PP FOR NORTH CAMEROON LIVESTOCK AND AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

A TEAM OF SPECIALISTS WILL MAKE A DETAILED STUDY OF RANGE RESOURCES, INCLUDING WATER, IN PROJECT AREA AND DEVELOP A DATA BASE FOR EVALUATING EFFECTS OF CONTINUED CURRENT USE AS WELL AS FOR DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF IMPROVED PRACTICES. A DETAILED STUDY WILL ALSO BE MADE TO DETERMINE THE USE OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CUSTOMS IN FACILITATING TECHNICAL CHANGES. SINCE MUCH FORAGE IS CURRENTLY USED TO MAINTAIN DISEASED AND UNPRODUCTIVE ANIMALS, MORE EFFICIENT USE OF RESORCES WILL BE PROMOTED BY ACTIONS AIMED AT REDUCTION OF ANIMAL DISEASE. ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT WILL BE GIVEN TO 4 VETERINARY POSTS AND TO 5 SECONDARY POSTS, ESP ALONG ROUTES OF DISEASE-AFFECTED TRANSHUMANCE HERDS, TO PERMIT MORE ADEQUATE AND SYSTEMATIC SUPPLY OF VACCINES AND PHARAMACEUTICALS; A BACK-UP UNIT WILL BE ESTABLISHED AT MAROUA. INTEGRATION OF CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION WILL BE PROMOTED THROUGH AN EDUCATIONAL-EXTENSION PROGRAM TO PROMOTE USE OF AGRICULTURAL BY-PRODUCTS AS FORAGE AND TO INCREASE FORAGE CROP PRODUCTION. IMPROVED TECHNOLOGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION, AS WELL AS TILLAGE, WATER CONSERVING, AND SOIL IMPROVING PRACTICES, WILL BE TESTED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO FARMERS IN PROJECT AREA IN ORDER TO HALT CURRENT SOIL DEGRADATION AND INCREASE COMPLEMENTARITY OF CROPS AND LIVESTOCK. GURC CAPABILITY TO MANAGE AGRICULTURE RESOURCES WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY LONG AND SHORT TERM US TRAINING AND BY 3RD COUNTRY OBSERVATION TOURS FOR HIGH-LEVEL GURC PERSONNEL. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND SHORT COURSES FOR GURC TECHNICAL FIELD STAFF WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED, AS WELL AS TRAINING IN FARMER/LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION. AN AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST WILL ASSIST THE PLANNING ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT"S COORDINATING AGENCY, COMITE POUR LA LUTTE CONTRE LA SECHRESSE. CLOSE COORDINATION WILL BE MAINTAINED WITH COMPLEMENTARY AID PROJECT IN SEED MULTIPLICATION.