After the launch of the Emergency Project to Combat Food Crises in Cameroon (PULCCA) in August this year, the Board of Directors of the North West Development Authority (MIDENO) has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing food insecurity in the region. Meeting for its 58th session on Tuesday, 3 December 2024, in Bamenda, the board reviewed the progress of PULCCA alongside other developmental priorities. The session, chaired by Governor Lele Lafrique Adolph, focused on ensuring that the project delivers meaningful results by 2025.
The progress report on PULCCA was examined and adopted, with the board acknowledging the strides made so far but calling for heightened efforts to make its impact more tangible. The project, designed to combat food crises through increased agricultural productivity and farmer empowerment, has already started addressing some of the region's food security challenges. Governor Lafrique encouraged the management team to strengthen partnerships and ensure that the benefits of PULCCA are felt more widely across the North West in the coming year.
The meeting also assessed the broader activities of the institution. The board expressed satisfaction with the level of implementation of the resolutions and recommendations of its previous session and the achievements of planned activities for 2024 under the leadership of the Cletus Anye Matuya, General Manager. The 2025 programme budget was adopted, albeit with recommendations for the management to actively lobby at the national level for its full realisation. The Development Effectiveness Report for 2024 was approved, with the board commending the management’s efforts in implementing its agenda.
Attention was given to the agreements under the Ministry of Public Works (MINTP) convention, which were endorsed. The board urged management to secure the remaining funds to complete the outstanding activities outlined in the agreement by 2025. A call was also made for closer collaboration with relevant ministries to ensure the timely disbursement of counterpart funding, which is vital for the effective implementation of MIDENO’s initiatives.
The meeting addressed staffing and welfare issues, with the board approving the management’s strategy to source additional funds to settle accrued staff benefits and terminal payments for former employees. The management was instructed to release these payments once funds are made available by the Ministry of Finance.
Special commendations were extended to the coordinators of the Rice Value Chain Development Programme (RVCDP) and the Livestock Project DEP II, with the board expressing optimism about their potential to drive meaningful development in the North West. Governor Lafrique concluded the meeting by emphasising the importance of efficiency and accountability, urging the MIDENO team to intensify their efforts in delivering on all resolutions.
As MIDENO moves into 2025, PULCCA stands out as a flagship project symbolising hope for food security and sustainable agriculture. With renewed commitment and strategic focus, the institution aims to make a lasting impact on the livelihoods of people in the North West, particularly farmers, women, and vulnerable groups.
Though not mentioned in the resolutions, the Board Chair hinted Hilltopvoices Newspaper in an interview that the budget is in the neighbourhood of 1.7bn FCFA and is expected to help the institution realised envisaged targets. For these targets to be relaised, Governor Lele has appreciated the population for collaboration as experienced in 2024 while calling for more in 2025 considering the crisis climate in the region.
By Bakah Derick
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