These improved maize seeds were donated recently in Lewoh by the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) with support from the Southwest Regional Delegation of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER).
The type of maize seeds donated according to ERuDeF Agroforestry Coordinator in Lebialem, Elong Smith, is a special variety that produces high yields within a short period of time.
“The improved maize seeds have high yielding capacity and are ripe for harvesting within a period of 3 months depending on the soil type” he said.
Speaking during the seed donation ceremony, ERuDeF’s President/CEO, Louis Nkembi, cautioned the women cooperative members not to eat the maize, but to plant them immediately.
“These seeds are not to be eaten because they have applied preservative chemicals in order to boost their yields. The seeds are for planting. Take only the quantity that can be planted for this year. If you keep for next year, the maize will not do well because of the chemical applied on them,” Louis Nkembi advised.
The Cooperative members were each asked to take the donated maize seeds to their respective zones for proper distribution. These zones include, zone 1: Nzenata and Efong, zone 2: Njieh, Tamo and Mbin, zone 3: Ngong, Nchenellah, Ntenchou and Atoh, zone 4: Anyah and Lap and zone 5: Menky, Afor, Ndung, Nwehbiseh and Upper Lewoh.
The Cooperative Society members thanked ERuDeF and MINADER for the gesture, promising to work as a team for the development of their community.
The seed donation ceremony also served as an avenue to identify the problems of LeWoCoS so as to propose solutions that would improve on the livelihood of its members.
By Ntungwa Elong
