Farmers in Dibanda at Mile 14 in Buea, Fako Division, are happy recipients of a footbridge constructed by the Southwest Development Authority, SOWEDA.
The over 5,000 farmers resident in Dibanda will now easily transport their produce like cocoa, oranges, cassava, maize, plantains, yams and vegetables to the markets and beyond.
By Azore Opio
The Divisional Officer for Buea, Paul Wokam Kouam, accompanied by council and SOWEDA officials handed the bridge to the village on January 16, 2016.
The construction of the bridge cost 30 million francs CFA.
The footbridge was constructed with state funds channeled through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and will benefit some 5,000 farmers who have been risking their lives crossing the fast-flowing Ndongo River.
“The bridge was constructed with funds from Government channeled through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” said Joseph Oben Ako, who represented the General Manager of SOWEDA at the handing-over ceremony of the bridge.
Oben Ako said the Regional Delegate of Agriculture requested for the construction of the bridge through the Sub-Regional Delegate.
“It will benefit over 5,000 farmers. They will no longer climb or descend very steeps hill or risk crossing the rapid Ndongo River,” Oben Ako said.
The SOWEDA General Manager’s representative exhorted the farmers to use the bridge with great care through the collective commitment of all stakeholders.
He said SOWEDA is out to help the government realize its dream emerging in 2035 by opening up farm-to-market roads, provision of good quality planting materials at subsidized prices, construction of water schemes, facilitating access to credit facilities and constructing bridges in rural communities.
The Chief of Dibanda Mile 14, Chief Emmanuel Ngale Ikome, thanked the government for providing his community with a bridge.
According to the Chief, with the construction of the bridge,
“Our farmers will no longer die while trying to cross the Ndongo River in the rainy season and ttheir farm produce would no longer rot in the farms,” said Chief Ngale Ikome.
A farmer, William Ekwi, said many farmers have died trying to cross the river during the rainy season.
Ekwi said farmers sometimes passed through Mutengene with their head loads of produce.
“This added additional transport cost as there was no bridge,” said Ekwi.
Chief Ngale Ikome appealed to SOWEDA to construct a larger bridge across the river to accommodate motor vehicles.
Meanwhile, the DO for Buea said, “Where a bridge passes, development follows.” “The bridge should help you market your agricultural produce better,” Wokam Kouam added.
The DO lauded SOWEDA for keeping to its terms of reference, especially by translating the state budget into concrete action.
