Bamenda (Mezam)- The population of Bafut, in Mezam, Bu, Mbenkas in Wum, Nwa, Sabongari in Donga Mantung Divisions have appreciated the National Employment Fund (NEF), activities and projects interventions to enable them maximise the economic benefits for the rice farmers. The words of appreciation came on the hills of a large-scale campaign to
improve on rice production in the localities that covers some 250 hectares of land in the Northwest Region, under the support programme for the development of rural employment (PADER). In order to re-establish the rice sector specially in Bafut, Mezam Division, Wum Menchum Division and Nwa, Donga Mantung Division more profitable and to pursuit its policy of generating income end encouraging rural employment. The NEF, recently pumped in rice production farms inputs worth 136.000.000 FRS CFA that was shared to 1000 rice farmers in the three localities of Northwest Region. In Bu, Mbengkas villages, a few kilometres out of Wum town, the chairman of the rice farmers, Mr Ngeh Martin saw their rice cooperative society limited receiving a rice huller machine from NEF as bridging the gap between the poor and riches, adding that the farm inputs will help them re-launch their income generating activities by producing quality clean rice and mass production. Ngeh Martin described the action of NEF as ?? funding their achievements of development targets?? and said the supply of farm inputs especially the rice huller machine, will help eradicate poverty, help achieve sustained economic growth and promote sustainable development among the over 30.000 inhabitants that make up the Bu, Mbengkas and Chegoh villages. The SDO for Menchum Division, Mr Mamoudou Haman revealed that the problem of hunger, securing more food security, have been solve for the population of the rice producing area. He thanked the Regional Director of NEF for West/Northwest Mr Pierre Tekapso, for doing the 14 Km walk on foot and called on him to study the rice landscape to see for himself the new rice policy which match the new needs of the rice farmers and to know what type of farm inputs to supply to the farmers. For the chief of Mbakong village in Bafut Sub Division where the official launching took place, Fon Suh Elvis Neba appreciated the NEF anti-poverty programme; he said the farmers?? priority was for NEF to provide such incoming earning equipment opportunities.
Fusong David (CAMNEWS)
