With the start of the Ukraine crisis, the prices of food items have skyrocketed since the third quarter of 2022 in Cameroon, states Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET, 2022).
This is an eye opener to the Cameroon government and its citizens for their abundant resources unexploited.
As a means to change consumption patterns and ensure food security in the country, Cameroon agricultural engineer Tsayem Flaubert and his cooperative develop projects to make this a reality.
Dynamic Farms Cooperative created in 2010 is located in Limbe at Man O’ War Bay. Run by a team of about 20 people, it seeks to create variety to solve the problem of escalating prices of food commodities. The cooperative cultivate cassava, pineapple, pepper, and rears pigs to name a few.
They use their cassava to produce garri and fufu to supply in local markets. Meanwhile, the residue from the cassava is used as feed for the pigs. Hence, helping in waste management.
According to Flaubert, they aim at getting machinery by January 2023, so they will not just be producing garri locally but adopt modern ways of production to start the production of flour on a large scale.
This will serve as a substitute for wheat flour which was 40 – 60 percent high and has increased by about 30 percent since the start of the Ukraine crisis, states Famine Early Warning System Network, (FEWS NET).
Flaubert also notes that, if he succeeds at this project, he does not intend to waste the residue. So, he will extend the pig farm since most of the feed will come from the factory.
Although Flaubert hopes to extend his works to other parts of the country, he cannot help but work according to his resources.
Hopefully, with Cameroon’s ambition in its National Development Strategy to increase the quality and quantity of agricultural products, the Dynamic Farmers’ cooperative could be given some assistance to facilitate the realization of its projects.
This assistance will not just see that Cameroon achieves its 1960 to 1990 goal of attaining food self-sufficiency, but will also create jobs for some citizens of the country, reducing unemployment.