Prolinnova–Cameroon organised the first Farmer Innovation Fair in the country on 27–29 May 2021. A total of 50 farmers, including 21 women, from 10 regions in the country displayed their innovations and networked with other farmers, formal researchers and agricultural advisors. Local innovators and other stakeholders in agricultural research and development also took part in panel discussions on agroecology, innovative agri-food technologies and partnerships in agricultural innovation processes, among other topics. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) hosted the fair and gave awards to 14 farmer innovators, including special awards for innovations developed by women and youth. Over 1500 people visited the fair stands over the three days.
The September 2021 issue of the Appropriate Technology magazine (Vol. 48, No. 3) brings a 2-page article “First innovation fair celebrates farmer ingenuity in Cameroon” written by Abdel-Karim Ali Mahamane, Prolinnova’s Subregional Coordinator in West & Central Afrca, and Jean-Bosco Etoa, Prolinnova-Cameroon coordinator. The article highlights the awards given during the fair to young people – male and female – for their innovations in food processing.
