To improve smallholder farmers’ sustainable access to quality maize and cassava seeds, the SISCA project organized a capacity-building workshop for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, and seed producers involved in cassava and maize seed production systems in Cameroon. The workshop, which took place in Yaoundé, brought together stakeholders from regions where IFAD operates in Cameroon, particularly the Centre, South, and Littoral regions.
During the workshop, a platform was created involving all stakeholders, including the seed regulator and plant quarantine services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The training, held at the beginning of the first cropping season, was a great opportunity for the trained stakeholders to apply the acquired skills and technologies and for the project to capture the training impact. This impact was assessed through Seed trade by Deri Clément, SOCOMAPA-COOP-CA by Michelle Mvondo, and Seed producer Essoumbou Eben Léopold, all involved in maize seed production. Clément, based in the South region (Ebolowa), set up 8 ha of certified seeds with an expectation of 24T of CMS 8704 variety. Mvondo from the Centre region (Ngoumou) and Eben from the Littoral region (Melong) set up 1 ha each of the same maize variety after the training with an expectation of 3T.
With the various techniques and expertise acquired from the workshop, they have expressed their satisfaction and gratitude to the SISCA project as it has enhanced their production.
Testimonials from some participants
Clement – “I thank the SISCA Project for the capacity building workshop and follow-up. It has enabled me to double my seed production this cropping season”.
Michelle – “I would like to thank the project team and all the partners who organized this training (SISCA, IITA, IFAD, CGIAR, MINADER) because I know my harvest will increase and I will benefit from the sale. It enabled me to successfully grow 1 ha of corn, something I never thought I was capable of. I now have experience in the Cassava-Mais Speculation Techniques”.
Léopold – “I’d like to say a big thank you to the IITA researchers through the SISCA project, who passed on their knowledge to us. This knowledge has enabled me to go from being a small-scale seed producer to a professional seed producer, with an increase in my farm size”.
Contributed by Pheneas Ntawuruhunga
Contributed by
Recent stories