Field Reports
North West Pig Farmers Cooperative Society
(NOWEPIFAC)
REPORT OF A TRAINING OF PIG FARMERS IN BATIBO SUB-DIVISION
Training day/date:- Monday 24th August 2015
Venue of Training:- Mbunjei Cultural Hall, (Batibo Sub division)
Written by'-
Wato Samuel and Atomba Titus
Secretary and project Coordinator/ CEO respectively
NOWEPIFAC - tel (237)653253131, (237)677578599 ,
P O Box 729 - Bamenda
North West Region - Cameroon
Website;- http//Nowepifac.com
Introduction.
After a hibernation period of above a year during which pig farmers took time to reconsider continuing the rearing of pigs
as they struggle to recover from the financial stress caused by the high dead toll that have occurred cumulatively over the years
2012, to 2014, NOWEPIFAC deemed it necessary to organize a special training with emphasis on bio-security measures
to help curb disease incidents.This training was not only organized for victims but also for every pig farmer who thinks that improving/updating ones knowledge is the key to success in pig farming.
Considering its geographical area of intervention which is still not half covered and further more considering the importance of pigs in the traditional life of the Batibo people, NOWEPIFAC thought it wise to improve the knowledge of the willing enthusiastic indigenes to help them sustain the practice and affiliate their existing farmer groups to the pig cooperative.
Batibo sub division and Guzang village in particular happens to be the home village of the founder of NOWEPIFAC and so this training is a home coming initiative to see if a prophet could be respected in his own home.
In line with the common saying that many heads are better than one, delegates of the newly affiliated groups as well as their members together with the already existing groups will constitute a reservoir for a democratic selection of future leaders of the pig cooperative when the time is up.
This training was organized thanks to the financial support of the "SOS Japan support Fund" from GO Komatsu, a Christian of the Tokyo Union Church (TUC) in Japan and other Japanese supporters.
Training sensitization visits;-
Before the training day a meeting with pig farmers of Batibo took place in the Mbujei Cultural Hall on Wednesday 15th July 2015. 
The meeting was aimed at keeping the farmers informed about the existence of NOWEPIFAC and the services that it renders to its members
as a community based civil society organization. During this meeting the need for a training was diagnosed
as farmers expressed the desire. Procedure for affiliation with NOWEPIFAC was explained to participants some of whom
immediately started to register.At the fore-front to carry out the training publicity in all the villages of Batibo sub-division was Mr. Emmanuel Tebi and 3 focal persons who were to register participants for the training in different areas were Mr. Tetuh Johnson for Nyenjei, Mr. Bacha Stanley for Ngenmewah, and Mr. Charles for Mbunjei.
It was not an easy task for these publicity agents who spent much communication credit as well as transport money to meet the people both in churches as well as in their private homes to educate and enroll them for this training. Despite their efforts some people still resisted to register through them directly and registered only on the training day.
List of participants (Transferred from the original list)
PARTICIPANT'S ATTENDANCE LIST
Original List of participants (Some participated without registering)
TRAINING TIME PLAN
Mobilizers, Trainer and facilitators ;-
To mobilize the population that turn out for this training, we will like to thank Mr. Emmanuel Tebi from Guzang for doing
the general mobilization using the various communication media and Mr. Bacha Standley for mobilizing the population of Ngenmewah
village, Mr Ndon Charles for mobilizing the people of Mbunjei and Mr. Tetuh Johnson for the Nyenjei population.The main trainer (local expert on pigs) was Mr. Atomba Tegwi Titus. He was assisted by Mr Njuh Charles who at same time was the facilitator who moderated the training workshop.
Financial Statement of the Training Workshop;-
*INCOME:
Registration fee 2000 x 73 …………… = 146.000FRS CFASOS Japan fund …………………………… = 77.000FRS CFA
Handout to participants x 10 ……… = 8.000FRs CFA - NB(anticipated income)
Total …………………………………………… = 231.000FRS CFA
*EXPENDITURE:
Training Photo Gallery
Wato Samuel(Standing), take stock of attendance and enroles new comers.
Strict control at the entrance from list of registration but the disabled were allowed free access.
Some times individual worries were given concern and the trainer gets closer to the concern.
Two easels were used, one for chalk use and the other for bold markers on flip charts.
After explanation feed ingredients were displayed on the floor for practical feed composition.
Participants listen attentively and use their note books to record important points.
The workshop was participatory/interactive such that question were allowed at any time.
Njuh Charles(standing), keeps the order of questions and time keeper for the day schedule.
Showing pictures of standing reflex in heat detection and others makes the training more interesting and keeps the participants more alert even though in the absence of a projector.
In relaxed and friendlier atmosphere participants feel free to ask interesting questions.
A topic on genetics to discourage in-breeding is very exciting and strange enough to know.
The consequences of inbreeding increases from the 2nd and 3rd filial generations as explained.
To drive away sleep, participants are called to come closer to the feed ingredients on the stage.
Good eye contact also helps to descend the knowledge better as they feel more attached.
During coffee break time a family photo was taken as the camera batteries were fast running out of charge. There after many interesting photos could not be taken.
Observation;-
It was observed that this training workshop was one of the most heavily attended training workshop organized by the cooperative
since 2012.Reasons for the massive attendance was the news of Djouke's Elferink, the Dutch girl's support project with the cooperative since 2007 of providing feed and piglets to people who enrich themselves and pass over the gift to other poor and needy persons.
From the evaluation at the end of the training, it was clear that participants left satisfied of having acquired new knowledge on pig rearing which they hope to use in their individual homes.
Some testified that if the lessons on bio-security were respected hopefully disease incidents will be minimized as much as possible.
Another farmers testified that she had kept pigs for long without keeping records so could only imagine the profitability and so after the training she will keep proper records of farm-puts in order to better evaluate the profit made from the practice.
Many others gave several testimonies but their common appeal was that Djouke should extend her initiative to Batibo sub division as they all intend to become members of Nowepifac as Bawock people have benefited much already.
Recommendation ;-
We will like to recommend more trainings in other interior villages within Batibo sub division because it was noticed
from those who did the mobilization that more people were interested in the training but distance was the barrier. We also think that since the project of Djouke has recorded the highest success so far since the creation of NOWEPIFAC and is helping to sustain the cooperative, we could extend her initiative to Batibo sub division, starting with a few persons and also with the infrastructure improvement project envisaged for October 2015 we could also target some few farmers whom with their own local contributions we can realize these infrastructures.
For a start we suggest five villages for the infrastructure and five persons for the POG initiative. Details of total expenditure and local/external contributions will be calculated later on in a summaries proposal that will follow soon.
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