Stop Malnutrition and Infant Mortality in Cameroon

Based on the numerous trainings and capacity building sessions held with the people including women of the Bonakanda community on integrated farming during the last quarter of the project, we set up a strategy based on the finance available to set up a piggery farm for 2 women in every quarter.

A piggery farm of 4 pigs was set up in the first week of June for 2 women in the community to assist them in improving on their diet. In setting up the piggery, the sex of the pigs where greatly considered. That is, there were 2 females and 2 males. This is to enhance reproduction in the species and hence sustainability of the initiative.

This piggery farm is to help initiate the women in practicing integrated farming and improve on their livelihood as a whole. This farm is also to help the women increase their farming yields as the waste from the pig farm will be used for composing in their farms. This is also to introduce the women to environmental best practices that benefit them through soil enrichment. This is very important health wise especially in the cultivation of their vegetables.

The women are encouraged to feed the pigs traditionally with waste from their kitchens and home given that they are not financially viable to afford improved feeds. Also, the women are encouraged to consume the products from the piggery when it is matured for consumption so as to stay healthy, increase priority and with great priority to their kids. The main objective of the piggery farm is for home consumption and not for sell.

Talking to one of the women who have benefited from this training, we had the following testimonies;

Mrs. Ndive “ I am so happy I was opportune to be among the first women to be supported with a piggery farm. This has greatly helped me especially in the cultivation of other food stuff like pepper and vegetables. As I get to use the waste from the farm in the cultivation of the food stuff. At first, I had to buy these waste (compost) from the market to use on my farm which was too expensive. Most at times, I resolve in using other inorganic fertilizers that usually end up as a challenge to my health and that of my family. So far I have harvested, ate and sold vegetables like never before. I am really grateful for this project and I’m waiting patiently for the time we could start feeding on the pigs”.

 We hope we will be able to set up other livestock farms for some other women base on the funds we will recieve.

In the last quarter the objective was to educate the communities’ members especially women on integrated farming as a tool to fight malnutrition and improve their nutrient intake. The rational for this specific objective was motivated by the fact that when women plant and keep animals, they can be able to get other classes of nutrients from the livestock’s they keep as well as raise income from the sales of the product and livestock. In line with this objective, 25 men and women from the Bonakanda community were educated on the important of integrated farming to their health and livelihood. The 25 participant also received lectures on the best sustainable methods of integrated farming.

Below are some of the key observations and feedback we received from some of the women that benefited from the training and financial support:

• Madame Eposi: "I find this training very important for me and my household. I now know how I can keep my animals and farm other food stuff at the same time. I am happy as I don’t need to bother about buying fertilizers again and far of getting stomach problems after eating the fertilised vegetables. I just need to get the waste from my animals and use as manures for my vegetables and crops.”
• Mr. Leku: "I did not need to worry about substituting the nutrients content of my meal again as I can now keep my own animals and eat them whenever I love too. This will greatly improve on my health and that of my family. I will also serve the money for meat I always buy once a month. We can now eat meat regularly. I am very excited your team thought it wise to educate us on integrated farming. I will be able to get more money when I sell my farm produce and that of the livestock too.

The team looks forward to secure funds which will be used to assist some of the participant to set up a livestock farm along with crop produce.

Action expectations for the next phase

In other to continue our effects to fight malnutrition and give every mother and child the opportunity to live healthy, we hope to support the Bonakanda women to set up an integrated farms so as to provide them with optional sources of nutrients.

Links:

• search for RCESD on google

• Integrated farming sensitization in Bonakanda (DOCX)
• 2rd sensitization meeting (DOCX)