Over 50 smallholder farmers from Bonakanda, Bova, and other communities around Mount Cameroon National Park have taken a major step toward sustainable farming and forest conservation. They recently received organic liquid fertilizer along with hands-on training on its use, provided by Voice of Nature (VoNat) in partnership with the Regenerative Agriculture Hub of Nkwa4Change Solutions.
Implemented with the support of the New England Biolabs Foundation, the initiative builds on earlier training sessions introducing farmers to agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and organic fertilizer production. By combining practical knowledge with direct resource support, the program aims to improve soil fertility, increase crop yields, and reduce dependence on fragile forest land.
For decades, smallholder farmers in these areas have relied heavily on clearing forest land for agriculture, a practice that accelerates deforestation and threatens biodiversity within Mount Cameroon National Park, one of Africa’s most important biodiversity hotspots. Through regenerative farming practices, farmers now have viable alternatives that sustain livelihoods while conserving the environment.
Community members expressed gratitude and optimism about the new approach. Lydia Mojoko said, “This fertilizer will increase our crop fertility; it will make our crops do well. We usually face farming challenges here, our peppers get affected by maggots and insecticides, and it has been difficult to get a good fertilizer. I am very grateful to the organizers for providing this solution.”
Taba Grace added that “I am very happy to have received this fertilizer to boost our farm yields. We were taught how to apply it and given a manual to guide us, and I look forward to applying it on my farms.”
“We are happy to learn how to produce and apply this fertilizer. I will use it on my corn, vegetables, and pepper. We were also taught how to handle issues like maggots eating our cocoyam. Although it came a bit late, I believe our farming problems will now be solved, and our crops will improve significantly,” Elizabeth Jose Mbua remarked.
VoNat will conduct follow-up visits in the coming weeks to monitor fertilizer application, provide technical support, and address any challenges faced by farmers. The long-term vision is to create a community-led model in which increased productivity goes hand-in-hand with conservation, demonstrating that smallholder farmers can thrive while protecting the rich natural heritage of Mount Cameroon.