NO TO HUNGER, FARMING YIELDS ARE ENCOURAGING!

Babessi, Cameroon-While  statistics from the World Food Programme(WFP) say 214 million people in sub-Saharan Africa suffered from hunger between 1990 and 2012, 17 year old, Kunde Raymond,  winner of Rural Eco-competition for secondary schools in Cameroon, thinks there should be no hunger.

The yieds from the farms this year are proving to be good,  three months before harvesting begins

Although climate change and floods have been affecting farmers in Cameroon in several different ways in recent times, current country statistics tell us the Agriculture sector still provides 42 percent of the country's GDP. Reason why Raymond is quite positive about food security. In his article about agriculture in Babessi, the teenager is optimist hunger should not have a place in his area because the yields have been good for the past few years. No to hunger, yes, because temperatures have fairly been constant (averaging between 26°C-30°C) and with heavy, regular rains.

Raymond explains why there should be no hunger, he writes

Should we be hungry?

Agriculture is the backbone of Cameroon’s economy. The case is not different in Babessi where about 80% of the population depends on agriculture.

The month of March which marks the start of the rainy season is a very serious month in Babessi. People start preparing their farms by clearing, burning and tilling. This begins from December, right up to the month of March. This is because cultivation is mostly subsistence.

Immediately as it rains, in March, the people start planting at once, beginning with maize, followed by beans, and then groundnuts for those who wish.

After about five months that is; in August, harvesting begins, after weeding about two times in the previous months.

For the past years, the yields have been very encouraging. This is due to some factors such as, Babessi is found in a moist swampy area good for land cultivation of rice, maize and cocoyam. Also, the village is situated at the base of the Banso (Bui Division) hill, which makes it conducive for groundnut and yams. Equally, eroded rocky materials from hills make the plane a perfect land to farm.

 Kunde Raymond is a Form 5 student at Government Bilingual High school, Babessi.

WATER, SANITATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT: A COMPETITION FOR YOUTH & CHILDREN

Tunza Eco Generation Ambassador to Cameroon, Israel Bionyi Nyoh, organised a two day environmental awareness raising campaign in Babessi.

Mr Kum Christian hands over first prize to journalism club leader of GBHS Babessi

Monday the 11th of May 2015, was a big day for students of Government Bilingual High School (GBHS). They received on their assembly ground an Ambassador of Tunza Eco generation to Cameroon who came to hand over prize award to winners of environmental writing competition he organised for the institution. The winners, Kunde Raymond(M), Sherone Limnyuy(F) and Guietso Sherifatou(F), were happy to earn a certificate or recognition, and a cash prize ranging from 2 000 FCFA($4) to 10 000 FCFA($20) for the highest prize. They also had Tunza pens and Tunza flyers to learn more about the environment.

Mr. Kum Christian is the Principal of GBHS Babessi. Speaking at the prize award ceremony, Mr Kum said” I like to thank Tunza Eco-generation for extending this kind of competition to GBHS Babessi. And I think, this competition has not only encouraged the students but has gone a long way to make them understand the basics of their eco system and how much the ecosystem has to play with the environment in which they find themselves in.”

Citing the importance of the competition to students, Mr Kum revealed “it has widened the scope of students and empowered them on their write ups” and also disclosed their doors are open for such initiatives.
Kunde Raymond is the winner of the competition. He was chosen among 30 brilliant competitors.

He takes home 10 000 FCFA ($20), an award certification and will benefit from a special mentorship from the Tunza Ambassador, Israel Bionyi Nyoh. Raymond’s principal is not surprised he won the 1st prize. He said the student is a great leader to whom he always confers the coordination of their class and assured us he is very committed, shows interest in everything he does and even possess an intellectual urge to grow. 

Mr Nkwatoh, the Vice principal of the institution is also happy with the venture. He tipped the Eco Ambassador to visit other schools in order to make a wider impact with the environmental awareness raising campaign next time.

But before Monday, there was another a sensitization campaign held with four secondary schools in the Babessi Development multipurpose hall on Saturday 9 May, 2015. A total of 300 students from different schools in Babessi came to listen to educative talks about water, the importance of education and the environment.

Exposing in front of the students about the importance of keeping a healthy environment, the Eco campaigner told the students “water is live. Live began with water from the mother’s whom. We need clean water to have energy in order to study well and we must wash our hands very well before meals to avoid diseases…” The ambassador also tipped the students on what is environment friendly and on healthy, but eco habits and lastly urged them to keep clean because “cleanliness is next to Godliness”.