Introduction

Since 1997, the Presbyterian Rural Training Center (PRTC) Fonta and the Swiss College of Agriculture (SCA) embarked on a joint research project aimed at the development of improved agricultural sustainability in the North West Province of Cameroon. This section works with farmers to develop technological innovations that will increase land productivity while conserving the natural resource base. Within the context of the collaboration between these two executing institutions, 1 or 2 students of SCA come to Fonta annually for 6 month practical training.

New Crop Varieties

Cassava
Cassava's importance both as a food and cash crop has been on a steady rise in Cameroon due to its many diverse uses. However, results within PRTC indicate that severely diseased plants infected with the African cassava mosaic virus suffer yield losses of up to 66%. PRTC has had encouraging results through the positive selection of planting material.

Plantains

 

Yams

With the rapid multiplication technology, a yam tube which before was planted as a whole can now be cut into many pieces. This has tremendously increased the number of yams seed available for planting.

Rapid Multiplication of Yam seeds 

Yam seed being planted.

Soil fertility

Due to land pressure, farmers are forced to decide in favor of short-term food and cash needs rather than long term land productivity. A Fonta farmer once said, "I cannot die of hunger today because I want to prepare for tomorrow, the tomorrow will be for who? I cannot be the sacrificial lamb." The project therefore focuses on new technologies that combine conservation and production aspects in such a way that is acceptable to farmers. The project is trying to enhance the soil fertility status of the area.

Tithonia

 

Mucuna