A Farming Revolution in Cameroon

My name is Andrew Toothacker. I am a fulltime student of sustainable agriculture in NY state at a free alternative institution called The Pfeiffer Center.

I share a dorm bathroom with Victor Kubia - A man on an incredible mission to bring all he has learned from his studies in the US about sustainable farming to his hometown Bamenda in the Northwest Provence of Cameroon. Victor is looking to establish a new center for sustainable and biodynamic farm education in Bamenda that will exist in conjunction with his NGO (Non-Government Organization) called Woman Power Sustainable Development.

(www.Womanpower.squarespace.com)

"The current state of Agriculture in Bamenda is deplorable due to the use of chemical fertilizer and destroyed soil conditions that have affected the lives of all who rely upon this ecosystem." Victor says.

On his most recent visit to Bamenda (April, 2015) Victor held court with The Northwest Farmers Organization (NOWEFOR) - An alliance of 3,454 farmers.

Victor was received with "warmth and jubilation" by the expectant farmers. Here he spoke about the relationship between poverty and famine and overall soil health. Victor also screened a movie about Biodynamic Agriculture called "One Man, One Cow, One Planet" By soil scientist Peter Proctor. This movie shows farmers in India transitioning successfully from chemical Agriculture into the 'closed system' biodynamic farms that prioritize the full spectrum needs of their community before selling out or buying in. 


Upon hearing of Victor's mission, Mr. Proctor himself mailed Victor a copy of this movie as well as a package of necessary farm literature.

The reception from NOWEFOR was "extremely positive" Victor says to me. "The use of expensive chemicals turns out to bring actually more hunger upon the farmers. Every year they have to buy tons of fertilizers for the soil before they can have a yield." Not only are these practices destroying their soil, but their health is a major concern for Victor.

At the education center that Victor will build in Bamenda, he will begin teaching handwork farming as the foundation of all larger scale methods. He will also focus on demonstrating farm scale biodynamic composting with vegetable and animal byproduct as the primary method of enriching the soil. When put into application with other sustainable practices like leaving land fallow with rotating crops and cover cropping, the dependency on chemical additives will decrease. "Healthy soil brings healthy food, which yields healthy bodies."

Victor also screened "One Man, One Cow, One Planet" to groups of about 300 farmers in Ndu, of 150 in Santa, and 100 Bafut. The overwhelming reaction he received was so powerful and enthusiastic.

Victor says: “They themselves are tired, so to see an alternative method in front of them was very exciting. They were ready! They asked to start right away.”


Unfortunately Victor did not feel he was ready to lead the effort until he himself had more training. He sent an appeal to an international organization in Dornach, Switzerland who sends ‘Ambassadors’ of Biodynamic farming to communities looking for guidance around the world. When the Section for Agriculture in Dornach informed Victor that there were no Ambassadors available, he decided to become one himself.


Fast forwarding 6 months, Victor left his family of 6 in Oklahoma to move to N.Y state for a yearlong training program in Biodynamic Agriculture. Victor works tirelessly to find funding for projects back home while washing dishes at a café here in New York to support himself and his family however he can.

If Victor is able to raise $9,000 that will translate to building the foundations of this educational institute. This money will be used to build a small shelter for animals and handwork tools like shovels, scuffle hoes, rakes...ect. This will also be enough money for small scale irrigation hoses that will guarentee crops throughout the dry season and even a green house necessary for growing reliable successions of vegetable plants.

The teaching will begin immediately in the form of compost making with industrial organic waste and animal manures. The resulting natural fertilizer will the foundation of Victor's dream and will be offered to farmers looking to try chemical free agriculture.

"They are ready to take this on and with so many already organized, there is a revolution waiting to happen! It can't wait."

NOWEFOR has offered to make machinery available to Victor's project.

When asked how thankful he will be if people are willing to help his family and his community in Cameroon with their donation, Victor replied:

"I will just be too overwhelmed with joy if this happens. My thanks and appreciation will go out to anyone who is willing to help. I believe the law of sowing and reaping is a natural law that never fails. Things will begin to happen your life too."