CEO, EM Cameroon Recognized as Driving Force in Agricultural Innovation

The Chief Executive Officer CEO of EM Cameroon Dr. Sama David Ngoh has been deemed as a worthy recipient of the Cameroon Performance Award CPA 2021. 

According to a report presented by the Organising Committee of Cameroon Performance Awards, “Dr. Sama David Ngoh, the CEO of EM Cameroon is one of the driving forces behind Agricultural Innovation in Cameroon. 

EM Cameroon guided by the vision of Dr Sama David Ngoh has over the years promoted Organic Agriculture in Cameroon through the usage of EM Technology. This has immeasurably improved upon the quality of food consumed by Cameroonians.

 In the domain of Agriculture, there is the Foliar fertilizer which is used for all green plants. There is EM for Livestock which significantly reduces foul odours, improves animal health reduces mortality rate, improves fecundity and improves upon the quality of meat, dairy and eggs. Meantime EM for Environmental Protection is used to clean up polluted waters, oil spills and recycling of organic waste into quality fertilizer.

 MIDENO, the leading Agricultural stakeholder in the Northwest Region in recognition of the quality of the activities of EM Cameroon has constantly collaborated with this institution in its outreach initiatives to Farmers in the North West Region. Dr. Sama David through the innovativeness of EM Cameroon has not only improved upon the quality of food that Cameroonians eat but has improved upon the quality of life of Cameroonians through its environmental protection efforts” the report stated.

It is because of these achievements that Cameroon Performance Awards found Dr Sama David Ngoh and EM Cameroon deserving of the Award. 

The Award was conferred by Mr Francis Ekongang Nzante, National Coordinator and Chairperson of the Organising Committee of CPA on Sunday March 30th, 2021 at the National Head Office of EM Cameroon in Bamenda.

In an interview after receiving the prestigious Award Dr Sama David Ngoh stated the way he felt in the following manner: “I want to thank you for recognising what we have been doing in the promotion of Organic Agriculture in Cameroon. This serves as a booster and is going to push meus to do some more work in sensitizing people about Organic Agriculture.”

He intimated that EM Technology is imported from Japan and deals with Agriculture in general. This includes Livestock production and Crop production. EM Cameroon he said was homologated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MINADER and in 2018 it was givyen the homologation by the Ministry of Livestock, Fishery and Animal Production in Cameroon.

On Environmental Protection, Dr Sama David Ngoh said EM Technology reduces Ammonia Gas and odour. This he said accounts for odourless farms for those who are doing Livestock Production. EM Cameroon he further said collaborates with the Bamenda City Council in terms of drainage. There is also a meaningful collaboration with the Bamenda Regional Hospital in terms of odour elimination in toilets. EM Cameroon he further revealed collaborates with a number of Mission Schools to eliminate odour in the School Campuses. As a result of EM Technology people can do any farming activity without fear of odour in the urban space he posited.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MINADER he said have been buying EM Cameroon products and distributing them to Farmers all over Cameroon. Same with GPDERUDEP phase one and two which have also been buying the products and distributing them to farmers in the North West Region. EM Cameroon has also been collaborating with MIDENO. The latter has been buying EM Products and distributing them to farmers especially during the launch of Farming Seasons. This took place in 2019, 2020 and 2021. EM Cameroon also collaborates with the PIDMA Project which is supported by the World Bank. Here EM Cameroon simply supplies the Cooperatives that are being sponsored by the World Bank for maize production in the North West and West Regions of Cameroon. EM Cameroon products he said were a better alternative to Chemical Fertilizers.

Author: Francis Ekongang Nzante

CAMEROON PEOPLE MAGAZINE

Les Gens Du Cameroun

Email: cameroonperformanceawards@gmail.com

Tel: +237696896001/ +237678401408

“The Vision of FADCA is to get Everything Functioning Again"

President FADCA, Bamenda Chapter.

Mr Musi Vincent is the President of the Fanji Development and Cultural Association FADCA, Bamenda Chapter. In this interview he declares that the greatest desire of FADCA is to see that things return to normal once more in Bafanji. The crisis he intimated, has prevented FADCA from effectively functioning for a period of three years. He begins by delving into the origins of FADCA. 

Excerpts

FADCA as it is called now, is the brainchild of Mr Peleke Mungi Vincent who deemed it necessary to bring people together with an intention of making his village to grow like he saw other villages developing around him in Kumba where he resided.  This was in 1972 and it started as the Fanji Development Committee FDC. A group of people who thought in the same manner and who believed in the initiative came together. It gained momentum and was highly welcomed by the village. 

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 What were the major achievements of FDC?

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FDC did quite a lot for the village thanks to the open handedness of Pah Peleke who did not want to see people in the village suffer. With time, it metamorphosed into FDU, Fanji Development Union but there was still a name problem. It was really development oriented and went ahead to do a lot of work in the village. In 2001  Fon Ngwenfuni II thought that a more englobing structure should be put in place. That's how the name was changed to FADCA: Fanji Development and Cultural Association and the present National President is Nkweti Patrick who is based in Douala.  

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It is obvious that FADCA was created to meet up with the Cultural and Development needs of Bafanji. How has it lived up to these expectations?

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Without the existence of this structure, Bafanji would have been lagging behind in many ways. FDC was able to structure the equipment at the health center. That was the aim of the founders. They wanted that there should be some kind of health facility in the village. So the founder went ahead, built it and handed it to the Prebytarian Church. That was in the domain of health so shortly after the creation of FADCA we took it upon ourselves the responsibility to lobby for the creation of Educational Infrastructures in Bafanji. We were lucky to be given a Government High school that very year. Afterwards we thought that there was the need for a Technical College. We lobbied again. In Cameroon you must lobby to get things done. This entails talking to key persons to get things done. We eventually got a Government Technical College. We did not stop there. We went ahead, lobbied and got a Government Secondary School to serve as a feeder school for the Government High School. At the level of Secondary Education we have three schools and we can’t begin to count the primary and Nursery Schools.  FADCA has been very instrumental in all of this not only lobbying but also participating in the building. FADCA almost singlehandedly built the Government Technical College. However the government actually brought in lots of investment at GBHS where they built about seven classrooms. At the level of education we did quite much but we didn’t stop at that. Of course we had set objectives like Health, Education, Farm to Market Roads, but the next very important thing was drinking water. What we had which was provided by the CIAC System lasted only for a short time and collapsed. Water remains a priority. Unfortunately, the topography of Bafanji doesn’t favour what we call Water by Gravity and presently we are still looking for ways to solve the problem of water. Right now it remains a very serious challenge.

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What about Electricity?

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We took advantage of the Government's Rural Electrification Programme. As God would have it we convinced the Government and 80 million FCFA was made available for the Electrification of Bafanji. 

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Who are some of those key personalities in Bafanji that have been pushing to see that most of these projects are realised?

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You've had people like Pah Mungi Peleke may his soul rest in peace who put in so much and at the time he was not even the President. Others who bought the idea include people like late Feko Vincent, late Tamba Patrick, Pah Fekeme, Mr. Pezumbiah Philip, Pah Peyechu Thaddeus, Mr Sungpewoh Williams, Mr Nkweti Patrick amongst others. These are people who have been at the forefront of the activities of FADCA as National Presidents. You have people like Pah Ngufor Peter though he has never been National President, he served at one time as Treasurer.  He stands like a pillar around which every development initiative evolves. He has always been there for us and has constantly been behind our Development initiatives.

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Bafanji is in the Balikumbat Subdivision, an area which was particularly hit by the crisis. You people showed resilience and sailed through. How was this done?

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Apart from just being resilient, I will add determination, resoluteness and the forward looking nature of our people. I recall the Intertribal skirmishes of 1995 – 1998 during which Bafanji was almost wiped out. About 400 houses were burnt down. You would expect a people coming out of this to crumble but no. We kept on as it is traditional of us. We've stayed focused and thank God we are moving on.

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How are you people facing the challenge of school attendance in the crisis?

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It is regrettable, The schools are empty. You find children with their parents living in deplorable conditions in the neighbouring Division in the West Region looking for education. The three colleges are closed down and more than twenty primary schools are closed down. The teachers are threatened here and there and they are desperate because they can’t work. The situation was compounded by the COVID 19 Pandemic. We've been educating the villagers about it. Elders like Pah Ngufor Peter also stepped in with basic needs to help the villagers protect themselves from it like Face masks, Bucket taps, tablets of soap, Hand Sanitizers, Wash hand basins amongst other things. These things were distributed to the villagers and some were placed at strategic places throughout the village.

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Can you comfortably say that Bafanji has proven to be an example to emulate as far as participatory approach to development is concerned?

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You are very correct. Honestly what took place in 1972 with the creation of FDC, a self reliant development oriented platform was the first of its kind in the then Ndop Subdivision made up of 13 villages. So the idea of participatory approach to development in that Subdivision was brought in by Bafanji people. It is true that other villages picked up the idea and have even gone further than us. It is true that we have our own peculiar situation. Lots of people have benefited from it and we learn from each other. It is unfortunate that we have not remained at the forefront because of the man-made catastrophes that we went through. 

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How is the collaboration between the older and the younger generation?

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We are lucky to have a young, talented, dynamic Fon. The Fon of Bafanji, Fon Ngwenfon II is a Magistrate by Profession. Recently he suggested that we should begin a nursery from where we can groom those who will take over the leadership of FADCA tomorrow and insisted on the fact that there should be a Youth Wing and of course two months ago we put in place the Youth wing of the Association. Transitions in the Association have always been smooth since they are guided by a laid down constitution. It is a three year term renewable once and therefore a President can’t put in more than six years in office. We have made it possible for that change to be smooth. In this way we constantly re-structure the Association by bringing in younger people. The new National President is a young 40 year old gentleman working with a Parastatal in Douala.  His team is equally young and those of us who constitute the older generation are always behind them giving the necessary guidance. That movement from the old order to the new has always been in perfect order. 

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What orientation do you think the Association should take this year 2021?

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2021 is obviously a very difficult year. With the crisis, FADCA at the National Level has not been functioning for three years. People are scared because Bafanji is the base and we can’t go to Bafanji freely because you never know what may happen to you. So if things were to come back to normal honestly speaking we will be ready to contribute as much as it is necessary to bring in Portable Water and to restructure and reconstruct our Community Hall which has been abandoned. Our vision is to get everything functioning again but this can only be possible if  the crisis and the COVID 19 threats are removed.

Interviewed by Francis Ekongang Nzante.

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LES GENS DU CAMEROUN

CAMEROON PEOPLE MAGAZINE

Email: francoeko@gmail.com

Tel: +237696896001/ +237678401408/ +237671262198

At Reception of New Year Wishes

 Mr Ngufor Peter calls on Compatriots to stick to the Truth.

-Predicts Progress in 2021.

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

Ngufor Peter Njontor, the Chief Executive Officer of Farmers House and an elite from the Northwest Region of Cameroon has called on his fellow Compatriots to stick to the truth and has predicted  progress in 2021. He was speaking on Sunday January 17th 2021 within the confines of his Foncha Street Residence in Bamenda in an occasion which saw him celebrating the onset of the New Year 2021 with the Bafanji Community. 

“This particular celebration this year is very special because we all know what 2020 meant for the whole country and for us as individuals and for this part of the country. Thank God that year has passed and we had to celebrate the New Year 2021 which from all indications will bring us progress, good health so we are all praying for that. The message I also gave my compatriots was that we should stand for the truth. You can never replace the truth. You can tell lies and it’s easier to tell lies but you will have to defend that lie all your life.”

The CEO of Farmers House further admonished those who turned out for the occasion to stay away from dirty behaviour like back stabbing and urged everyone to make 2021 a better year. He said considering that the Bafanji Community was a small one, it wasn’t advisable for any body to fault his brother or sister. 

The event he said marked a celebration of the end of the year 2020 and the beginning of the New Year 2021. 

The take home feeling he said was that of total satisfaction. Considering the fact that the Northwest and Southwest Regions and to an extent the country as a whole lived in constant fear, it was very satisfying to have an opportunity to celebrate, he said. 

Quizzed on possible challenges in the year 2021 Mr Ngufor Peter said it wasn’t possible to predict on possible challenges in 2021. To buttress his point he mentioned the COVID 19 Pandemic which took everyone by surprise. “We did not see Corona Virus coming and if we had to predict anything last year, we would have gone wrong. However if challenges do come we will face them as we get there. You will bear with me that every one you saw here today was happy. They were like prisoners freed from captivity. They were all at ease and celebrating with me their happiness was doubled.”

The President of the Fanji Cultural and Development Association Mr Musi Vincent on his part expressed his feelings in the following manner: “We have it as a routine to meet at the end of every year. We were forced to push it this time to the third week of the year because of some other imperatives. It’s been a habit for Bafanji people to come together to communion and serve each other and give thanks to God for keeping them alive despite all the challenges they've gone through.” The Association at the level of Bamenda had no problems he said adding that at the National level it had been under going some restructuring. This he said was necessary because new blood was needed to come into the Association and give it a new push. 

Commenting on the importance of Pah Ngufor Peter to the Bafanji Community he said “Pah Ngufor is more than a human being in the Bafanji Community. They see him as a God sent person who despite his own personal difficulties gives enough time to serve his people. He has no replacement. Every Sunday he is the first in the meeting house. He sets the standard, sets the example and encourages his own children to emulate his examples.”

Music Vincent who is also a retired School Administrator said most of the New Year Messages presented to Pah Ngufor were done in the Bafanji dialect with an intention of enhancing a complete understanding of what was being said. He further said Pah Ngufor Peter's main concern had always been Peace, Love and Harmony adding that the message was especially addressed to those who some times present obstacles to these virtues of peace, love and harmony. His central message Mr Musi Vincent said  was that the Bafanji Community should stick together as one formidable force.

Like Mr Ngufor Peter, the President Mr Musi Vincent said if the Bamenda branch came together as a United  force, they could become strong enough to influence the National Structure to make sure that things get better.

Meantime Mr Ambipo Elias, an elite from Bafanji and erstwhile President of the Bamenda branch of the association said they were celebrating a difficult end of year 2020 and a hopeful beginning of the year 2021. “By the grace of God and by the means made available to Pah Ngufor Peter our mentor, our father, almost our everything he decided that he will host the whole village in Bamenda in his compound and we are here today to celebrate with him and to show gratitude to him and give more grease to his elbow so that Farmers House, the source and the root that God has used to provide for him should continue to prosper and give him more things for this generation and for generations to come” Ambipo Elias said in hommage to the host of the day. 

He described Mr Ngufor Peter as a generous giver and as someone who doesn’t concentrate only on the present but as someone who equally works for posterity. He said it was for these reasons that they were praying that God should continue to give him more wisdom.

Mr Ambipo Elias further said that the crisis in the country had greatly affected the activities of associations around the Ndop area including Bafanji. “Things were asunder for sometime but by God’s grace towards the end of the year the core of the Fanji Development and Cultural Association FADCA had been restituted. Restoration has been made and there is a new Executive Committee which came up and they are very vibrant.”

Ambipo Elias said they were available and ready to guide the team that had been put in place adding that the village could bounce back even in the midst of crisis if the new Exco was given the necessary support.

 “Our village was not too shattered but when one village is shattered, it affects all the other 13 villages that make up the Ndop area. So when we pray, we do that for all the thirteen villages” Ambipo Elias explained. 

Les Gens Du Cameroun

Email:  francoeko@gmail.com

Tel: +237696896001/ 671262198/ 678401408