He harvested eight tonnes of maize in 2021 up from 3.5 tonnes in 2019 from his four acres farm. He blames the poor yields in the past on prolonged drought that affected seeds from the previous harvest. Like Njokwe, many other smallholder farmers in the region say they suffered from the effects of intensified drought in recent years, including unpredictable rainfall.

Crop failures or low yields led to food shortages, a situation that was not helped by the fact the cost of seeds was considerably high. “In the past, accessing seeds has been a major hurdle.

Sometimes we could get quality seeds from agriculture research centres but at prices three times higher than what we get now from the seed multiplication farms,” says Julius Takem, a cassava farmer in Buea. Dr Andrew Eneme Ngome, the SOWEDA chief, says the programme is part of the government’s efforts to ensure food security.

“Seed security is food security, that is why we provide not only planting materials but also insecticides to farmers in the region early enough at affordable prices ahead of every planting season to prevent them from resorting to low-quality substitutes at exorbitant prices elsewhere,” says Dr. Ngome. SOWEDA officials say the programme also serves as a community seed bank to enhance the resilience of farmers by securing and facilitating access to diverse, locally adapted crops and varieties.

“Availability of diverse improved seeds to needy farmers is like putting money in the bank in readiness for a rainy day,” says Peter Epie Ngalle, the SOWEDA Director of Monitoring and Evaluation. “Agriculture is the driving force of Cameroon’s economy, so empowering farmers with right inputs is guaranteeing the country of sufficient food supply.

” More than 70,000 tons of maize seeds, 20,000 tons of bean seeds, and 15,000 yam seeds from the multiplication farms are distributed to farmers in the region every year on request. The quantity, however, increases when more groups are registered.