Hon Peter Rey Lyonga, Former Mayor, MP Buea and livestock farmer

You were actively involved in the organization of the agric show in Buea, share you experiences with us ?
It was in West Cameroon that we had agric shows …when we unified those who were appointed to West Cameroon started seeing how the slogan “grow more food” was working. This slogan was launched by Mr. R.E.G. Burnley and his agricultural colleagues of West Cameroon. After the referendum in 1972, the then President Amadou Ahidjo said agric shows should then be done at the national level and Buea was chosen to host the first agric show.

What were the objectives behind agric shows in West Cameroon ?
Agric shows were promoted in West Cameroon by those who worked for the agricultural sector because they wanted food sufficiency. The idea of the green revolution was spreading world wide, we too embraced it and we encouraged farmers not to grow only cash crops like coffee, cocoa and banana but to grow food crops. Most of the yams here were coming from Nigeria so our local farmers were encouraged to plant yams. We had only plantains, coco yams and colocassia. Farmers became so attached to livestock; pigs, goats, sheep in our own area here in the South West; in the North West the farmers raised cattle and other small ruminants. During these agric shows these items were brought and exhibited from the district level right up to the then provincial level.

So the intention at that time was to spur the growing of food, promote farmers and make them know that they can leave by agriculture ?
Yes. The aim at that time was to make sure that we grow more food. With this slogan a lot of food came up; Irish potatoes, beans, sweet potatoes… were introduced in the North West, even pears; oranges…were encouraged by the agric department. We were bringing seedlings and people were planting, I had my young farmers in Buea here and that is how I got involved in the first agric show. We had what we called the Vegetable Growers Association of Buea.

Were you involved in the organization of the 1973 agric show ?
I was the vice president of the CNU at the time; my young people were involved like scouts helping those who came from outside to know their locations. So my youth organization played a dominant role at the level of the agric show.

Were you involved at the level of organization ?
Yes, I was involved in all the major committees. I was involved in the organizing committee, lodging committee; the committees for receiving guests…. We had a reception point at two places, at the tourism office at that time and the prison officers’ comference hall of the Buea prison which is almost dilapidating now.
So at that time every body was involved in the agric show ?
Everybody was involved, it was a movement, the women were involved in receiving people, in cooking for dignitaries, the youth were there to receive people and guide them to various locations.

Would you say the 1973 agric show in Buea had significant changes to the West Cameroon style ?
Yes, specific strives came up and that is why our area is still one of the bread baskets of this nation.
What would you say Buea achieved from the agro-pastoral show ?
We in Buea acted like guinea pigs. But when the thing left here to other areas, the areas benefited from developmental projects like roads and other amenities. So we started but we never benefited as such. We hope that as it is going round again and making strives they will think of coming back to Buea or the South West so that we too can benefit as other areas have benefited.

What will you tell a young farmer today in Cameroon about agric shows ?
Agric shows are a good example of portraying what obtains in a given area. For us here I will like us to get a good representation of what is produced here like plantains, coco yams, yams and cassava with livestock products like pigs... we also hope that farmers here will also learn what is produced in the other areas and will have exchanges that will help improve their production.
A word to the organizers of the Ebolowa agric show…
I hope they will lay down a specific plan of action that will reflect specific issues nationwide by B.D.S

“The 1973 show encouraged people to know the importance of farming”,

Martin Tabufor, eye witness, 1973 agric show in Buea

What did you witness that day the Green Revolution was launched in Buea ?
The agric show took place in BHS in 1973 and it was the first experience for Buea. Farmers came from Muyuka with yams, Ekona with cocoyam, the local people in Buea also brought a lot of items including plantains and cocoyam, in fact, farmers and other persons came from all over. The 1973 agric show in Buea encouraged people to know the importance of farming.
Tell us what part you played as a participant ?
I participated not as a farmer but as a bookshop dealer. We were selling newspapers, magazines and posters of the then head of state President Amadou Ahidjo.

What developments were done in Buea just before the agric show ?
Far back 1973 Buea was not so developed as you see, in 1973 around Federal Quarters you had only mangoes and guavas, in the new lay out which is Great Soppo now there used to be farms, trees and mangoes but with developments since that time things are so developed now.
Did you witness any change in terms of infrastructure after the agric show ?
After the 1973 show people new that it is good to do farming and there was a lot of farm work going around Buea sub division particularly around the mountain. Everybody around new the importance of farming and after that there was a lot of coco yams available. But frankly speaking Buea benefited little or nothing in terms of infrastructure.

You mean the agric show sent more people to the farms in the South West ?
It actually sent a lot of people to the farms in the whole country since it was done all over the country from province to province. So it gave a lot of encouragement for farmers because farmers won prizes then sold their food again to add to what they were given.
Do you retain anything the president said in Buea that encouraged farming ?
President Ahidjo did a lot to encourage agriculture because he did not only end up with those speeches but opened so many agricultural establishments. Here he said encouraging words about agriculture that encouraged so many people to see agriculture as a solution.

What would you as an individual like the Ebolowa agric show in 2010 to look like ?
I am in support of the shows continuing because it encourages the farmers to produce more food and it helps to make more food available. But farmers should be given the encouragement and the support they need to produce more food.
How would you like Ebolowa to look like during the show ?
I encourage farmers to prepare well and take part; the bread basket of any country is agriculture
by B.D.S