Actualités of Wednesday, 28 August 2013

Source: Cameroon Tribune

UNVDA Ndop - Roads Disenclave Rice Production Basin

Ongoing works seek to facilitate access to and from most of the 13 villages of the Division.

Excitement is evident among farmers of the Ndop plain with farm-to-market roads rehabilitated to disenclave major production villages of Ngoketunjia Division. In effect, the Upper Nun Valley Development Authority (UNVDA) is on song with road works that facilitate access to and from rice, maize and cassava farms in the production basin that covers most of the 13 villages of the Division.

Inspired by considerations for farmers who are at the centre of all UNVDA actions, the General Manager, Chin Richard Wirnkar, told Cameroon Tribune that UNVDA is not only about rice production. He stressed that it is a development agro-industry and the decision to open farm-to-market roads is to help check post-harvest loses, drop the cost of transporting crops from farms to markets, ensure that farmers are into profitable activities and above all, develop the neighbourhoods. Away from UNVDA tractors that are busy ploughing and tilling the soils for rice and maize cultivation, the agro-industry is creating access roads to traditional farms in far away Balikumbat, Bafanji and Bambalang. Another major access way that has attracted excitement from the population is the 9-km stretch that runs from Bamunka, Babungo to Baba I (Ntangoh- Baba I). On-the-spot, the Director of Rural Engineering in charge of Works at UNVDA, Waindim Francis told CT that six kilometers of the road works have been completed and consisted in reshaping, leveling, refilling, compacting and installation of culverts.

Beneficiary inhabitants of the neighbourhoods salute the road works which according to Juliana Moh is welcome to encourage farming activities. John Paul Boteh said; UNVDA is a blessing with a lot to offer in opportunities to farmers. Back in the farms, UNVDA tractors are credited with some 80 per cent of land preparation for rice and maize production. It is on record in the agro-industry that 2,532 hectares of farmland have been developed with 3,000 hectares to show for undeveloped farms or better still, farms without standard irrigation structures.