The World Vegetable Centre – AVRDC, an international organisation has experimented variety of vegetable seeds in Bambili, North West Region. The experiment was exposed for analysis to the public Saturday, February 21, 2009 during a Farmer’s Field Day organised at the Technical School of Agriculture, Bambili in partnership with AVRDC. The Director of the Agric Schoo,l Mr. Jonathan Ndi, welcoming the guests, who answered present for the field day, said the experiment was to promote food security and  an attempt to facilitate the alleviation of poverty and hunger amongst farmers. Mr. Ndi  also clarified that the trials on vegetables like okra, cabbage, huckleberry and pepper will enable the international NGO  recommend the species of vegetables that will do well in the different ecological zones of Cameroon .

The 12 different varieties of huckleberry experimented were also given palatability test. At the end of the practical eating test, the general impression was that the huckleberry is good. The D.O. for Tubah Sub-Division,  Mr. Etta Mbokaya Ashu, marvelled by the flavour of the vegetable, wished that the experiment be conclusive to enable people enjoy good food.

The World Vegetable Centre representative in Cameroon, Dr. Mashark Abdulai clarified that the experiment will be done in different seasons for confirmation of what is adaptable to North West Region in particular and Cameroon in general. He also said that though the controlled seeds are foreign, arrangements are underway to facilitate availability of such seeds to farmers at low cost. The researcher, who is from Ghana revealed that a lot of research work has been done on corn and that his recent research on vegetables is to ensure that there is enough vegetable to complement corn for consumption.

Some of the participants such as Mme Bridget Asongwed  and Mme Julita Tamgwa, appreciating the Director of the School of Agriculture,  for the organisation of the Field Day which has enriched them, disclosed their readiness to sensitise other farmers about modern farming. They also stated their readiness to  drop the local seeds, if the NGO finally recommends foreign seeds that will help them. The occasion was attended by farmers, students and the North West Regional Delegate of Agriculture, Mr. Pius Moutoto.

By George Chifu