Women displaced by the ongoing socio-political crisis in the North West Region are set to benefit from a new climate-smart agriculture initiative aimed at restoring livelihoods without the need for access to farmland.
The project, "soilless agriculture for the socio-economic empowerment of women and girls affected by crisis in Cameroon’s North West Region," was officially launched in Bamenda on Wednesday 5 August 2026 by UN Women.
The initiative responds to one of the most pressing challenges facing women in the conflict-hit region. Years of insecurity have displaced thousands of families, restricted access to farmlands and exposed women and girls to increased poverty and vulnerability. Traditional farming, the main source of income for many rural women, has become increasingly difficult as insecurity, urbanisation and shrinking cultivable land continue to limit agricultural production.
The pilot project introduces soilless agriculture as an alternative, enabling women to grow vegetables such as tomatoes and leafy greens using recycled containers, used tyres, sacks and other locally available materials in backyards, verandas and small household spaces.
Speaking during the launch, UN Women Project Officer Ajonga Emmanuel said the initiative was designed to provide practical solutions for women who no longer have access to land.
"Women in the North West face a double challenge because of the crisis. Many are displaced while others head households but cannot access farmland due to traditional land ownership practices. Soilless agriculture gives them an opportunity to produce food and improve their livelihoods without needing large plots of land," he explained.
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Beyond improving household food production, he said the project seeks to create lasting impact by working through existing government structures.
"We are involving ministries such as MINPROF, MINAS, MINADER and MINEPDED so that when this pilot phase ends, the technical support continues. If the project delivers the expected results, it can be scaled up across the region," he added.
The pilot targets 100 women drawn from ten organised groups, including internally displaced women, female-headed households, women with disabilities and members of minority communities across Bamenda I, II and III municipalities. Through their organisations, the project is expected to indirectly benefit more than 500 people at household and community levels.
Participants will receive training in household waste management, compost production, climate-smart agriculture, entrepreneurship, record keeping and cooperative management.
Sub Regional Delegate for Agricultural Development for the North West, Chugong Divine Chenwi, said the programme integrates several development challenges into one practical solution.
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"This project combines environmental protection, waste management, food production, climate adaptation and income generation into one package. It demonstrates that even limited household spaces can become productive assets capable of improving family nutrition and generating income," he said.
According to him, beneficiaries will learn how to transform recycled plastics, sacks and other discarded materials into vegetable production units while adopting farming techniques that require less water and limited space.
Environmental sustainability also features prominently in the project.
Chief of Brigade for Environmental Inspection at the Regional Delegation of Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, Derek Nchigham Tantoh, trained participants on household waste management and compost production.
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He encouraged communities to sort waste, recycle reusable materials and convert biodegradable waste into compost instead of dumping it indiscriminately.
The approach, he noted, will not only reduce pollution but also address problems such as blocked drainage systems and flooding while lowering production costs for household gardens.
For the participants, the initiative is timely
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Anguna Mariana M., Vice President of the Community Creative Centre for Women and Girls with Disabilities, CCCWGD said the training offers new hope for women living with disabilities who often lack access to farmland.
"I became interested because I realised I don't need a vast piece of land to produce food. We can use containers and household waste to grow healthy vegetables, feed our families and even generate income. It will also help keep our environment clean," she said.
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For Jara Patu Jibo, President of the KAIRU Women Group and an indigenous Mbororo woman, being included in the programme was a sign that vulnerable communities had not been forgotten by UN Women.
She said the knowledge gained would help women who have suffered the effects of the crisis improve their livelihoods and better support their families.
Following the official launch, selected government experts began intensive training sessions before moving into communities to train beneficiaries and establish demonstration gardens.
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UN Women expects the first production cycle to be completed before November, providing evidence that climate-smart, soilless agriculture can strengthen food security, improve environmental management and build economic resilience for women affected by the North West crisis.
If successful, the pilot is expected to provide a model that can be replicated across other vulnerable communities in the region UN Women officials say.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web
Tel: +237 694 71 85 77
BAMENDA, Cameroon, August 5, 2026
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