Cameroon: Ngoumou, progress from the land

In the lush green hills of Ngoumou, in central Cameroon, the land tells stories of hard work and transformation. Here, cacao, coffee, plantain, and pineapple plantations stretch as far as the eye can see, driven by the determination of its people, who have turned this district into a model of agricultural progress. Behind every crop, there are hardworking hands committed to changing their destiny, seizing the opportunities presented by the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project—an initiative launched in 2017 and funded by the African Development Bank with 89.292 million euros.

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Since the project began, Ngoumou’s farmers have taken on the challenge of revitalizing their agricultural practices. The program has improved more than 680 km of rural roads, facilitating access to new lands and boosting the cultivation of products such as cacao, plantain, and pineapple. Additionally, agreements with the Agricultural Research Institute for Development have increased the capacity for producing pre-germinated oil palm seeds from two million to five million seedlings annually. These improvements have not only revitalized the local economy but have also given farmers the opportunity to broaden their production horizons.

At the heart of this transformation are stories like that of Sylviane Blanche Jouogo. Before joining the project, Sylviane faced uncertainty and cultural barriers that hindered her entrepreneurial aspirations. “I had a simple yet incredible dream: to transform the fruits of the land into hope for my family and community. For a long time, that dream seemed unattainable,” she recalls. However, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to make the most of every training session the project offered. Equipped with pineapple processing techniques and skills in female leadership, Sylviane reorganized her business and improved financial management, creating a positive impact on both her household and her community.

Today, Ngoumou’s landscape has changed thanks to people like Sylviane, who have turned training into a tool for empowerment and resilience. The impact goes beyond economic results, as community networks are also strengthened. The creation of 167 cooperatives, 29 of which are led by women, stands as proof of a development model that prioritizes social commitment and inclusion. For many farmers, having access to planting materials for over 8,600 hectares has opened the door to diversify their production and dream of long-term projects.

Community leadership has also been reinforced, with many residents taking responsibility for sharing their knowledge with others. Sylviane, for instance, now inspires more women to take active roles in the district’s economic life, proving that real progress emerges from collective effort and collaboration. Her next goal is to establish processing cooperatives that will empower more women and young people to build sustainable and fair agriculture.

Ngoumou is no longer just an agricultural hub but a symbol of transformation driven by its people. The project has brought confidence that joint efforts and community leadership can overcome any challenge. “There’s still a long way to go, but I keep moving forward, certain that no obstacle can stop me,” says Sylviane with determination. In every cultivated hectare and every new cooperative, the people of Ngoumou continue to write their own success story.