head of the PPR service. According to the same person, MINEPIA staff shall «collect samples before and after vaccination. The comparison between both samples shall allow various crews to know if animals are immune or not. The same samples shall provide information on the state of the disease in the community”.


The Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries through PRODEL and other partners have developed a whole methodology.

The Divisional Officer of Ebebda, BouariMohamadou in chechia, participates as an actor in awareness raising

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ANIMAL HEALTH


PRODEL’s Contribution

PRODEL Magazine : What is the objective of the PPR vaccination?

Dr Bourdanne : PRODEL is a tool in the development strategy regarding the sub sector of livestock, fisheries and animal industries. It has been assigned to support the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, MINEPIA, in the control and monitoring of priority animal diseases. There are major economic diseases with harmful impact like ‘’peste des petits ruminants’’.

PRODEL Magazine : What are the concrete activities of the Project? Dr Bourdanne : Actions are being implemented in favour of the Department of Veterinary Services to implement the national policy for the control and eradication of ‘’peste des petits ruminants’’. First

of all, it is a question of supporting the DVS in terms of methodology. It should enable MINEPIA and the whole country to get to the stage of absence of that disease after 3 years. This is the control phase. The actual eradication phase will therefore begin after those 3 years. The aim will be to make sure that the virus does no longer circulate in Cameroon. This will allow the country to be declared and classified as PPR-free.

PRODEL Magazine : What is the trend of the Project’ support? Dr Bourdanne : PRODEL supports MINEPIA in mobilising human and financial resources. Experts are coming from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, FAO, the National

Veterinary Laboratory, LANAVET, “l’Université des Montagnes”, the Polytechnic School of Maroua and the Ngaoundere Veterinary School. This expertise was recently gathered in Kribi to define the operational strategy for the control and eradication of ‘’peste des petits ruminants’’. All what is lacking remains the implementation of the project. It assigns PRODEL to support the DVS in organising massive vaccination campaigns.

PRODEL Magazine : Why is counting being set aside as a major activity ?Dr Bourdanne : The number of small ruminants remains unknown. Accurate figures are highly needed. Teams therefore have to go down to the field. They move from one household to another in order to count sheep and goats. The aim of the operation is to better prepare for the vaccination stage proper. It would be an embarrassment, should the population of small ruminants exceeds the dose of vaccines that are available. We have introduced the effective participation of communities. Each village Chief shall work in close collaboration with community relays. The figures that will come out will give us a clear idea of the national livestock population.

Interview led by Télesphore Mba Bizo in Ebebda.

PRODEL’s National Animal Health Specialist, Dr Bourdanne, explains the scope of the Project’s contribution to vaccination.

Dr Bourdanne, PRODEL’s National Animal Health Specialist, in an awareness raising campaign in Ebebda.

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Brief stay of the PRODEL National Animal Health Specialist in Abdouraman’s farm in Ebebda.

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INCREASE IN NATIONAL MILK PRODUCTION

CONSIDERED SOLUTION

Importation of a Core Group of Pregnant Heifers and Artificial Mass Insemination

The Government’s Economic, Financial, Social and Cultural Programme prescribes the

importation of 330 pregnant heifers in 2019. A joint field visit to Senegal by the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, MINEPIA-PRODEL, had already led to the selection of Montbeliarde heifers as a high-performance breed in 2018. It adapts to climatic conditions that are even harsher like those in Senegal and Mali. Moreover, its milking does not require sophisticated technologies. Under acceptable livestock farming conditions, Montbeliarde heifers can produce between 25 and 40 litres of milk per day. However, none of the local breeds can go that far.The first core group of pregnant heifers counts 165 cows, according to Dr Jean-Marcel Mandeng, National Specialist in Animal Production Development and Quality Management: «Importations should bring an increase in milk production as a result of significant genetic improvement and appropriate feeding! This should contribute to improving food security for Cameroonians”.The country requires more than 425,000 tonnes of milk per year. This demand represents an annual consumption of 17 kg of milk per inhabitant. National production only provides 274,630 tonnes. Compared to the overall production, the deficit is more than 120,000 tonnes of milk. The importation of

milk and its products causes losses estimated at 20 billion francs per year. The action of MINEPIA via PRODEL is therefore likely to bring a little more equilibrium to the trade balance, says Dr Jean-Marcel Mandeng: «Associated with artificial insemination, the importation of high-performance heifers is the second fastest way to improve the genetics of our livestock farming in order to increase productivity and production”.The criteria for the selection of beneficiaries are known: broad awareness raising on allotment requirements, transparent short-listing, signature of specification books, verification of compliance

with this contractual document, final list of eligible persons and draws if the number of potential beneficiaries is higher than the number of animals to be distributed. Trained shepherds, veterinarians hired by PRODEL and public animal health services will monitor Montbeliarde heifers.


The low production capacity of local breeds of heifers causes Cameroon to import milk and its products.

Montbeliarde heifer breed.

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GENETIC IMPROVEMENT AND MILK PRODUCTIONRAISING AWARENESS AMONG POSSIBLE IMPROVED HEIFER BENEFICIARIES

Juliatou Zari: the Young and Wonderful Shepherdess of Guidiguis

There are cows. But the Holstein is unique. It is, as we learn from veterinary doctors, the

«Mercedes» among cows as regards prestige. The effect of a pleasant surprise suddenly seized the whole crew. People were expecting to see a tall fellow who could match the luxury animal when the young shepherdess made her way in. She is the owner of the Holstein. Visitors were seeing it up so close for the very first time in their lives. This is an investment of one and a half million CFA francs.A local training centre granted her

this funding. It was at the end of a two-year training course. The shepherdess followed this day-release training scheme. Indeed, she took part in the courses for two weeks. During the other two, she participated in the practical phase with a referent. This training required end-of-course work with a public defence. Juliatou Zari did fulfill this requirement. As a reward, the centre sponsored her livestock farm. ‘‘This sum of 1,500,000 francs allowed me to obtain 2 fattening cows and 10 small ruminants. I now have up to four heads of cattle for fattening and

15 sheep and goats. I have to add the dairy cow and her calf. I produce 15 litres of milk per day. A pregnant heifer can only be most welcome. I would like to produce enough milk in a bid to cover the entire market in Guidiguis sub-division and even beyond. The visit soon turned into a photo shooting session. Everyone was eager to immortalise themselves with the Holstein while repressing the possibility of a pawing at sunset.


Since June 2018, PRODEL team sole focus has been on her.

Juliatou Zari with her Holstein in Guidiguis.

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RAISING AWARENESS AMONG POSSIBLE IMPROVED HEIFER BENEFICIARIES

An artificial Insemination Experiment

One to two hectares of ranch. A barrier made of solid materials delimits the territory of the animals of Seidou Khari.

The retired veterinary surgeon benefited from an insemination programme at the Louguéré station. He had sent 25 heads of cattle there. Unfortunately, not all the animals returned to him alive. Some had even contracted diseases there. On the grounds of satisfaction, the farmer now totals 21 births, including eight females: It is the population of mixed breeds cows that I have today. I also report two deaths. So I have 19 mixed-breeds left’’, said Seidou Khari.

Mixed breed cows are the products of the cross-breeding between exotic and local animals. They share the same enclosure with ordinary cattle. However, contacts with mixed breed cows are rare or non-existent. The two species gather in separate bands in the farmyard. Seidou Khari believes that he has the necessary knowledge to benefit from PRODEL’s opportunity: «I will be delighted to receive pregnant heifers. I can take good care of them. I have hectares of bracchairia and millet fodder. Cotton cake would reach them as food supplements. The field visit, five kilometres further, confirmed the scope of his land potential. It still needs to be exploited. The previous season’s fodder production is strewn over a giant rock. However, the absence of any milking equipment forces visitors to qualify their opinion as to the final objective, in particular the real production capacity of the dairy.


PRODEL visited a «mixed breed cow» farm in November 2018 in Mindjif.

Seidou Khari in his livestock farm in Mindjif.

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT AND MILK PRODUCTION

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RAISING AWARENESS AMONG POSSIBLE IMPROVED HEIFER BENEFICIARIES

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT AND MILK PRODUCTION

Achievements of the Working Visit to Senegal

The Emergency of a Barn!

Water-jet irrigation. It is one of Senegal’s first markers of Mrs. Bakari’s livestock

farm in the Maroua. She went to Dakar in 2018 and represented livestock farmers in the joint MINEPIA-PRODEL delegation. The trip consisted in learning from the Senegalese experience in importing pregnant heifers. This trip resulted in the selection of the Montbeliarde cow as the heifer adopted by PRODEL. Water management in a livestock farm highly impressed Mrs. Bakari. Her water system is still experimental. Pipes cover about 500 square metres. Jet propulsion valves rotate clockwise. There is a kind of alternation of watered surfaces. This large quantity of water really do grows grass. But the bright green colouring of quality grass is not yet convincing: «We want to improve. We need some trainings and we are ambitious,” Mrs Bakari asked

gratefully.The hayloft is more impressive. Haystack are stored at an estimated height of 10 metres. The feed could satisfy the herd for 6 months: «I have also learned enough about feeding. The Senegalese environment is even more difficult than ours. But the grass produced there remains greener. We have 6 hectares of forage farm in Miskin. We have already cultivated Braccharia on 1 hectare. Most deaths result from food poverty and water scarcity. ”About thirty heads live in the farm. Their overweight is an indicator of the volume of water and food supply. Even the shelter is worthy of praise. It is a giant barn: Senegal has led us to invest in the construction of animal shelters. They are not going to graze. Therefore, they need quality shelters. Keeping animals around requires protection from the sun.” The replica on Cameroonian

« We want to improve our livestock in quality and quantity. We have several problems.

Support in the field of animal health is welcome. We face difficulties during rainy seasons. Animals are exposed to bad weather. A barn becomes essential. We would like to receive pregnant heifers of an improved breed. We have fodder, cotton cakes, corn bran and millet stalks to feed the animals.»


soil speaks for itself.Food and water contribute to the production of milk. The cow milked in the evening produced 5 litres. Hygiene conditions are observed. But the quantities remain small: «We want to produce more milk. It is lacking. Demand is high.” This is the request for a heifer. PRODEL will have to accept or deny access to the said heifer.


Ms. Bakari was part of the mission team in Senegal in the first semester of 2018.

Excerpts from the point of view of Youssoufa Aligana, Delegate of GIC in Waldessouka in Maroua.

Visit of the government-World Bank team to Mrs. Bakari’s farm (with a scarf in the centre of the picture).

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PASTORAL RESOURCES

BACKGROUND

Reinforcing the Rural Area in its Role as a Source of Animal Protein

Meat must leave the village to feed the city. Rural people therefore represent

a centre for the production of animal protein. The city then becomes a market. It is under the authority of a council. PRODEL counts a total of 30. Agreements link them to the Project as examples of decentralisation and local development. Councils were selected following a call for expression of interest. PRODEL and councils are collaborating to develop and implement the Pastoral Resource Management Plans, PRMPs. It was done in compliance with participatory approach requirements. Indeed, the opinions of beneficiaries are prerequisites for successful implementation. Each adopted PRMP becomes a non-detachable chapter of the Council Development Plan. Each financial year benefits from a budget vote

by Municipal Councillors. The City Council allocates an additional 10% of the cost of the PRMP. PRODEL provides 90%. Eligibility for PRMPs covers municipalities in Northern Cameroon and some in the East region.A PRMP, far from the ordinary production of animal proteins, is an investment initiative. It is part of the sustainable development and management of pastures. A PRMP identifies and facilitates livestock owners’ access to pastoral resources : water, fodder, mineral salts and soil. It is a project for the production of pastoral infrastructures: boreholes, vaccination parks, transhumance corridors, cattle tracks and markets. A PRMP represents, above all, the healthy collaboration of beneficiaries with pastoral institutions: zoo-technical centres, livestock farmers’ associations, management

committees and consultation platforms. They promote and support mechanisms for resolving agro-pastoral conflicts. A worthwhile PRMP insists on local ownership. The framework for the participation of local populations is the Management Committee. At first glance, PRMPs are social exclusion initiatives. Indeed, access to resources such as land, flora and other products is becoming prohibited for local populations. However, their survival sometimes depends on it. At this level, a compensation mechanism exists. This is the Action Plan to Restrict Access to Resources, PARAR. It is developed and validated alongside the PRMP.


One of the recommendations of the Ebolowa Agro-Pastoral Show in 2011 called for the setting up of promising projects in villages to settle young people and the rest of the population in the countryside.

Standrad zebu exhibited at the Ngaoundéré Livestock Fair.

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PASTORAL RESOURCESSIGNATURE OF AGREEMENTS WITH COUNCILS

The Last Eight Councils in 2018

The eight agreements of Yaounde increased the figure to 17. This time around, concerned

councils are those from the East and Adamawa regions. Their selection follows their applications to a call for expressions of interest. The East region obtains more than CFA 521 million francs. The cities of Garoua-Boulaï and Ketté account for more than 152 million and 170 million francs respectively. The one of Bétaré-Oya holds more than 123 million. The signing ceremony was held under the chairmanship of the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr. taiga. His counterpart, Georges Elanga Obam, of Decentralisation and Local Development came with him. The Adamawa also totals four councils. Beneficiaries share an amount of nearly 488 million francs. Ngaoundal

obtains the best prize, with almost 135 million. Belel follows suit with more than 127 million. Then come Ngaoundéré III and Meiganga with 114 and 110 million respectively.Round one of the signature of agreements with councils was held on 21 September, 2018 in Maroua. The Far North councils receive 430 million francs. The 126 million of the municipality of Pété ranks it first. The 111 million of Yagoua assured its second position. The third position is given to Kaélé with 104 million francs. PRODEL grants Tokombéré 82 million. Logone-Birni content itself with six and a half million. The Northcouncils get the amount of 390 million. The one of Guider flies high with 118 million francs. Garoua III and Ngong each receive 114 million. The Lagdo council closes with 44 million francs. The overall

contribution of councils is 192 million francs. The amount represents 10% of the overall budget. PRODEL provides 90% of the high financial demand.However, the ranking of beneficiaries per millionaire councils is not enough. The rest requires actions to be taken. It refers to the construction of pastoral infrastructures: 30 boreholes, 33 vaccination parks, four slaughter yards, 1000 km of rural road, two cattle markets, three butcheries, a drinking water supply and a dyke.


The livestock development project, PRODEL, signed other agreements with councils on 12 December 2018 in Yaoundé.

Emmanuel Gbanga, Mayor of Ketté.

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PASTORAL RESOURCES

IMPLEMENTATION IN THE NORTHERN REGIONS

Satisfaction of Government and the World Bank

The four councils of the Netherlands Development Organization’s portfolio, SNV,

are showing their ambitions. They need a billion from PRODEL funds. To achieve this, the Lagdo council has already made 30 billion francs available. The amount only represents 10% of her expectations. Everything is consistent with the modus operandi of the project, according to Dr Abakar Mahamat of SNV: «It can therefore benefit from a funding of 300 million francs. The council of Guider registered 15 million. The one of Garoua III has 18. Ngong gave 20 million. The four councils together can mobilise almost one billion francs. »

The Integrated Participatory Local Development Support Unit, CADEPI, is the name of the second operator. According to its representative, Khari, considerable progress has also been made on the field: «We have been assigned to supervise five councils. They are Kaélé, Yagoua, Petté, Logone Birni and Tokombéré. The process began in May 2018. Good progress has been made. Councils have already carried out participatory diagnoses of their pastoral resources. They have identified their potential and constraints. This diagnosis led to pastoral resource management plans. The goal is to improve the productivity of the livestock in the long run. This production underpins the improvement of farmers ‘ incomes. In other words, the Pastoral

Resource Management Plan is an instrument for poverty alleviation. The Inter-Communal Intervention Fund, FEICOM, as supported by its Delegate, El Hadj Oumar, intends to make cash advances available to councils in order to finance sub-projects. This has to be a request for funding. It must be sent to the Director General of FEICOM. He will quickly examine files in order to satisfy councils.

The National Specialist in Sustainable Management of Pastoral and Animal Resources, Alain Yagmpam, gave an overview of the overall implementation of Pastoral Resource Management Plans: «We are planning the construction of solar-powered drilling. They will be matched with drinkers. This is a way to solve two problems at once. The first concerns the feeding of livestock with water. The second is to supply people with drinking water. These works are being vandalised when they are built away from homes. The National Social and Environmental Specialist is more than happy of the taking into account of the possible frustrations of the people: «There will be restrictions on access to resources in many pastoral areas. The operators have thus developed action plans for restricting access to resources, PARAR. They are part of PRMPs. Indeed, access will not be completely forbidden. This is the formal opinion of Kazi Mena, Chief of Boboyo Canton: «The activities of

collecting or picking fruit shall be free. Women shall have the right to go to the natural source to produce their oils’’.

The PRMP component is satisfactory for the World Bank’s knowledgeable observers. Fidèle Yobo, Pasture Consultant, did recognise the progress made in the field: «There is a good level of ownership of the PRMP participatory development process. This is true and can be seen at the level of the council and the community. The communities visited show that they participated in the whole process. The populations relate the progress of the process with ease. They also know how to pose their problems. We were able to grasp the level of commitment of councils to finance sub-projects. We are satisfied with what the field visit has shown. The development of the 17 PRMPs programmed in 2018 is a testimony of satisfaction’’.


Ownership of pastoral resource management plans by councils and communities is satisfactory.

FidèleYobo, Pasture Consultant at the World Bank.

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PASTORAL RESOURCES

INVASION by the «BOkASSA GRASS»

Origin and Perspective

The discovery of Chromolaenaodorata called «Bokassa Grass» dates back

from the 70-80 decades. It came from Asia and is preceded by its reputation of a fertilizer plant. Since then, its vivacity, relative longevity, germinative power, as well as its invading impetus have allowed it to spread throughout the country. It is only the area located in the North of the eighth parallel that is not affected because of its Harsh climate.

The rapid development of ‘’Bokassa Grass’’ represents an obstacle to the emergence of livestock farming. The grass hits the regions of Adamawa and East harder. In the last mentioned region, the breakthrough of the invasive plant in the Kadey and Lom and Djerem divisions was assessed. It took place in villages with high pastoral potential in Ketté, Batouri, Bétaré Oya and Garoua Boulaï councils. They benefit from the technical support of BET GEOCOMPETENCE and financial support from PRODEL. The goal is to improve the productivity of pastoral livestock systems, access to market and resilience of pastoral communities. A total of 8000 hectares of pastures have been covered. They are free to access and not materialized. The pastoral value is 22.37% and the infestation rate is 57.76%.

Many damages are observed

following the colonisation of pastures by «Bokassa Grass. ”. These are the invasion of spaces and the development of large mono-specific areas in pastures, modification of the livestock feeding and landscape regime, risks of insecurity relating to long distances covered by shepherds for the search for food, agro-pastoral conflicts, declining fertility, loss of livestock and reduction of livestock size, reduction of pasture areas and livestock trails, abandonment of livestock by many lifestock farmers decline in cattle production, etc. This situation puts a lot of pressure on the remaining spaces. Despite this, some solutions are provided by livestock farmers.

Pastoral resource management plans, PRMPs, in the four councils of the East region have been finalized. These plans show that some farmers use herbicides such as ‘’ELLIAME’’ for the fight against ‘’Bokassa Grass’’. Others still set up fodder plots of

Brachiarias and Stylosantesspet feed the livestock in meals. The non-mastery of the technical routes of fodder crops is clarified. The council and PRODEL intend to work together to manage 3000 hectares of pasture sustainably as part of the council planning process. Councils and PRODEL are planning, from the co-signed agreements, to delineate and secure pastures, set up management committees, initiate a research action to control the plant, strengthen the capacity of livestock farmers on the technical routes for sustainable exploitation while associating shepherds and pastors, and manage space sustainably.

By Daniel Kam

A pasture expert analyses the situation

An impenetrable hedge of «Bokassa Grass» in Fio.

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PASTORAL RESOURCES


The Damage of the Invasive Plant

‘’Bokassa Grass’’ is rampant on pastures. It produces cancer metastatic effects. The more the

plant is fought, the more heroic it becomes and conquers new territories. Even the dry season scarcely spoils it. It takes a colour that is in between yellow and black. It seems to betray a suffering and drowsiness which, in reality, does not exist. This is its «armour». The self-protection strategy enables it to resist to heat. Livestock farmers have probed the formula of extinction of this quasi-fatality by bushfire. Weed knows how to burn. The breakthrough of the flames sends loud snaps in the ears. The Bokassa Grass burns to the stem. Its buds drop in the form of dry and irreversible explosions in appearance as the wind blows. But ‘’Bokassa Grass’’ is still reborn from the ashes. The

first drops of rain favour sprouting. Its green redeployment is even more conquering on burnt land. Its young leaves then point to the sun as a beautiful promise of flowers. Whereas, they represent a new generation of grasses, even more savage and determined to persecute the paunch of zebu in the grip of scarcity. Births simply precede fast and predictable mortalities. The volume of milk does not feed the bulls calves to satiety.This is an exclusive herb. It prefers unique land occupation in order to confiscate spaces. In other words, it does not accept to share its territory with other occupants. From time to time, an a shrub comes out of the ground. It is sparse. ‘’Bokassa Grass’’ therefore coexists only with grasses higher than it. It evolves in a compact way, like hay still in its

green state and especially standing on its stems. It is a hedge in the form of a sharp blade. It leaves cuts on the most enthusiastic cattle who face it for food needs. In general, the big cattle lose this confrontation against ‘’Bokassa Grass’’. Weary of war, the populations then entrust their animals to the native peoples. In the dry season, livestock farmers order cotton cakes. They come from Garoua. The goods are not within the reach of the layman. Moreover, it does not replace hay.

By TMB

PRODEL communication team went to the council of Ketté in the East region to monitor the activity after the signing of agreements.

The Muslim leader of the FIO community indicating the unfortunate scale of «Bokassa grass».

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Fio Under Weed Treath

Colonizing Bokassa Grass is complex, complains the Chief. You have to uproot the

herbs. The slightest neglected strain generates new buds; which feeds even more the anarchic multiplication of the weed. According to the same community authority, « people really want to get into the activities of fodder farms. But such undertakings

require enormous resources. They even require the involvement of heavy equipment. Our modest means will never allow it. We rely on the good will of government. A tractor can do this work in record time. ‘Bokassa Grass’ looks like a hedge. It forbids the progression of animals in the pasture. They can no longer feed themselves. Overweight disappears.

Consequences are immediate on sales. Livestock farmers are the big losers.


The head of the community of livestock farmers in the locality of FIO, Hamadi Laomou, talks about the effect of «Bokassa grass» in his locality.

The effect of «Bokassa grass» being perceptible even on previously generous plantain bunches.

PASTORAL RESOURCES


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PASTORAL RESOURCES

GBITI INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK MARKET

The Bitter Blow of Cross-Border instability

The city has lost its beauty. It was the ideal destination for cattle from three countries: Central

Africa, Chad and the geographical North of Cameroon. The trip was only long for Chadian and Cameroonian livestock farmers. Central Africans just had to cross the border. The city lived from its cattle economy. About a hundred resellers used to meet at Gbiti. The park was the

starting point for new trips. Animals were going to supply markets in Yaoundé, Douala and even Gabon or Equatorial Guinea. Economic activity is gradually picking up. The Central African track is, however, lost. Eric Serge Nzala, head of the Gbiti zoo-technical and veterinary centre is happy with the renewed lease of life: «We receive the oxen from Touboro, Ndokayo and Mbaïmboum.

We carry out veterinary checks. In the absence of diseases, animals can access the market’’.


Central African instability has reduced the strength of an international market to a local cattle yard.

Regional Environmental and Social Specialist Zone II, Dr. Jean Marcial Bell, worried about the effect of bad weather on meat.

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PASTORAL RESOURCES

IMPLEMENTATION IN GBITI

Cattle Market and Butcher Shop Are Highly Needed

The cattle market is one of the very high priorities. The current one is in the open air. It

complicates the counting of cattle. Market entries and exits merge. The construction of the market would also solve the problem of cattle theft. The possible tick bath is able to solve the problem of diseases from unvaccinated animals due to the phobia of slaughter taxes.Indeed, a concrete infrastructure exists not far from the construction

site of the market. According to the Head of the Gbibi Zootechnical Centre, Eric Serge Nzala, «the operation of the tick bath has never been effective, due to lack of running water. Its commissioning should prevent severe epizootics. This is essential. In fact, livestock farmers rarely agree to vaccinate all their herds.A sellers-buyers platform exists. But it suffers the diktat of intermediaries. These cattle brokers are called

«Sakaïna”. The market is open every Tuesday. 400 heads of cattle generally move in for sales to the highest bidder. 200 to 250 animals are most often sold. Its implementation will also be an opportunity to better run the said platform.


The dual project represents the priority actions of the PRMP in the cross-border city as decided in a participatory manner with the beneficiaries.

Proliferation of makeshift retail counters.

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PASTORAL RESOURCES

THE NECESSITY OF SALUBRITY IN POINTS OF SALE

Boubara Needs Some Clean-Up

Eat is at the mercy of bad weather and dust. This condition exposes the flesh to

even faster putrefaction. It can be harmful to human health. But few people come to realise it. No serious device accompanies the activity. Axes, machetes, hooks and other tools of butchers strew the dust layer on the ground. The animals are slaughtered in the full light of the day. Even children often witness these scenes of violence and animal abuse. Animal blood trickles and defiles the butchery of fortune with its coarse and indelible stains.The blackish trail zigzags as far as

the eye can see. The blood channel is next to the playgrounds. Either the ball or the feet of the children often dive on the bottom of anger. There is still no problem of environmental safeguards. But in case of large scale slaughterpollution risks could be met, worries the National Environmental and Social Specialist Zone II.The meat is sold in heaps of 1000 francs. Flies come and go at the rhythm of the blade shots in the flesh for sale. Every butcher has the flair of the newcomer. At the top of his lungs, he offers legs, skins andBeef tails Even smoked beef heads

line up on sale to give the scale of the number of animals slaughtered. Loyalty to his butcher is traditional. Black outweighs all other colors of products for sale. This is the consequence of the lack of any cold chain in the locality. The smoking technique is an ancestral method of preservation. It will be used until the construction of the butcher.


Conditions for cattle slaughtering and meat selling pose a hygiene problem.

City of Boubara.

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PASTORAL RESOURCES

BOUBARA IS HOPEFUL

Beneficiaries Ask for a Butcher Shop

‘’People will see new constructions’’, proudly said Emmanuel Gbanga,“the beauty and hygiene

of places shall compel customers to buy more”. The promise of butchery delights the beneficiaries. Assistant butcher said: “We borrow money to

buy animals and sell them. These are loans given to indigenous people in the Bush and even in the village. The oxen depart from the North for Gbiti. This was not the case before. The war [in the Central African Republic, Ed] has scared livestock

farmers. Only a handful is left. The butchery will speed up development here’’.


PRODEL and the population want to put an end to open-air trade thanks to the construction of a modern butchery that is sponsored by the Project.

A butchery under construction in the city of Boubara.

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PASTORAL RESOURCES

SPECIAL GUEST

Priority to the Construction of Markets and Butcheries

Prodel Magazine : Why neglect sub-projects of boreholes and pastoral wells where they are

seen as priorities ?Emmanuel Gbanga : At the end of the diagnosis made by the consulting firm, a number of projects were accepted by the population and beneficiaries. The results of the diagnosis indicate an overgrown pasture of 55%. The rest can feed the cattle. So we agreed to build a cattle market and three butchers. We visited these four sites, which are: Ketté, Boubara, Gbiti and Mobé. The other phases will focus on the development of forage farms. This is an answer to the « Bokassa Grass » issue. It is necessary to stop its anarchic occupation capacities. We have neglected the issue of pastoral wells because our water abounds, to say the least.

Prodel Magazine : What is done to fight « Bokassa Grass?Emmanuel Gbanga : The council has no magical or curative recipees against ‘’Bokassa Grass’’. It encourages the creation of forage farms. We have identified 10 villages with high pastoral potential. Seed farm schools will be developed there. A farm of two, three or four hectares, will never satisfy the expectations of a good pastoral community.

Prodel Magazine : What have youd one following the signing of the

agreement with PRODEL?Emmanuel Gbanga : We came back and informed project beneficiaries. The 10% contribution of the council led to a meeting with the main actors. The municipal revenue collector was willing to release that substantial amount. The quota is a prerequisite for the disbursement of PRODEL funding. A common account already exists in the books of Atlantic Bank in Bertoua. The financial institution explained the rights and duties to each party. Everything will be operational come March 2019.

Prodel Magazine : What are you doing to attract international customers to Gbiti?

Emmanuel Gbanga : We have just visited a council in the Adamawa region. We learned with dismay that Ngawi is the only large cattle market. I therefore invited them to visit Gbiti. Ketté in the Kadey division is a considerable lifestock farming pole. The curse of ‘’Bokassa grass’’ has caused livestock farmers relocate in Ayos and Akonolinga.

Interview led by TMB

Emmanuel Gbanga, Mayor of Ketté and signatory of an agreement with PRODEL, is the main guest of this maiden edition of PRODEL Magazine.

Emmanuel Gbanga, Mayor of Ketté.

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SUPPORT FOR THE BAKA PEOPLE

AWARENESS IN THE EAST REGION

A Potential of Goats and Chickens among the Baka

Towards the end of stereotypes? The Baka People accept to undergo a self-revolution.

They do not promise to stop being hunters and gatherers. But they are readily accepting to be called «livestock farmers». They spoke to PRODEL awareness teams. It was via two operators. Green Development Advocate covered the 21 Baka villages in the Upper-Nyong division. As for Pygmod, similar work was done in 15 Baka communities in the Kadei and the same number in Boumba-and- Ngoko divisions.Those participatory consultations allowed PRODEL to listen to the expectations of the Baka people. They say that they are willing to carry out livestock activities. Their focus is on goats and chickens. Some camps are already used to it as Célestin Amougou, member of the Baka community of Nkolmbong, did confirm: «We are willing to raise pigs and chickens. We saw our Bantou neighbours doing livestock farming. We too can successfully do it. We have already set up an association. Our receipt is even available.

PRODEL is coming to us as a gift from heaven. There is no financial requirement. Livestock products will also enable us to heal ourselves. We will also take advantage of this to send our children to school. We can as well start work today, provided we have the pigs and chickens at our disposal’’.The Baka people used to be guardian of the animals of others. In reality, goats and chickens belonged to their neighbours, the Bantou. They therefore accepted to move from the status of ordinary animal watchdogs to the one of owners. It was proudly said by Blaise Yéyé, a member of the Baka community in Nkolmbong: «I raised my chickens by giving them corn. They did not sleep on trees. I put them inside my hut. The money from the chickens helped me to heal sick children. I am waiting for my chicken endowment to start over’’. The farming of goats and chickens is of interest for food needs. The Baka justify their will to get into the said activity through the urgent need to form a kind of saving for illnesses. They have never known of

any form of health insurance. Goats and chickens also represent school credits. However, the honey sector frightens them because of the bees, Francis Mboundji, though. The Chief of the Baka community in Bamenda added : ‘’we prefer to raise goats. Honey does not interest us too much even if we like it. But we do not know how to keep it. The theft of chickens and goats is no longer intense. The words gendarmerie and police deter thieves. They are afraid of them. We will eat some of the production”. The Baka people mostly complain about the selling price of their products. Francis Mboundji regrets some recurring facts: «Resellers buy our products at a reduce price. They may have the courage to offer to buy a rooster at 400 francs. Prices here are too low. Our salvation can only come from distant buyers. There is a lot of deception on merchandise. We sell almost for nothing. The adventure will be messy if you think that we will continue to carry the goods on the head and sell through the village like street vendors. We will not get anything out of it. We need hens and goats. We can raise them. We will consume only the wounded or injured. ”

Dr Jean Marcial Bell and TMB

The Livestock development project, PRODEL, conducted awareness campaigns in the Baka camps of the Kadei, Boumba-and-Ngoko, and the Upper-Nyong Divisions since 2018.

Prolific goat farm among the Baka.

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RESILIENCE

SUPPORT FOR POVERTY-STRICKEN AND CONFLICT-AFFECTED WOMEN AND HOUSEHOLDS

The Process Has Kicked Off

A call for expression of interest made it possible to select the operators. They are as follows:

Active youth for the fight against poverty, HIV/AIDS and its sufferings (NGO JAPSSO), Operational Centre for Economic and Social Promotion and Regeneration- Africa sector (COPRESSA), Synergy for Local Development (SYDEL), Union of Baptist Churches of Cameroon (UEBC-SAARE TABITHA) and Cameroonian Association for Local Development (ACDC). The process of identifying and distributing productive assets began with awareness-raising campaigns. They took place in the divisions of the Far North region. Councils have now taken over the preparation of the dissemination of productive assets. It goes through the setting-up of councils committees. They are the ones who are targeting villages that shall benefit from small ruminant gifts, that is, 10 sheep and goats.

There two types of beneficiaries. First, there are poverty-stricken and conflict-affected households. The goal is to give them animals. It is with a view to restoring their herds of yesteryear, long before their destruction by armed conflicts. Next are women and their associations. They must be counted as second beneficiaries. They need to see the hardness of their work reduced through the provision of equipment for small livestock farming. In addition to the productive assets, they are entitled to communication training for behavioural change.

Segou Gouyouk, represented one of the selected operators, especially Synergy for Local Development. He explains the ins and outs of his activity: «We are working to improve the resilience of poverty-stricken and conflict-affected households. Households, women and their groups expect productive assets. The

diagnosis reveals that women need endowments in kind and training in the development of small livestock and trade. Households expect allocations of 10 small ruminants. These sheep and goats will enable them to reconstruct the herd lost in the on-going conflict in the far North region. A selection committee is about to be set up. It will select vulnerable villages. Each of them will host a local committee. It will be in charge of poverty-stricken and conflict-affected households. We, the operators, intend to cross-check all these pieces of information. It is only by then that the distribution phase of the productive assets shall start”.


The selection of operators in charge of the identification and distribution of productive assets to beneficiaries began on 26 July 2018.

Awareness-raising campaign on productive assets in Boboyo.

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The Process Has Kicked Off

BUSINESS PLANS

FIRST FUNDING

Maiden Credit Agreement

The inaugural business plan is almost 100 million francs. The cooperative has convincing

arguments. All starts with the financial assessment of current investments. They represent nearly 28 million CFA francs. Gabriel Amoh, Board Chair, relies on his organisation: «We have been producing and marketing table eggs since 2006. We produce 640,000 a year and want to go from double to triple. The Cooperative had 2,000 laying-hens at the start. We now have 5,500. The intervention of PRODEL should take them to 15,000 laying-hens. The Chair has it this way : «we will

The Cooperative Society of Table Egg Producers of Penka Michel represented the very first credit agreement among producer organisations in December 2018.

then move on to 4.800.000 table eggs per year. The Cooperative contributes 26% to the business plan. This is more than twice the ceiling of contributions from producer organisations. MC2, the partner financial institution, contributes 15% when PRODEL is at 58%, that is 58 million francs. The construction of two poultry houses and a chicken hatchery consumes at least 40. The incineration pit, feeders, drinkers and the other investments exhaust the in-put from PRODEL.The flow of table eggs is ensured. Three productive partnerships have been signed: Fojou for 40 cartons of eggs

per week, Jacques Kengne for 60 and Tagouman Ngniehie for 80. This is a buyer’s contract of 180 table eggs on a weekly basis. «The Bank has already notified us of our funding. At the same time, the Regional Pre-selection Committee has accepted the file of that cooperative’’, as the Chair had to specify.


Boarding table eggs from Penka Michel to Yaoundé.

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BUSINESS PLANS

FIRST FUNDING

An MC2 Co-Funding

PRODEL Magazine : What is the present state of the collaboration with

PRODEL since the signing of the partnership agreements with credit and microfinance institutions on February 6, 2018? MC2 : We have registered the request of a producer organisation in our books. It wishes to secure a funding of 13 million francs. We have already granted it. The credit will sponsor the production of table eggs. We carried out field visits. The project seems to be profitable. The producer organization only asked for 20% instead of 30.

PRODEL Magazine : How do you intend to get back your money in the form of a refund?MC2 : We are located in a rural area. The main activity of most of our mutualists is lifestock farming. They are at least four of hem in the production of table eggs. Therefore, it becomes normal for us to finance the sector. We required a guarantee. It is a kind of pressure on the producer organisation. We also agreed on a repayment schedule. All receipts are deposited in an account housed at our level. We live in the same environment. Unannounced checks will allow us to have credible

information on the progress of the activity.

PRODEL Magazine : After how long can the producer organization go to the cashier?MC2 : When the basic conditions are fulfilled, the producer organization has less than 72 hours to get back its money.

Interviewed led by TMB

The Community Growth Mutual Mund, MC2, accepted to provide 30% of the funding contribution to the business plan of the table eggs of Penka Michel at the end of December 2018, according to M. Jaurès Takam, accountant in the microfinance.

Gabriel Amoh keeping his laying-hens in Penka Michel.

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BUSINESS PLANS

MEETING WITH PARTNER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

PRO-PME: an Investment of 500 Million Francs

10 business plans to finance. This is the contractual commitment of PRO-PME to PRODEL. The

amount of credit agreements is 500 million francs. PRO-PME finances 30% of a business plan. The amount represents approximately 40 million CFA francs. This is the financial itinerary that PRODEL mostly promotes. The project, in such a case, pays 60%, that is a maximum of 75 million francs. The beneficiary producer organization, PO, pays the remaining 10%. This is

The credit institution has accepted to support producer organizations through its agreement with the Project.

the equivalent of 12 million and a half in cash. Reports from Regional Preselection Committees, CRPS, refer to producers ‘ organizations that are less greedy in terms of credit volumes. These POs sometimes ask for less than 30%. Other producer organizations do even accept to cover, by themselves, the share of 30% that is reserved for partner financial institutions, including their own contractual 10%, which is a cumulative percentage of 40. PRO-PME and PRODEL have agreed to

sponsor the business plans of the latter category of applicants in the rural financial basket. These business plans come out of the technical approach of basic financing, certainly. But a desire for banking is taking shape. Familiarisation with banking transactions is one of the aims of PRODEL in promoting access to rural credit.


Visual design of PRO-PME in Douala.

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BUSINESS PLANS

MEETING WITH PARTNERFINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

FIGEC also Signed its First Credit Agreement

FIGEC welcomes the methodological approach set up in the field. At the outset, said its Director General, Aubert André Tchikantio, the micro-finance institution relied exclusively on the customer’s expertise. The so-called field assessment approach is new. It enables to have a clear idea about the potential of the customer. Since the signing of the agreement with PRODEL: «We have received two applications for funding. They cumulate an amount of 284 million francs. Microfinance institutions are organized in a stepwise manner.The main file belongs of ALVI-CAM-COUP. The producer organisation is the beneficiary of a funding of about 145 millionfrancs. The contribution

of FIGEC amounts to 56 million francs. This is to finance the farming of broilers. The producer organisation needs an industrial slaughter system. All the supermarkets in Douala are asking for these chickens. The cheque discounts carried out within our system provide some evidence of this. The current problem of this PO is that slaughter is done by human hands. Things may go the wrong way as the volume climbs. It is the case by now. The organisation plans to boost its production capacity. But it also wants to build its slaughter machinery to cover the market in real time and according to demand.FIGEC considers that its credit is secured: ‘’The reimbursement

mechanisms recorded in the specification contract with PRODEL help us. We are even above the risk division ratio. His business plan has considerable investments. We can consider them as pawns or leasing. An avian flu can arise. But it will never destroy the equipment. They represent 130% of the financing that we grant”.

Par Télesphore Mba Bizo

The General Financial Savings and Credit (FIGEC) is engaged in a poultry project in the West region.

Aubert André Tchikantio, Director general of FIGEC.

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BUSINESS PLANS

MEETING WITH PARTNER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

BICEC: Priority to the Availability of Funds

PORDEL Magazine : At what level are you with the implementation of the partnership agreement

with PRODEL?Alain Noah : We are in partnership with two cooperatives. The problem of contributions from partners arises. The examination of funding files requires the provision of funds from PRODEL and those of the PO. It is not yet effective. The Bank can not therefore decide in these circumstances. We have PROSEM. Its business plan amounts to 180 million CFA francs. This cooperative was already working with BICEC in the past. It is active in poultry farming here in Douala. It has been our client for four years. We collaborate with it in the transfer of funds abroad or acquisition of equipment. NPC-COOP-CA, the latest applicant, has a funding file that is worth 95 million francs. This cooperative is specialised in pork production in Mbanga, still in the Littoral region.

PRODEL Magazine : What should be done in order to speed up the review of files at BICEC?Alain Noah : The acceleration of files processing requires that the contributions of PRODEL and POs should be transferred. The effectiveness of the provision of funds seals the true agreement between parties. One of the important aspects is contractual lifestock farming. It is about having buyers at the end of the chain. The collaboration with PRODEL has become obvious since the signing of the agreement with BICEC. But only the Bank really knows how POs behave financially. The Cooperative must know how it will sell its products even before starting producing.

Any credit agreement decision is dependent on the availability of funds from both PRODEL and the producer organization as entrusted by Alain Noah who in charge of the agriculture-livestock portfolio at the Banque Internationale du Cameroun pour l’épargne et le crédit.

PRODEL Magazine : What is the main trigger for the allocation of a livestock credit?Alain Noah : The reliability of the buyer catches our attention first. He is the guarantor of the flow of production. In case of failure, the entire chain can collapse. The buyer’s profile is crucial in the decision to grant him/her credits. Its value weighs more than 50% in the entire system. Even the examination of the business plan itself comes second. BICEC must ensure that in case of production, the market shall buy almost everything. When there is such insurance, the Bank can do without guarantees. It does not fund the guarantee. It is rather the market or its quality. BICEC places the risk on the end buyer. If he/she does not buy, the repayment of the credit becomes impossible. Producer organizations can open accounts in all our branches. But the treatment of rural funding requests is centralized in Douala. At this level, the file is handled diligently. The submission of a file in an branch crosses three decision-making bodies. Whereas, the submission at the level of the headquarters has only two, notably the Director of Contracts and his counterpart of Risks. The processing of files takes a maximum of one week per Department. A complete file does not exceed one month at BICEC.

Interviewed led by TMB

Front view of the headquarters of BICEC in Douala.

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BUSINESS PLANS

MEETING WITH PRODUCER ORGANISATIONS

NPC: BICEC Customer

Praises to Neima breed pigs. The Cooperative Society of Pork Producers and Poultry

Farmers of Cameroon, NPC COP-CA, keeps on cross-breeding them. The producer organisation still has 35 breeders. They produce 800 pigs per year. Gisèle Momo, Deputy Chair of NPC, emphasized that: «We deliver piglets and fertilizer. Local markets and supermarkets are our main customers: Kadji Food and Butchers. They buy an average of 150 pigs per week”.

The business plan of this producer organization based in Penda Mboko around Mbanga awaits the funding verdict on the part of BICEC.

Members of the producer organisation are confident : «The funding of PRODEL will take us to 1.700 per year. We are targeting an annual production of 2000 pigs in three years. The current 680 annual bigs are below local and regional demand. We will move from an artisan production to an industrial one. Mortality control through compliance with bio-safety standards is now effective. The same compliance also works for environmental standards. The

contribution of our cooperative is already available. We are waiting for a trigger from the partner financial institution, BICEC. Our land titles are available as bank security. Even investments are part of it. 24 jobs have been created. There are 13 young people and seven women. Adults make up the rest”.


Gisèle Momo in her livestock farm in Penda Mboko-Mbanga.

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BUSINESS PLANS


A Producer Organisation that Is Used to Banking Practices

A colony of seven buildings. They nearly dominate one hectare. 30,000 chickens can be raised

there. This capacity is voracious in manpower. Three stores house the workers. The water supply system is autonomous. The water tower has a capacity of 10,000 litres. The members of the producer organisation have the trust of four customers: Ets Dibangoua and Ndeutou in Yaoundé, and Ndjingoué in Douala. According to the Chair, nothing remains: «They take all our production. We are currently producing 60,000 chickens. Our

The Moungo Livestock Cooperative, LT COOP-CA, through its President Patrice Nkweja, says it has secured its credit agreement with FIGEC.

ambition is to reach the bar target of 90,000 in 2019, then 120,000 in 2020”. The producer organisation is moving forward with complete confidence: «We have already worked with the bank. Our financing notification is already available. FIGEC has already granted us 50 million francs. We are waiting for the finalisation of procedures to receive this money and begin the implementation of our activities. We already have our contribution, almost 14 million francs in this case. We benefited from ACEFA funding before PRODEL. With the programme to

improve the competitiveness of family farms, refunds have complied with the contractual terms that were earlier agreed. The advent of PRODEL requires the recruitment of a Director General and machinists. Our first repayment guarantee is trust. We have repaid credit from ACEFA. It is a moral backing. The bank knows us well. It has carried out field visits”.


Patrice Nkweja in his livestock farm in Baré Bakem.

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BUSINESS PLANS


Honey from Bamboutos Mountains

Some humming weakens the serenity of visitors. The flyover of bees near the earlobe

triggers a reflex slap. It is especially the gesture to avoid, exclaim the hosts, with laughing faces. Bees could imagine an attack and react in excess. Fortunately, this has never happened. Swarms of bees rub shoulders and now know men. Their hazing operation is more of a consequence of child neglect. They left few drops of honey on the floor. The fact that they did not clean them thoroughly has attracted a lot of bees.The Bamboutos Honey Producers Cooperative society has made beekeeping its main activity. It is all about producing honey and by-products. Annual production amounts to 15 tons of honey. Wax and propolis are the by-products of our company. Wax is indispensable in the production system. It attracts bees. Wax helps in the manufacture of varnishes. Varnished furniture is of a lasting and particular shine. Finally, medicine uses it for the production of drug capsules. This is a natural antibiotic, confirms Etienne Fobasso, Chair of the Honey production chain in Mbouda : «We want to define ourselves as industrialists. PRODEL therefore offers us a helping hand to

The Bamboutos Honey Producers Cooperative Society has potential.

achieve this. We can only grab it by the right end. We lack means. But the technique and the know-how belong to us. I just send 15 cans of 20 litres each by the travel agency «General». Incubators are all full of honey. Priests and monks are long-time buyers. The Catholic Church has been loyal to us by its purchases. This situation has led us to improve the labelling component. Even conditioning has gone quasi-professional. The SIC bakery in Douala buys from us. This is without mentioning the local population, friends and brothers as opportunistic buyers. We are on good terms with the Bank, especially MUPECI. The expected amount is 37.500.000 francs. MUPECI has already received our contribution. Which is 12.500.000 francs. We are waiting for PRODEL’s response to our business plan”. Unfortunately, PRODEL did not approve the said plan. The producer organisation is criticised for introducing working capital into its business plan. They therefore have to see into it again. Indeed, according to Etienne Fobasso, “Beekeeping can make someone to be rich. You just need to put up a beehive. It does not eat neather drink. The human being finds a home for bees. They are good tenants. The rent to pay

is called honey. Production costs are close to zero. A litre of honey gives you a bucket of beans or chicken. To produce the same amount of beans or chicken, you have to invest. The production of honey does not require much. Bees do not fall sick. Predatory diseases like the plague do not exist against them. On the contrary, bees represent an opportunity for environmental protection. They are big pollinators. The trees bloom and produce thanks to bees. The production of honey is demanding in terms of hygiene. We need staff to clean the premises all the time. Disinfection of spaces and equipment must become some hardened habit. Eight women and seven young people work here. The others are students. The Higher Institute ITA, the University of Dschang and the Zoo-Technical Centre of Foumban send students to us. I am their referent”.

Par Télesphore Mba Bizo

Honey production line unit in Mbouda.

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BUSINESS PLANS


75 Million Francs for Table Eggs in Baleng

The promoter by name Sonafouo fails to hold the notification of PRODEL on December 29th2018. The

decision of the Regional Pre-Selection Committee, CRPS, in the West region informs him of the acceptance of his file: «We will receive 75 million francs. They will enable us to acquire 40,000 new layers. We will then reach a total of 180,000 layers «. The head of the Baleng Co-operative Table Egg Production and Marketing Corporation is not worried about the prospect of its financing. His tradition in financial transactions with banks and other credit institutions is positive.The Cooperative society produces 50 million table eggs per year. It is the work of 40 permanent and some seasonal workers. Saker bakery in Douala and “Maison des oeufs” in Messa- Yaoundé are its main buyers. The Cooperative society even holds 80% of the shares with the last mentioned buyer. Sales in Chad and Sudan have been suspended due to bird flu. Members of the

This is the decision of the Regional Preselection Committee, CRPS, in the West region in December 2018.

cooperative already wish to move to the processing phase. Tunisian donors assist this company in the said direction. From the opinion of the manager, their partners «ask them to reach a critical production threshold of 150 million eggs per year. The risk would be to set up a white elephant. Our partners have made observations. We may be partners, but community sales are only made possible when individual investments have failed. Members sell in secret when the demand is high. They simulate cases of drop in sale, spawning or fictitious diseases. When the demand falls on the market, it is at this point that members offer to sell their products. ”The Cooperative Society gives itself three years to reach 150 million eggs. The 75 million francs of PRODEL are sufficient to achieve this, reassures the Manager. This production will be processed into mayonnaise. Mr Sanafouo intends to «ask for the first machines to do some testing. We can reach the threshold of 150 million table eggs in three

years. We intend to turn the eggs into mayonnaise. But long before, we will ask them the first machines to do tests. We have 80% of the shares. Chad has closed its borders because of bird flu. Things are still to change. We have 40 permanent and a large number of part-time workforce. There are four women and three young people”.


Overview of the laying-hens farm in Baleng.

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