Chris Mbunwe
28 April 2008
Some farm families trained by Heifer Cameroon, Saturday, April 26, in Kejom Ketinguh received 27 in-calf dairy heifers from other farmers who benefited a few years ago.
To the farm families that received the heifers, the Country Director of Heifer Cameroon, Dr. Henry Njakoi, it was the beginning of a journey that would take them from poverty to sustainable subsistence, additional income or commercial farming level.
Based on the experience with previous recipients, Njakoi expressed optimism that the occasion would herald a new dawn in Kejom-Ketinguh.Underscoring the significance of the event "Passing on the Gift", Njakoi, said the event was another milestone in the life of Heifer Cameroon.
Passing on the gift represents one of Heifer International's 12 cornerstones for just and sustainable development which include improved animal management, nutrition and income, genuine need and justice, gender and family focus, improving the environment, full participation, training, education and spirituality.
Njakoi ensured that every farm family that received an animal, related training and agricultural materials signed a contract that the first female offspring and the equivalent material support including training will be passed on to another family in need.
Because each farm family "passes on the gift" of animals, material assistance and acquired know-how, the continuation and expansion or sustainability of the development chain is ensured.
The Provincial Delegate of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr. Walters Agairih, told farmers to double their efforts so that the importation of 33 million tons of dairy products into Cameroon can stop. He urged Cameroonians to consume more dairy products then beer. He promised his collaboration, especially in animal care.
The Board Chairman of HPI Cameroon, Peter Ngufor, assured farmers that the animals they were receiving are in good health and prayed that the next ceremony of passing on the gift, the cows will triple if they take good care of the animals.
Earlier, the President of the Cameroon Union of Diary Cooperative Societies, Stephen Ndonue, said the standard of living of all farmers who have benefited from passing on the gift have improved tremendously.
Apart from nutritional improvement at family levels, he said dairy farming does not promote farmer-grazier conflicts because the animals are kept under zero grazing management.
At the rate at which the passing on the gift is growing, Ndonue said he is optimistic they will not regret when HPI will announce withdrawing.
Heifer International first began work in Cameroon with dairy cattle in 1974. The idea was to work with research stations and come up with improved animal husbandry practices that would enable resource limited farmers to increase their protein intake through beef and milk.
Over the years, Heifer Cameroon has touched the lives of many people from Koutaba to the West Province to Wum in Menchum Division through importation of exotic breeds like the Boran that is known for its high beef yielding capacity and Friesian Holstein that represents the only source of dairy cattle among farmers.
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