Permaculture and Sustainable land management practices in Alatening

1. Introduction

The people of Alatening typically depend on agriculture for subsistence, including the cultivation of maize, beans, cocoyam, plantains, bananas, cassava, soya beans, some fruit crops, and a wide range of market garden crops – mainly huckleberry – but also tomatoes, cabbages, various spices and some animal husbandry. Historically, coffee was a major cash crop produced in the village but the global economic crunch of the early 1990s and decreasing yields led to a complete disappearance of this activity in the village.

As a result of declining soil fertility, poor seeds/breeds, improper management and an increase in population, many rural farmers are facing low crop and livestock yields. The impacts of climate change include increased droughts and reduced agricultural productivity, which disproportionately affects the rural communities that often depend on subsistence agriculture based on rudimentary and sustainable farming techniques requiring costly inputs to improve yield at the expense of the environment. These methods include slash and burn, the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, felling of traditional woodlands and trees (slash and burn) for farming. These methods also strip the soil of its natural and self-sustaining nutrients and increase the vulnerability to disease and infestation. Furthermore, the significant costs involved in transporting inputs (e.g. see, fertilizer and equipment) from far-away sources is often not accounted for in the costs of sale of the end produce. This increases the cost, lowers the sustainability and promotes dependence on external sources.  

In order to adapt to climate change and increase productivity, there is the need to promote natural and more sustainable farming methods with increased yields and improved livelihoods in rural communities. Across the world, communities are turning to permaculture as a natural solution to address food security challenges by supporting sustainable and ecological farming and land use methods in local communities. 

1. Objectives of the project.

To contribute to increasing food security, improved livelihoods and income sources amongst village farmers by training them on sustainable and climate smart agriculture and supporting them with micro-credit, livestock and materials to set up their own farms and to replace chemical fertilization with natural and more locally sustainable methods. The introduction of permaculture techniques and farming practices in Alatening will empower the youth and women, especially and increase household income and improved livelihoods.

1. Design and Implementation of the Alatening Permaculture Farm

The Alatening Perculture Farm will be the first phase of a socially inclusive approach to radically transform agriculture in Alatening through the use of permaculture and natural ecosystem services approaches. In the first phase of the project a 150m² experimental farming plot suited in the vicinity of Mama Ngwe Magdalene’s compound  in XXXXX quarter of Alatening village. The farm is only an hour’s drive away from Bamenda and this will make the make delivery of farm products easier and cheaper. It will also provide the opportunity for people to visit often and pick up their baskets directly from the farm.

The initial assessments undertaken show that the plot could be used for a combination of vegetable, fruits and animal rearing. It is proposed that the plot will be used for a combination of livestock production, fruit production, heliculture (snail rearing), organic vegetable production (Watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, leeks, carrot, green beans, celery, parsleys, cabbage, Irish potatoes), apiculture (bee farm) and a poultry. Native plants and shrub will be used to reduce soil compaction and erosion and the land will be regularly mulched to build up its nutrient profile and natural compost will be used as a source of soil nutrients.

The experimental plot will also be used as a sanctuary for education and learning for the schools and the people in an around Alatening village. It will be used to train women, men and youths in the village on permaculture and sustainable land use and farming techniques, through short and long term courses on the experimental plot design and maintenance. It is anticipated that facilitators from other communities in the North West Region and beyond with experience in permaculture will provide training with course certificates as well as long term mentoring, coaching and guidance to the farmers as they get on the journey to sustainable farming for improved livelihoods.

The Permaculture project is championed by Mama Maggie Nganang of the USA with technical support from renowned permaculture specialists in the world. Contact us to participate in the program, through the provision of technical expertise or funding opportunities to assist us achieve the goals of achieving sustainable development in our rural setting.