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Evergreen CIG, Bamenda, Bamenda (2025)

30/09/2025

type of cropping systems

29/09/2025

🌿 7:30 AGRIC INFO
FEED THE SOIL—AND THE PLANT WILL FEED YOU

Many farmers believe that pouring more fertilizer automatically means bigger harvests. But look closely at your soil after a few seasons of chemical fertilizer alone—it becomes hard, less fertile, and more expensive to maintain. The true secret to lasting productivity is not just feeding the plant, but feeding the soil itself.

Why Feeding the Soil Matters

Soil is a living ecosystem, not just dirt. Inside every handful are billions of microorganisms—bacteria, fungi, and earthworms—working to break down organic matter into nutrients that crops can absorb. When you add only chemical fertilizer, you give a quick “snack” to the plant but starve the soil life that keeps nutrients cycling. Over time, this leads to:

Declining yields despite more fertilizer use.

Poor soil structure, causing waterlogging or erosion.

High production costs, as you must buy more inputs each year.

The Soil-First Formula

Healthy soils act like a savings account for nutrients and water. To build that wealth:

Mix Organic Matter with Fertilizer
Apply compost, animal manure, crop residues, or biochar alongside small doses of chemical fertilizer. This combination feeds soil microbes and ensures a slow release of nutrients.

Grow Cover Crops and Legumes
Beans, cowpea, and groundnuts fix nitrogen naturally, reducing fertilizer needs while adding organic material when their roots and leaves decay.

Practice Mulching
Covering soil with grass clippings, maize stalks, or leaves keeps moisture in and feeds soil organisms as the mulch breaks down.

Rotate Crops
Changing crops seasonally prevents nutrient depletion and interrupts pest cycles.

Payoff for the Farmer

Soils rich in organic matter can store 20–30% more water, protecting crops during dry spells.

Farmers report 15–25% yield increases after just 2–3 seasons of integrated soil management.

Fertilizer bills drop as the soil begins to supply more nutrients on its own.

Way forward

Whether in Bamenda, Buea, or Bertoua, farmers can start small: add one wheelbarrow of compost per planting ridge, mulch with maize stalks after harvest, or intercrop maize with beans. Each action feeds the living soil community and the soil, in turn, feeds your crops for many seasons.

Healthy soil is not a cost; it is a long-term investment. Feed it today and it will keep feeding you, your family, and the nation tomorrow.

28/09/2025

7:30 AGRIC INFO
CARBON FARMING: TURNING FARMS INTO CLIMATE BANKS

Climate change is no longer a distant threat it is already reshaping rainfall patterns, causing pest outbreaks, and stressing our crops. But there is a quiet, profitable weapon in the farmer’s hands: carbon sequestration. This is the science of pulling carbon dioxide (CO₂) out of the air and storing it safely in soils, roots, and plant biomass. Instead of being part of the problem, farmers can be at the heart of the solution and earn better yields while doing it.

Why Farmers Should Care—The Science Speaks

Every 1% increase in soil organic matter can hold an extra 20,000 liters of water per hectare, making crops more resilient during droughts.

Soils rich in carbon produce 10–20% higher yields because carbon feeds soil microbes that release natural plant nutrients.

Global studies show that farming practices which add organic matter can store up to 3–5 tons of CO₂ per hectare each year—the equivalent of taking a car off the road for a full year.

Carbon in the soil is like money in the bank: it builds fertility, cuts fertilizer costs, and strengthens the soil’s ability to resist erosion and heavy rains.

How to Capture Carbon on Your Farm

Farmers do not need expensive technology. Proven, practical steps include:

1. Cover Crops and Green Manures – Planting legumes or fast-growing grasses between main crops keeps soil covered, adds organic matter, and fixes nitrogen naturally.

2. Minimum or Zero Tillage – Reducing ploughing keeps carbon locked in the soil. No-till maize or rice fields can store 0.5–1 ton of carbon per hectare annually.

3. Agroforestry and Tree Borders – Trees pull carbon from the air while providing shade, fodder, fruits, and firewood.

4. Compost and Organic Amendments – Applying farmyard manure, biochar, or wood ash builds long-lasting soil carbon.

5. Rotational Grazing – Moving livestock strategically allows grasses to regrow and store more carbon in roots.

The Cameroonian Opportunity

Cameroon’s diverse soils and year-round growing season are a natural advantage. Farmers practicing zero tillage, planting trees on farm boundaries, or integrating legumes into maize fields can sequester 1–4 tons of CO₂ per hectare per year while improving harvests and lowering fertilizer costs. With the world moving toward carbon credit markets, farmers who store carbon may soon earn payments for every ton of carbon kept in the soil.

Moving from Awareness to Action

Organize cooperatives to adopt carbon-friendly methods and negotiate future carbon credits.

Seek training from local agricultural extension services on composting, mulching, and cover crops.

Track soil health by observing changes in soil color, texture, and organic matter each season.

Carbon farming is not charity—it is smart business and climate insurance. Every kilogram of compost, every tree planted, every hectare left unploughed brings Cameroon closer to a food-secure future while helping cool the planet.

26/09/2025

🍀 7:30 AGRIC INFO 🌿
Topic: Agricultural Credit and Finance – Designing Smarter Policies for Cameroon

Agriculture is not just another business. It breathes with the seasons, depends on unpredictable weather, and demands patience before profits. This makes agricultural financing unique, and far more delicate,than financing trade or manufacturing. Farmers face long production cycles, sudden pest outbreaks, and price swings. A standard commercial loan, with rigid monthly payments and high interest, simply does not fit the rhythms of the farm.

🌱 The Specificity of Agricultural Finance

Seasonality: Farmers borrow for seeds, fertilizer, or equipment and repay only after harvest.

High Risk: Droughts, floods, and market crashes create uncertainty that scares traditional lenders.

Asset Nature: Land may be untitled or communal, making collateral hard to prove.

Social Role: Agriculture feeds nations; supporting it is a public good, not just a private investment.

🌾 Global Financing Models

Agricultural Development Banks – Specialized banks in countries like India and Brazil offer low-interest loans, grace periods, and insurance bundles.

Cooperative Credit Systems – In Kenya and Germany, farmer cooperatives pool savings and guarantee each other, reducing lender risk.

Value-Chain Financing – Companies and buyers provide inputs or cash in exchange for future harvests; common in Vietnam’s rice sector.

Warehouse Receipt Systems – Farmers store produce in certified warehouses and borrow against its value, used successfully in Ghana.

Digital Microfinance & Mobile Money – In Tanzania and Rwanda, mobile platforms provide small loans with flexible repayment.

🇨🇲 The Way Forward for Cameroon

Cameroon’s farmers remain trapped by high-interest informal loans and short repayment schedules. To break this cycle, policies must:

Create an Agricultural Credit Fund with seasonal repayment plans.

Support Farmer Cooperatives so they can access group loans and guarantee members.

Integrate Insurance (against drought, pests, and price crashes) with every loan package.

Leverage Mobile Platforms to reach remote rural areas securely and cheaply.

Encourage Private Banks with risk-sharing schemes backed by government or development partners.

With smart credit policies tailored to the realities of farming, Cameroon can unlock the capital that turns soil, sweat, and sunshine into national wealth.

25/09/2025

🌾 7:30 Agric Info
Cooperative Marketing in Agriculture — Organise to Earn, Not Just to Produce

When farmers sell alone they bargain alone. When they sell together, they change the rules of the game. That’s the simple power of cooperative marketing: farmers pooling products, resources and bargaining power so they capture more of the value their labour creates.

Below is a straight-talk, persuasive guide every Cameroonian farmer especially groups in the Northwest — should read this.

🔍 What cooperative marketing means

Cooperative marketing is when producers organize into a legally recognized group (a cooperative or union) that collects, grades, processes, stores, markets, and sells farm produce on behalf of members. Instead of each farmer selling a few sacks at low price to a middleman, the cooperative sells at scale, negotiates better prices, and can even export or process goods for higher margins.

🏗️ How it’s organized (simple model)

Primary cooperative: small groups of farmers in a village who bring produce together.

Secondary/Tertiary cooperatives or unions: federations of primary coops that aggregate produce at district or regional level for processing and export.

Supporting bodies: boards, professional managers, quality control units, and sales/marketing teams.

Services provided: collective purchasing of inputs, shared storage/processing, group bargaining, quality certification, and access to credit.

Good cooperatives mix democratic member control (one member, one vote) with professional management — that is the balance that creates trust and profit.

✅ Why cooperative marketing works — the benefits

Higher prices & better terms: Bulk sales attract better buyers and reduce the margin skimmed by middlemen.

Reduced risk: Shared storage, collective insurance and pooled marketing reduce seasonality and price shocks.

Value addition: Coops can invest in simple processing (drying, milling, packaging) that multiplies farmer income.

Lower input costs: Bulk purchase of seeds, fertilizer, and machinery reduces unit costs.

Access to finance: Lenders prefer organized groups; coops can receive grants, soft loans or off-take contracts.

Market access & standards: A professional coop can meet export quality or processing standards that individual farmers cannot.

Jobs & local industry: Processing creates rural employment and keeps value within communities.

🇨🇲 What Cameroon (and the Northwest) must do next

Cameroon already has cooperatives in name — but for cooperative marketing to deliver, we need a new, focused push:

Professionalize management: Train coop boards in finance, quality control, and commercial sales. Hire managers accountable to members.

Start with one value chain: Tomatoes, maize, potatoes, coffee or cocoa — focus a cooperative on one product, master the market, then diversify.

Invest in shared assets: Small drying houses, storage silos, basic processing (milling, juicing) and packing lines. Shared machinery (pelletizers, mills) creates immediate returns.

Quality & traceability: Adopt simple grading and traceability (even phone-based records) to command higher prices and enter formal markets.

Access to finance: Use group guarantees and seasonal credit lines; link to development funds focused on agribusiness.

Youth and women inclusion: Give them leadership roles and share profits fairly — this makes coops dynamic and sustainable.

Smart partnerships: Partner with buyers, universities, NGOs and the Ministry of Agriculture for training, certification and market linkages.

Good governance and transparency: Publish prices, accounts and member benefits regularly — trust is the coop currency.

🎯 Final word — a farmer’s call to action

If you are a smallholder: join or form a primary cooperative around a single crop this season. If you are a cooperative leader: pick one product, fix quality, and make your first bulk sale to a processor or large buyer. If you are a policymaker: channel subsidies and support through verified cooperatives rather than to individuals.

Cooperative marketing is not charity. It is economics with teamwork. Organized farmers don’t beg for better prices—they create them.

24/09/2025

🌿 the 7:30 Agric Info
Topic:Precision agriculture the future of Agriculture
Precision agriculture involves using advanced technologies to optimize crop yields, reduce waste, and promote sustainability. Some key precision technologies include:

1. GPS and GIS: Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) help farmers map and analyze field data, track equipment, and apply inputs precisely.

2. Drones: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with cameras and sensors collect data on crop health, growth, and moisture levels.

3. Satellite Imaging: Satellites provide high-resolution images of fields, enabling farmers to monitor crop health, detect issues, and make data-driven decisions.

4. Sensors and IoT Devices: Soil moisture sensors, temperature sensors, and other IoT devices collect real-time data, enabling farmers to optimize irrigation, fertilization, and pest control.

5. Precision Irrigation: Systems that deliver water directly to the roots of plants, reducing waste and optimizing water usage.

6. Autonomous Tractors and Equipment: Self-driving tractors and equipment improve efficiency, reduce labor costs, and enhance accuracy.

7. Data Analytics: Advanced analytics platforms process data from various sources, providing insights on crop yields, soil health, and weather patterns.

These technologies help farmers:

- Increase crop yields and quality
- Reduce water and chemical usage
- Improve resource allocation and efficiency
- Enhance decision-making with data-driven insights
- Promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact
Copied: NGA AgroClimate Tech

24/09/2025

For agriculture to benefit a nation,National policies need to look beyond promoting farm works.

23/09/2025

🌱 7:30 Agric Info
Topic: Android Apps Every Cameroonian Farmer Should Know

Smartphones are now as important as hoes in modern farming. A growing list of Android apps can help farmers in Cameroon plan, diagnose, market, and manage their farms more efficiently. Here are some of the most practical ones—easy to find on the Google Play Store and friendly to use.

Agribook – A simple directory that connects farmers, breeders and buyers. Farmers can list their products while traders locate sources nearby. It works well across Cameroon and is free to download.

Agrio – Take a picture of a sick plant and get instant diagnosis of pests, diseases or nutrient problems. The app gives treatment advice and sends early warnings. Basic functions are free and it works wherever there is mobile data.

Plantix – Similar to Agrio but with a stronger community feature. Farmers can post photos, get feedback and share experiences. Free and highly intuitive, making it perfect for quick field checks.

AgroMarket Cameroon – A marketplace for farm tools and small equipment. Farmers can browse catalogues, compare prices and place orders directly from their phones. Free to use, with payments only for items purchased.

Agrix Tech – A home-grown Cameroonian app that detects crop diseases using artificial intelligence. It also provides weather updates and market prices in local languages, making it accessible to farmers in rural zones.

Sat2farm- this is a revolutionary app where farmers can get real time advice after registering their farm by geo-localising it and then paying for a servuce that consist of giving NPK values of the farm, vegetation index, water level in the farm etc. the app also give real time disease diagnosis and recommendations. It also provide a 9 days weather forecast.

Many others exist and farmers can find them and test them on play store.

💡 Key Takeaway
These apps bring expert advice, market information and disease diagnosis directly to the farmer’s pocket. Even smallholders can save money, reduce losses and access new buyers by simply downloading the right tools.

22/09/2025

7:30 Agric Info
🌱 Wood Ash: The Forgotten Farm Treasure

Long before synthetic fertilizers filled shop shelves, farmers quietly relied on something as simple as the residue of their own cooking fires—wood ash. This humble gray powder, the remains of burned firewood, is a nutrient-rich gift hiding in plain sight.

🌳 What Is Wood Ash?

Wood ash is the fine powder left after burning untreated plant wood. When trees grow, they absorb minerals from the soil. Burning the wood drives off carbon and water but leaves behind a concentrated blend of those very minerals.

🔬 What’s Inside

A handful of wood ash contains:

Potassium (K) – vital for fruiting, flowering, and disease resistance.

Calcium (Ca) – a natural soil sweetener that raises pH and reduces acidity.

Trace elements like magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese.

Think of it as a slow-release, multi-mineral tonic for your soil.

🌾 How Farmers Use It

Soil Conditioner: Sprinkle lightly on acidic soils to neutralize pH, especially in high-rainfall areas where acidity limits crop yield.

Potassium Booster: Ideal for potassium-hungry crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, and beans.

Natural Pest Deterrent: A dusting around seedlings can discourage slugs and soft-bodied insects.

Compost Enhancer: A thin layer in compost piles speeds decomposition and enriches the final humus.

⚠️ Smart Application

Use small, measured amounts (about ½–1 cup per square meter) to avoid excess alkalinity.

Avoid applying to alkaline soils or directly on seedlings to prevent root burn.

Store dry to maintain nutrient value.

🌍 Why It Matters for Cameroon

In rural communities where firewood cooking is common, wood ash is abundant and free. By recognizing its value, smallholders can recycle household waste into farm fertility, reducing dependence on costly imported fertilizers.

💡 Key Takeaway:
Your evening cooking fire might just hold tomorrow’s harvest in its ashes. Handle it wisely, and you turn what many discard into a powerful, climate-smart soil booster.

21/09/2025

🌿 7:30 Agri Info – Today’s Feature
Topic: Learning from U.S. Agricultural History – A Roadmap for Cameroon’s Transformation

Every country that now boasts a powerful agri-food system once faced the same struggles Cameroon experiences today: low productivity, weak markets, rural poverty, and heavy dependence on subsistence farming.
The United States—now a global agricultural powerhouse—offers one of the clearest historical blueprints for breaking this cycle.

🌱 The U.S. “Low-Productivity Era”

In the early 1800s to late 19th century, American agriculture looked strikingly similar to present-day Cameroon:

Smallholder dominance – Millions of family plots using hand tools and animal traction.

Poor market access – Most produce consumed on-farm; little surplus reached urban centers.

Soil exhaustion – Continuous cropping without soil management caused declining yields.

Limited education – Farmers relied on traditional knowledge; science played a minor role.

Policy neglect – Government revenues depended more on trade and tariffs than on supporting rural economies.

By the mid-1800s, the United States recognized that food insecurity and rural stagnation threatened industrial growth.

🚜 The Structural & Policy Shifts

Between 1860 and 1940, a series of bold decisions transformed the U.S. farm landscape:

Land Access & Farmer Support

Homestead Act (1862): Granted 160 acres of free land to settlers willing to farm, creating a nation of owner-operators and discouraging land hoarding.

Science & Education

Morrill Land-Grant Acts (1862 & 1890): Funded agricultural colleges to teach practical science.

Hatch Act (1887): Created experiment stations to test crops, fertilizers, and pest controls.

Smith-Lever Act (1914): Launched Cooperative Extension, sending trained agents to share research with farmers.

Infrastructure & Market Development

Massive railway expansion connected rural producers to urban markets and export ports.

Credit systems and rural banks enabled investment in equipment and irrigation.

Price & Risk Management

Early commodity exchanges and later New Deal programs (1930s) stabilized prices and insured farmers against droughts and market crashes.

These coordinated moves shifted U.S. agriculture from survival farming to commercial, technology-driven production in less than a century.

🇨🇲 Parallels for Cameroon

Cameroon today sits where the U.S. once stood:

Abundant arable land but low mechanization.

Youthful population with limited agribusiness training.

Fragmented markets and postharvest losses.

The U.S. story suggests key levers for transformation:

Secure Land Tenure – Simplify and enforce land rights to encourage investment and long-term soil stewardship.

Agricultural Education & Research – Expand agricultural universities, fund extension services, and create experiment stations in each agro-ecological zone.

Infrastructure First – Prioritize rural roads, cold chains, and digital platforms to connect farmers to profitable markets.

Financing & Insurance – Establish affordable credit lines, crop insurance, and price-stabilization funds to reduce risk and attract private investors.

Inclusive Policy – Involve farmer cooperatives, youth, and women in decision-making to build ownership and trust.

🌾 Takeaway

The United States did not leap into agricultural prosperity overnight. It planned, invested, and educated its way out of subsistence farming, treating agriculture as the backbone of national development.
Cameroon can achieve a similar leap if it commits to land reforms, science-driven education, market infrastructure, and farmer-centered policies—not as isolated projects, but as a coordinated national mission.

History proves that when a nation bets boldly on its farmers, the entire economy reaps the harvest.

20/09/2025

🌿 Agro-Environmental Press Review — Today.

Black pod disease ravages cocoa in Southwest Cameroon — Weeks of heavy rains have sparked a severe black-pod outbreak across cocoa belts in Muyuka, Mbonge and Kumba, with counterfeit agrochemicals and restricted farm access worsening yield losses for smallholders. (Source: Reuters, 16 Sep 2025)

Cameroon study highlights missed opportunity: waste → energy — Research shows municipal organic waste could be converted to biogas and nutrient-rich compost (cutting emissions and creating energy), but finance, infrastructure and policy gaps are blocking roll-out. (Source: Phys.org, Sep 2025)

Ebo Forest under continuing pressure; communities demand protection — Conservation groups warn poaching and logging persist in Ebo; local communities and NGOs are calling for stronger protection measures and recognition of community conservation rights. (Source: WildAid / Cameroon reporting, recent)

Cameroon nears full cocoa traceability as EU deadline looms — Authorities report ~99% plot-level mapping for cocoa traceability to meet the EU Deforestation Regulation — a major compliance milestone — though land-rights and inclusion of smallholders remain fragile. (Source: AllAfrica / RFI, 21 Jul 2025)

World Bank: forests and natural capital central to Cameroon’s growth — The 2025 Cameroon Economic Update (“Green Gold”) stresses that sustainable forest management and natural-capital accounting are key to resilient, inclusive growth and long-term revenue. (Source: World Bank press release / 2025 Economic Update, Jul 2025)

Women-led agroforestry models scale climate resilience — A Reuters feature shows Cameroon projects where women plant trees, restore mangroves and secure land, delivering both climate mitigation and improved livelihoods for rural women. (Source: Reuters, 24 Jul 2025)

Palm oil land disputes continue around Socapalm — Villagers accuse Socapalm of planting on contested land near Édéa/Apouh; protests and legal redress efforts continue as land conflict and company expansion collide. (Source: Mongabay, 9 Sep 2025)

MyFarmTrees: blending traditional knowledge + digital tools for landscape restoration — CGIAR-backed MyFarmTrees pilots show community inventorying and sacred-forest protection can scale restoration and support Cameroon’s goal to restore degraded lands. (Source: CGIAR, Aug/Sep 2025)

Australia climate assessment flags severe agricultural risks — A national climate review warns projected rainfall declines and heat stress will harm livestock, crop yields and rural economies; calls for stronger policy and support for farmers. (Source: The Australian, Sep 2025)

Regional / compliance support: GIZ forum on Cameroon’s readiness for the EU Deforestation Regulation — Development partners and private sector note progress but stress the need for continued funding, farmer inclusion, and institutional clarity to avoid excluding smallholders. (Source: GIZ forum report, Aug/Sep 2025)

20/09/2025

🌿 7:30 Agri Info – Today’s Feature
Topic: Cultivating Future Farmers – The Case for Strong Agricultural Education in Secondary Schools

Across the world, forward-thinking nations are proving that agriculture education in secondary schools is more than an extracurricular option—it is a strategic investment in food security, youth empowerment, and rural development.

🌍 Lessons from the World

Developed Countries

United States: The National FFA (Future Farmers of America) program integrates classroom learning with supervised farm projects and national competitions, producing graduates who move seamlessly into agribusiness, research, and technology.

Germany & The Netherlands: “Green schools” blend theory and hands-on training, linking students to advanced horticulture, precision farming, and agri-tech internships. These systems show how early exposure builds an innovative workforce that keeps agriculture competitive.

African Pioneers

Kenya: Agriculture is a compulsory subject in many secondary schools, supported by school gardens and 4K Clubs (“Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya” – to Unite, to Do, to Help Kenya).

South Africa: Agricultural high schools combine general education with specialized farm management, animal science, and agribusiness courses, feeding students into tertiary programs and agripreneurship.

Rwanda: School gardens and “One Cow per Family” lessons reinforce food systems thinking and nutrition awareness.

🌱 Why Start Early

Introducing agriculture in adolescence captures curiosity before career paths harden. It teaches biology, climate science, economics, and technology in one living laboratory. Students learn problem-solving, business planning, and environmental stewardship—skills valuable far beyond the farm.

🇨🇲 The Cameroonian Context

Cameroon is gradually introducing agriculture into secondary curricula and encouraging school gardens. This momentum is timely, but to succeed policymakers and educators should keep in mind:

Practical Infrastructure – Each school needs demonstration plots, small livestock units, or aquaculture tanks, not just textbooks.

Teacher Training – Instructors must master both pedagogy and modern farming techniques.

Value-Chain Mindset – Go beyond production to processing, marketing, and digital agriculture so students see agriculture as an enterprise, not subsistence.

Partnerships – Link schools with local cooperatives, agri-tech firms, and research institutions for mentorship and internships.

🌾 Way Forward

A strong secondary-level agriculture curriculum can help Cameroon create a generation of agri-entrepreneurs and innovators ready to modernize farms, reduce imports, and adapt to climate change. By learning from global models and tailoring them to local realities, the country can transform agriculture from a fallback occupation into a profession of choice.

Key Takeaway: Teach agriculture early, teach it well, and the harvest will feed both the economy and the next generation.

Evergreen CIG

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