Fontem, Cameroon | January 28, 2026 — The MBONWEH Development Association on Wednesday carried out a large-scale outreach project in Fontem Subdivision, Lebialem Division of the South West Region, aimed at rebuilding livelihoods and strengthening food security among rural women through agriculture.

The outreach, held at the Maria Poly Conference Center, brought together close to 400 women farmers, traditional authorities, local administrators, and representatives of the association. The project, titled “Rebuilding Livelihoods of Women-Returning Host Communities Through Agriculture Training, Farm Tools and Seed Support Using an Age, Gender and Diversity Approach,” targets women who rely on small-scale farming as their main source of income.

As part of the initiative, beneficiaries received basic agricultural tools including hoes, cutlasses, and wheelbarrows to ease land preparation and increase farm productivity. The women were also trained on proper planting techniques, seasonal farming practices, and basic modern agricultural methods. Improved vegetable seeds, yam sets, and seedlings were distributed to support the upcoming planting season.

Addressing participants, the Divisional Officer for Fontem Subdivision encouraged development partners and donors to continue supporting women-focused agricultural projects. He commended women’s development associations for their long-standing contribution to the growth of Fontem, noting that such organizations have supported farming communities for over three decades.

Project Director Ms. Asaba Prudencia of the MBONWEH Women’s Development Association said empowering women through agriculture remains central to the organization’s mission, especially following the devastating effects of the eight-year armed conflict in the area.

She explained that the association, founded in 1987, has worked for decades to promote women’s empowerment, the education of the girl child, and youth development, while introducing modern and eco-friendly farming practices and new crop varieties such as calabash yam and Ghana yam.

An economist with the association stated that the project is designed to build resilience among women returning to their communities after displacement, adding that additional capacity-building workshops and planting materials will be provided in the coming weeks.

Several beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the support, describing the distribution of tools and seeds as a major boost to their farming activities. They said the assistance would help them expand their farms, increase yields, and reduce the burden of manual labor during the farming season.

The women empowerment initiative has been described by local stakeholders as timely and impactful, as Lebialem communities continue to recover from years of conflict that disrupted agricultural production and displaced thousands of residents.