Cameroon: Cameroon Cotton Farmers Pair Improved Seed With Nature-Based Methods
[Bird Story Agency] In Cameroon's northern cotton belt, growers are combining carefully controlled seed multiplication with trees, crop residue and water-conserving field design to improve yields and withstand dry spells.
Cameroon's cotton farmers are embracing a combination of improved seed varieties and nature-based methods to enhance yields and better cope with drought conditions. The practice is particularly evident in the northern cotton belt, where farmers like Akoura Sarki, in his late sixties, monitor their crops closely and apply pest controls when necessary.
Sarki, a seed multiplier, grows the first-generation certified seed, known as R1, under controlled conditions before distributing it to other farmers. This seed generation, produced from varieties selected through Cameroon's agricultural research system, is crucial for maintaining genetic purity. The cotton varieties used by the Cameroon Cotton Development Authority (SODECOTON) include IRMA Q302, IRMA A2188, IRMA Z2347, and IRMA D2A39.
Farmers are also implementing agroecological practices, such as planting Faidherbia albida trees among their cotton crops, which enrich the soil, retain water, and reduce erosion. These methods, combined with improved seed, are helping farmers adapt to climate change and maintain resilient cotton production.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
