The "Projet d'ameriolation de la competivite Agricole" known by its French acronym, PACA, has offered financial grants worth FCFA 945,695,499 to some 18 Common Initiative Groups in Koungkhi, Noun, Upper Nkam, Mifi and Bamboutos Divisions of the West Region.

The financial donation will be invested in animal breeding, poultry farming, and maize production. A convention to ensure the effective management of the financial grant, was signed between the leaders of the CIGs and the Regional Coordinator of PACA Mr. Glory Mbah Ngami, last 2nd November, in a ceremony chaired by the Regional Delegate of MINEPIA for the West Region, Dr. Saleu Rene, representing the Ministers of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industry and Agriculture and Rural Development, which are the two supervisory Ministries of the projects.

Addressing the beneficiaries, partners and administration at the award ceremony, the Regional Coordinator of PACA for the West Region Mr. Glory Mbah Ngami, re-assured the beneficiaries of Government determination to better the living conditions of the Agriculture and livestock farmers in the country, through PACA. He said the financial assistance to the farmers and livestock producers was thanks to development co-operation between the World Bank and the Government of Cameroon.

It is aimed at fighting against poverty and achieve sustainable development in the rural areas, by improving competitiveness in the sectors through financial assistance. Mr. Mbah, called on the beneficiaries to embrace the opportunity offered them with all anxiety and use the funds properly only on projects identified by the various commissions. He warned that those who mismanaged the funds will be charged in court.

For his part, the Regional Delegate of MINEPIA for the West who chaired the ceremony, Dr. Saleu Rene, thanked PACA for the financial assistance, adding that any country economy strength depend on its financial background, insisting that the farmers and livestock producers remain the backbone of the any economy in a developing country like Cameroon.