Regenerative Agriculture Training Benefits the Environment and Cocoa Farmers

Earth Rising is a proud supporter of the Centre for Community Development and Environmental Restoration (CENCUDER). CENCUDER was founded in 2008 in Cameroon by a group of young people concerned over issues in their communities. CENCUDER works to combat both socio-economic and environmental problems and views these issues as deeply intertwined. Because of this CENCUDER has worked on issues as varied as high unemployment for youths, poverty, illiteracy and environmental degradation. Today the organization works in four main project areas: education, environmental protection, sustainable development and community building. 

Recently, Earth Rising helped support a project to empower cocoa farmers through an education program focused on resilient and adaptive farming techniques such as Inga Alley cropping and permaculture in Eboko Bajoh village. A part of the education was focused on spreading awareness of climate change issues more broadly. The project also included the establishment of four nurseries with a capacity of 8000 species of improved cocoa varieties and nitrogen fixing trees. 

Over the duration of the project over 300 community members participated in community sensitization meetings on climate change and 410 farmers participated in capacity building workshops on climate smart agriculture. Of the farmers who were trained in these workshops they were then divided into four groups to manage each nursery with this a tool management cooperative has been set up. 

The impact of CENCUDER’s work is remarkable for both its benefits to the environment and the communities within which it operates. Not only do these farming practices help prevent degradation, they also help farmers with increased yields and lower costs. We are proud to support this work and believe in the impact it is having in rural communities throughout Cameroon. In the words of CENCUDER’s Executive Director Kwangene Princely “To save the planet and ourselves, we need everyone's help.” 

To learn more about CENCUDER and their work visit their website here.