From a demonstration plot to an integrated resource and agriculturl tourism centre . Case of MIFACIG, Belo, Cameroon


From a  demonstration plot to an integrated resource and  agriculturl tourism centre . Case of MIFACIG,  Belo, Cameroon

wca2014-2188 Kuh Emmanuel Loah 1,* 1Twantoh Mixed Farming Common Initiative Group, Njinikom, Cameroon

In this paper, we show case the experience and reveal the key to success of the Twantoh Mixed Farmer Common initiative as a viable Agro forestry Resource Centre, and also as a self-sustaining business in the North West Region of Cameroon. The paper begins by narrating the history of the group as an on-farm tree domestication and vegetative propagation demonstration site for the ‘Cercle Internationale pour la promotion de la Création’ (CIPCRE) and later the World Agro forestry Centre (ICRAF-WCA). The paper discusses the reasons and strategies for its successes amongst which its frustration of not succeeding to gain direct financial benefits from its research partners and other donors. Key success factors include: members’ commitment to take advantage of agro forestry and vegetative propagation knowledge learned from its partners; dedicated leadership; progressive visibility and increased demand for improved planting materials and their integration into existing and new farms both from small scale and elite farmers. We further demonstrate how the group has split into more than 5 satellite branches yet they maintain a strong network which permits them to respond to huge demand for planting materials which may reach twenty thousand plants in some cases worth about twenty five millions FCFA a year. From an agro forestry trial plot in the early nineties, we also exemplify how and why MIFACIG has now diversified its activities into animal rearing, bee keeping, horticulture, organic gardening and agricultural tourism. As farmers we suppose that our model can be replicated by other producers groups around the world.

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Vigyan Bhavan & Kempinski Ambience

10 - 14 February 2014 Delhi, India

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