According to a Thomas Reuters Article of June 2017 , the president of the African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina had this to say about agriculture – ‘Making Agriculture cool and profitable for young people in Africa is key to lifting millions out of poverty and stemming migration to Europe.’ He added that agriculture should be made a business and not a way of life.
It is no longer strikes the headlines that 70 percent of Africans are dependent on agriculture. Linked to this are the challenges of food insecurity, climate change and land degradation . The pressing question remains ; how can Africa capitalize on their potentials in agriculture to meet their needs and extend a hand to global needs? How can agriculture move from being a major source of food only to creating employment and income for poor families and African economies?
According to the 2016 Africa Agriculture Status Report, Africa is making steady progress towards agriculture transformation. Governments are putting agriculture at the top of their development agenda. In a speech to the Cameroon youth on February 10 2016, the president of the Republic of Cameroon Paul Biya said ; The development of the agriculture sector will be given a prime place in Cameroon. He called on the youth to not hesitate to delve in.
Whether in achieving the SDGs , the Malabo Declaration , or Cameroon’s vision 2035, agriculture must go from business as usual to embracing new ways by which poverty can be cut at several levels.
Invited as panelist to the 2017 edition of the world environment day in the northwest region of Cameroon Senior Expert at Green Technologies Company – GRETECO M. Ebenezar Asaah highlighted the need to use small portions of land to produce greater yields, invest in all season farming , reduce land degradation. All this he said is possible with the use of of green house technologies. This is what the company is up to in partnership with the Asaah Fonyam and Angwi Foundation in Bamenda Cameroon .
The initiative is materialised thanks to the demonstration farms of the Foundation ( Bongob Farms). The farm has caught the attention of state authorities , local farmers, students on internship and lovers of agriculture. The farm which runs some few hectars up station Bamenda and others at Bambui , is open to individuals and groups interested in using this technology to improve their output in agriculture.