Cameroon - Advice on sustainable soil management in the Adamaoua and North Regions
Country / Region: Cameroon / Africa
Focal Point: Soil
Begin of project: January 1, 2018
End of project: November 30, 2021
Status of project: July 20, 2021
Slash-and-burn in northern Cameroon
Source: BGR
Sustainable Soil Management
Globally sustainable soil management is an important topic in the development cooperation and rural development, particularly due to high population growth, overgrazing and the increasing demand for agricultural products and natural resources. In the North region of Cameroon pressure on agricultural land is increasing. Agricultural yields are shrinking, soil fertility is decreasing.
There is a lack of information on the topic soil-water-plant-climate for competent advice and strategy development for sustainable soil management and integrated production systems.
Partner organizations in Cameroon
The Ministry of Agriculture (MINADER) was commissioned with the implementation of the project and acts as political partner. The State Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (IRAD) and the Research Institute of Geology and Mining (IRGM) are envisioned as technical partners, and thus as institutions responsible for the implementation of the activities. It is planned to enter into cooperation with the universities in Ngaoundere and Dschang, which have technical pedological expertise and local know-how, and will be involved in specific issues.
As livestock farming also suffers greatly from the degradation of grazing land and conflicts between livestock farmers and crop farmers are common, the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Fishing and Animal Industry (MINEPIA), which controls programs and activities in the field of animal husbandry, has a strong interest in collaborating with the project.
The different partner institutions are closely involved in the planning of field studies as well as in the selection of sites for soil testing. At the regional level, the respective regional delegations of both ministries MINEPIA and MINADER are the direct contacts. Their local expertise and infrastructure will be of great value for the project.
The project
The project goal is to enable agricultural research and advisory services to disseminate recommendations on soil-water-plant and climate related issues and to improve the consulting content with regard to a sustainable soil management.
For this purpose, the Cameroonian partners will be technically and professionally advised in four fields of action:
- Soil protection and soil improvement;
- Management of soil water;
- Water availability and
- Adaptation to climate change.
The implementation will be oriented along three processes:
- analysis of the data situation and baseline information’s.
- Partners and intermediary structures capacity development.
- Recommendations for adapting agricultural production systems to local conditions.
Dried-up corn-plants in the Garoua region
Source: BGR
Consulting content will be adapted and sustainable production systems promoted. The project combines applied research and methodology development with the practical use of outputs. It works towards solutions and suggestions for environmental and resource conservation in a predominantly semi-arid area. Through its inter-ministerial focus, the project will improve communication and cooperation between stakeholders.
The methodological approach of the project is to conduct research studies and field trials together with the partners through a learning by doing approach. The implementation of the measures will be supported by training measures and advice, as well as in-kind contributions, in order to create local capacities and knowledge for the implementation of the activities and to achieve sustainable effects.
It is also envisaged that the structures involved regularly exchange formally and informally about their specific tasks in committees and workshops.
The project will work at national and regional level (Northern Region and Adamaoua). The coordination will be located in Yaoundé.
As a module of the joint program "Rural Development, Cameroon" of GIZ, KfW and BGR a close cooperation with other relevant programs and projects of German cooperation is sought. Furthermore collaboration with the parastatal company SODECOTON, which organizes the production and marketing of cotton in the north of Cameroon, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the FAO is aspired.
The project has a term of three years and eleven months (01/2018-11/2021) and a financial volume of EUR 3,000,000.
Partner:
MINADER, based in Yaoundé