BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT

The 12 months project aimed at increasing local availability of safe, quality vegetables and fruits to enhance food security as well as achieving nutritional balance through diversification of diets of the poorest segments of the vulnerable populations in Foumban area. The project targeted diverse groups of beneficiaries including; ethnic communities, female-headed households, newly settled families, resource-poor herders and smallholder farmers, and other vulnerable groups without access to secure livelihood. The objective was to implement and mainstream innovative, sustainable, affordable and regenerative approaches to improve food security amongst 250 of the most vulnerable people in Foumban area, to enhance the capacity of resource-poor and poverty-stricken farmers and herders at low income brackets through training and support to produce a wide variety of vegetables and fruits using regenerative practices with integrated social ownership and management and involvement. In response to global climate change, the project also aimed at promoting conservation agriculture, which is the foundation of climate-smart agriculture to help vulnerable communities understand the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and how to reduce their carbon footprint on agriculture.

RESULTS, OUTCOMES, IMPACT.

The grant from Earth Rising Foundation has helped Integrated Agricultural Association (IAA) to strengthen the country’s food system in light of changing weather patterns, and strengthen communities with outreach and support. With the grant received in August 2023, IAA have reached 669 people directly, from diverse backgrounds with gardening and agroforestry resources and skills, created awareness about climate change through environmental education outreach, helping to achieve larger goals like food security, adequate nutrition, increased livelihood opportunities, climate smart or resilient agriculture, landscape restoration, community building and gender empowerment for over 15,000 people in the following ways:

i.) Agroforestry promotion:

IAA shared knowledge on agroforestry practices and distributed planting materials to 265 smallholder farmers who operate on less than 5 hectares of land. Consequently, 15,000 trees were planted including, Moringa 1000, Cocoa 1000, Ricinodendron Heudeloti Known as Njansang or Essessang in Cameroon, 1000 and grafted pears (Avocado) 8000, and Prunus Africana 4000 in the Northwest and West regions of Cameroon.

ii.) Home gardens support:

IAA empowered 240 households with essential gardening skills and nutrition information which resulted in the distribution of 11,000 grams of vegetables seeds to boost food production. Seed types distributed include; Cabbage, 540 grams, Carrot, 5400 grams, Onion, 3500 grams , Pepper, 250 grams , Tomato, 250 grams , Cucumber, 400 grams which resulted in 1440 gardens to increase food security and income level for 2400 people at the family/household level.

iii.) Environmental education:

IAA engaged mixed age groups and community members on topics like deforestation, dangers of chemical fertilizers on agriculture, carbon emission and created awareness about climate change through regular environmental education outreach.

iv.) Conservation agriculture and Soil enrichment:

IAA empowered smallholder farmers on organic liquid fertilizer which is a booster to crop production and organic compost which enhances soil fertility, health and conserve water. 220 youths, women and other community members have gained skills in and benefitted from conservation agriculture which is the foundation of climate smart agriculture. By empowering 265 farmers to plant 15,000 trees and equipping 240 households with essential gardening skills and nutrition information, IAA has contributed significantly to environmental conservation and food security in the West and Northwest regions of Cameroon with grant from Earth Rising Foundation.

LESSONS LEARNED AND CHALLENGES:

• Late disbursement of project funds by the fiscal sponsor, we received moneyt in mid-November 2023 and payment of $1000 to fiscal sponsor which was not budgeted for negatively impacted our program delivery schedule and budget.
• Some of the trees nursed and grafted did not survive which we had to constantly replace at an additional cost.
• Transportation of seedlings to the distribution site was a challenge given bad roads and distances to project villages and IAA do not have a suitable vehicle for this work.
• There is too much dependency of the beneficiaries on external support for seed donation, farm tools and planting materials with limited resources to meet this demand.
• There is inflation in Cameroon affecting all sectors and with budget constraints we were finding it difficult to acquire the quantity and quality of project materials and supplies.
• Extreme weather events like too much rain/flooding disrupted our program schedule and transportation due to bad roads, this means we had to travel when roads are dry.
• Follow up of beneficiaries after ward was a challenge due to their remote locations and lack of telephone network and climatic conditions led to unplanned change in the choice of fruit trees to be planted in different areas.

WAY FORWARD AND EVOLUTION:

However, IAA recognizes that sustainable development requires continuous learning and adaptation to new challenges. This grant presents an opportunity for IAA to enhance the leadership skills of its team, gain advanced knowledge in sustainable agriculture, and network with global experts in environmental management. By deepening their understanding of innovative practices and policies, IAA aims to scale up this initiative, increase its impact, and mentor more young people in Cameroon and beyond. To go further, Dungrila Pascal Mbimenyuy , the Project Leader has partnered with Earth Guardian International to lead the Earth Guardian Crew of young climate leaders at the Integrated Agricultural Association (IAA) in Cameroon, as efforts to train and inspire young and community members on environmental and climate justice.

IAA has connected the beneficiary communities with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Foumban, and with EM-Cameroon and has agreed with community members to create a village level farmers cooperatives and loan associations to facilitate financial access, best practices, farm resources and business opportunities. IAA hopes to strengthen its capacity to lead transformative projects that address climate change, improve food security, and promote sustainable livelihoods. The grant has enables them to acquire cutting-edge tools and strategies to tackle environmental challenges more effectively, ultimately contributing to the global efforts in preserving the planet for future generations.

With increased demand for fruit seedling s and vegetables seeds amongst vulnerable farmers, without consistent support, IAA will increase the production capacity of grafted avocado, oranges, lemon, plumb at least 20000 seedlings a year to supply at a subsidized rate to cover some of the funding needs of the project in the future while supporting the communities to secure food and nutrition, and train community members on indigenous seed multiplication and preservation to avoid continues reliance on external support for seed donation.