Establish Agroecology School Farm in Cameroon.

Integrated Agricultural Association (IAA) has been gifted 37 hectares of farm land in KOVNZEEN, Kumbo Sub-division, Bui-division, Northwest Cameroon, by a traditional ruler (Fon) who have requested to publictly remain anonymous except in his Fondom. The donated land represent the community support for the project and is intended for the establishment of Agroecology Research and Demonstration farm for food system transformation.

Current agricultural and food systems face major environmental, climate and health challenges, while responding to the challenges of food security and nutrition. Food systems are increasingly impacted by climate change. At the same time, they contribute a third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and certain agricultural practices contribute to the erosion of biodiversity, environmental pollution, land degradation and the scarcity of water resources. More than 800 million people still suffer from hunger, two billion have micronutrient deficiencies and two billion are overweight or obese, while a third of the food produced is lost or wasted globally. The precarious livelihoods and social inequalities, faced by many farmers and food system workers, exacerbate the difficulties in ensuring adequate nutrition for all.

Agroecology, including regenerative agriculture that respects the 13 principles of agroecology defined by the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE), can be a powerful lever for solving these major challenges and providing sustainable solutions to the issues of food security and nutrition, the fight against poverty and social inequalities, the adaptation to climate change, the preservation of biodiversity and natural resources, and the fight against zoonotic diseases; this by working for a transformation of agricultural and food systems compatible with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Climate Agreement, the post-2020 objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and those of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The agroecology principles apply to all forms of sustainable agriculture and food production, including crop, livestock and pastoral systems, agroforestry, fisheries, aquaculture etc. The application of these principles also contributes to improving gender equality, making agriculture more attractive for youth, creating dignified income and living conditions and contributing to healthy diets through sustainable food systems.

Various on-going initiatives and policies attest to the potential of agroecological approaches to respond to the multiple challenges facing food systems. This is the case, for example, of the global initiatives “Scaling-up agroecology”, or “4 per Thousand”, or of the “Accelerator of the Great Green Wall” in the Sahel, the “Alliance for agroecology in West Africa” supported by ECOWAS, the “Transformative Partnership Platform for Agroecological Transition” (TPP), “Community-managed Natural farming” in Andhra Pradesh, and many programs implemented by governments, producer and civil society organizations, or research institutions on all continents.

The estimated cost for the project is $100,000 and we have secured land valued at $5000, from the community. Additional donation ensures that we develop the land quickly, starting from fencing to design, preparation for various farm activities and installation, immediately. 

We are happy you are supporting us today, together let us push for a sustainable food system that will nourish the present and next generations.

With gratitude!