Viability of Community Income Generating Activities (CIGAs): Case of Agricultural Processing CIGAs in the Donga-Mantung Division, North-West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

This article brings out the analysis of Community Income Generating Activities (CIGAs) for the processing of agricultural products in Donga-Mantung Division, North-West Region of Cameroon. The main objective was to analyze the financial, technical and managerial performances of these CIGAs. More specifically to: (i) identify and characterize CIGAs and the beneficiary Farmers’ Organizations (FOs); (ii) verify the pertinence of these CIGAs; (iii) analyze constraints to the viability of these CIGAs; (iv) make critical balance sheets of some support actions to peasant organizations promoting the CIGAs. Data was collected from literature review, field observations, and surveys with FOs and development actors.  The analysed data reveal that: (i) the promoters of those CIGAs are found in all five councils of the Division. They are Common Initiative Groups (CIGs), associations or cooperatives initiated to improve the income of the members. The cost per CIGA varies from 770 000 FCFA to 19 400 000FCFA ; (ii) despite their relative contribution to improve revenues of FO, those CIGA are not more pertinent but are effective as regards their objective to improve income; (iii) 40% of the CIGAs are viable in the organizational aspects, 48% in technological aspects, 0% in financial aspects and 48% in environmental aspects; (iv) The main monitoring problems identified are the lack of planning and budgeting of activities, poor keeping of administrative and accounting records. A series of recommendations are made to the government, developers and peasant organizations to ensure the viability of CIGAs. Policy makers should continue funding or subsidizing CIGAs, without which the efforts of the FOs to eliminate poverty will be in vain. Ensure sensitization and follow-up of grants recipients should be at the centre of their activities. Organizations and development programs should multiply the sensitisation actions of FOs for the effective consciousness of their role in improving economic conditions; multiply the support measures for a good grip and sustainability of committed CIGAs; ensure the definition and signature by the FOs, a convention on collective management of equipment received to mitigate the conflicts arising from the management of these equipment; and help in conducting feasibility studies prior to the implementation of CIGAs by FOs. Furthermore, peasant organizations should understand their roles, and involve key actors of economic development in the fight against poverty; put in place specific management committees for CIGAs to facilitate management and monitoring; plan and budget their activities; and finally provide regular financial reports and take stock in order to assess the level of profitability.