20 September 2004
Source: Pan African News Agency

Yaounde, Cameroon (PANA) - The minister of agriculture, Augustin Frederic Koddock said Cameroon will on Tuesday launch a national programme dubbed ''roots and tubers'' with an objective to achieve food security in the country.

The programme, which falls within the framework of the development strategy of the rural sector initiated by the Cameroonian government, is being funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to the tune of 9 billion FCFA.

According to Thomas Bissa Ngue, co-ordinator of the project, 6,000 women and youths in villages of the Adamaoua, Eastern, Central, Coastline, Western, southern provinces will be mobilised in the eight-month programme.

Ngue said the programme would involve some 120,000 families. It is expected to help improve the productivity of tubers and roots, by granting loans to farmers in the sector through microfinance means.

Farmers will get donations of agricultural implements and receive improved channels of marketing, free distribution of seeds of more resistant and productive varieties while ensuring technical support to processors of tubers and roots.

''After eight years, the programme will be completed with the expectation that farmers who were involved shall turned professional in order to take charge and make the production of roots and tubers sustainable,'' Ngue added.

The project will concentrate on the growing of cassava, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, yams and taro that constitute 80% of the staple food for Cameroonians.