UNVDA to step up mechanised rice farming.

The General Manager of UNVDA, Eric Adangfung, made the intentions of the rice producing structure known during the launching of the harvesting season for Paddy Rice as well as the launching of land preparation for the next planting season.
This was on Friday, January 5, 2024, at the institution’s head office in Ndop, Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region. 
Adangfung revealed plans on how UNVDA will in 2024 be going in for light mechanisation to increase production.
“We want that by the end of 2024/2025 we should have a new machine already in UNVDA to be able to process all our products,” Adangfung said.
He furthered that machines were not only to be limited at the level of the processing units but to be extended to the farms too, in a bid to make work lighter and faster for the rice farmers. 
In this regard, he promised the purchasing of rice planters, mini combined-harvesters, fuel and electricity winnowing machines to serve in the farms as well as at the production center. 
Meanwhile, as far as production of the year 2023 is concerned, the General Manager was proud to indicate that it increased tremendously, stating that over 1,300 tons of rice have been collected this year and paid, unlike same time last year that it had only about 700 tons collected. 
This, he continued, has been thanks to government, adding that Cameroonians should follow the Head of State President Paul Biya who in his end of year's address last December encouraged abundant production of rice in the country in order to stop importation. 
He discouraged farmers who are in a mad haste to sell their rice to middlemen at giveaway prices instead of exercising patience to wait for UNVDA that buys and pays cash. 
The UNVDA General Manager said one of the institution’s objectives for 2024 is to make farmers realise much money from rice production.
He used the event to salute rice farmers who withstood the heat of the sociopolitical crisis in the North West and South West Regions and stayed in their various villages while also encouraging those who escaped to other areas to come back.
The Senior Divisional Officer SDO for Ngoketunjia, Handerson Quitong Kongeh expressed his satisfaction with the harvest and the huge quantity of products that are being brought to the UNVDA instead of being sold in the “black market”.
According to the government official, the objective of the government has always been that farmers should bring their rice to UNVDA and be paid on the table so that they can go back happy.

Bring back peace
The SDO said “as far as the issue of peace is concerned, I made it clear to them that they as farmers are the first victims if they albeit and support what is going on”. 
He called on farmers and the population to join hands with the structure and the government to counter all atrocities, to destroy and dismantle what he described as the evil programme of gun-trotting young men in the administrative unit. 
This to him is because peace is in the interest of the farmers and the entire community who need it to be able to enjoy their yields and be able to come out of what he called bondage.

Farmers want more
The farmers' representative, Lukong Loveline, after showing gratitude to the administration of UNVDA for the provision of some landmark assistance to rice farmers, tabled a wide range of needs that could reduce their burden and encourage improved production and productivity.  
On behalf of her peers, she pleaded for drainage of canals and dams, provision of more modern farming equipment that can enhance the development of more farm to market roads, among others.
These concerns tabled by the farmers, according to UNVDA General Manager are already being addressed. UNVDA at the end of the event rewarded some workers for their outstanding performance.