Persons With Disabilities in Bafut subdivision, Mezam division of Cameroon’s conflict hit North West region of Cameroon have been given maize seedlings to boost their yields this farming season.
The beneficiaries who comprised representatives of different associations of Persons With Disabilities, PWDs received the farm inputs recently, during the 2021 management account session of the Bafut council.
Ngwakongoh Lawrence, Mayor of the Bafut council handed five bags of treated and carefully selected maize seedlings to the various PWD leaders who are expected to share with members of their associations.
The gesture from the council comes at a time when PWDs in Bafut are said to be badly affected by an on going separatist war.
The war which broke out in 2016 has resulted in the death of many a PWD, while more cases of mobility impairment are being recorded as Bafut remains a war theater for government and separatist fighters.
Humanitarian assistance to PWDs in Bafut, like elsewhere across anglophone Cameroon is largely inadequate as hunger and lack of health care remain on the rise.
This explains why the agricultural input given by the of Mayor Bafut to PWDs was a welcomed initiative.
Speaking after receiving the seedlings, the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Ngwakongoh Lawrence led institution while asking for more.
A beneficiaries, name withheld for security reason, revealed the seeds were timely with the planting period.
“We are very grateful for the seeds, We are here to show that we are with the council if the council is with us,” he said.
He however entreated the Mayor and his collaborators to always consider PWDs in ever step they take stressing that nothing meaningful can be done for PWDs without having them involved in the process.
The initiative which was launched by Bafut council to boost agriculture in the subdivision started on March 8 2022, with the distribution of seedlings to women.
According to the Bafut council Mayor, the subdivision is already rich in the cultivation of other crops and food items but giving a push to PWDs is necessary.
“We want to also support the people living with impairments with farm inputs. With the inclusiveness, I want to assure you that maize production will boost other cultivations like ginger and rice in Bafut,” Mayor Ngwakongoh Lawrence said.
Mayor Ngwakongoh also made it known during the management account session that, his council is bent on renovating schools and hospital. He added that, the education of the Bafut people is one of his top priorities.
During the session, councilors unanimously agreed that 2021 projects were 100% realized and executed.
Public investment projects like construction of classrooms, rehabilitation of roads, supply of health equipment, construction of health centers, support for micro projects were some of the important projects realized .