Conservation Farming Demonstration Farm Established in Bana

Conservation Farming Demonstration Farm Established in Bana

Thanks to digital technology, Mme Oussematou is able to keep us updated on developments in establishing a Demonstration Farm in Bana.  One of our last stops at Bana in December was at the hillside acreage designated by the traditional Chief here, King Happi Sikam, to be used for this conservation agriculture farm project. This large plot (estimated to be 14 hectares more or less) when we  first saw it was overgrown with bush.  At the bottom of the hillside is a beautiful river with a much smaller more level area.
Pictures taken November 25th, 2012


Mme. Oussematou Outlining the Area For the Demonstration Farm



 

Looking Down To The River From The Bridge

Walking Up the Hill:  Demonstration Farm Land is to the Left

Allan, Mme Oussematou and with the Engineer Behind (Demo Farmland to Right)

 

The Hillside (Lots of Work to Clear This!)
 

 

 

What Do You Think The Yield Will Be?

As we climbed the road up the hill alongside the designated land, we saw some small plots of beans and corn suffering from nutrient deficiencies.  



Traditional Methods - Corn Not Looking Good!
 

Beans

Beans-These Legumes Are Showing A Crop Of Beans Using Traditional Agricultural Practices

A group of enthusiastic, hard working people began land clearing.  These pictures were sent to us, taken Jan 13, 2012.  Joseph Tafrey, a dedicated agriculturist and farm leader from Befang  travelled by bus from Befang to Bamenda 6 hours, then a five hour trip by car to Bana to encourage and help this farm group get the demonstration plot going is pictured here surveying the progress.  Land clearing showing the mulch in rows, an important Conservation Farming concept in action.   Note that at this point, the mulch is very dry. 





Joseph Tafrey Farm Organization Leader on Left

Mulch in Rows

 

Using only cutlass, hoe, mallet and chisel, the hard work of splitting rock to form rock walls on the steep hillside to prevent erosion proceeded. Pictures taken May 5th, 2013.



Rocks Are Split and Arranged Across the Hillside

 

 



All Work Is Manually Done!



Holes filled with Fowl Droppings and Earth

Seeds being planted:  White yam, sweet yam, cassava, gwa, dashine or Tanya, One point of concern raised during the workshops was that a number of important traditional crops have disappeared in the Bana area: gwa and peanuts being two examples. 

White yam also seed of a product which is disappearing called  'gwa'

On June 17th, 2013 Mme Oussematou wrote:  'I was in Bana last Friday and Saturday, I convinced the team to start mulching to kill the grass and to reduce erosion and to keep humidity in the farm for  the plants to grow healthy. In fact there was lot of grass in the entrance along the road and I paid some holiday makers to clear the grass. At the moment I arrived in Bana with Nobert we realised that the grass was getting dried and we decided to collect them and make mulch. My sister arrived day before from Douala and we jointed and worked hard to do what you will see in the various pictures. It was so new for our new member Richard who was taught mulch cannot be done during raining season and that we should wait for dry season. I insisted even though he is a trained agricultural technician. Every body is happy. Now they will continue to cut grass and we extend to cover the whole farm if we can.'

 

 

 

Gathering Mulch.
 

A Well Deserved Break!



 Arranging Mulch

 

Tanya or Dashine (Healthy Plants!)

 



 

School Involvement:  Conservation Farming School Project

Several years ago, a school plot was abandon because of infertile soil.

This school plot has been revitalized under the leadership of an energetic school principal who took the Conservation Farming Workshop.

 

March 6th, 2013

Oussematou wrote:

They are using the technics of Conservation Farming to cultivate cabbage, Irish potatoes , corn. Mme Mbuy has also involve teachers who are presently doing it in their farm. My next visit in Bana will target them for visit. You see how cabbages are doing well with no chemical fertiliser.