Despite enduring challenges, these unsung heroes of the agriculture sector in Campo, Ocean Division, of the South Region, are making incredible strides fighting against climate change, and strengthening food security and biodiversity conservation.
Yaounde, Cameroon– It is the morning of Friday December 12, 2025. Mama Agnes, a farmer in her late fifties, is carefully packing bags of fresh onions in a sack. These are her best harvest and the fruits of her year-long labour.
She is taking them to the esplanade of the Government Primary School (GPS) Campo. It is an almost thirty-minute drive from her residence.
This site will host a peasant mini-fair. It is a crowd-pulling event that draws hundreds of women from villages across the division. This is Agnes’s first time attending the peasant mini-fair.
“I am happy to be here,” she says with a broad smile, looking at her produce laid out attractively on the floor.
“I did not know what to expect, but I am really happy now,” she added.
Mama Agnes, epitomizes the diligence and resilience of women of Campo. Like her, the women of Campo are at the forefront of ensuring food security, and driving socio-economic transformation with their toil and passion. The peasant mini-fair was an occasion to celebrate their strides.
The peasant mini-fair was in its third edition after a debut in 2023 and late last year. This year’s event was observed under the theme: “Women and young people, key actors in agroecology”.
The peasant mini-fair is organized by a women-led association called AFRiSC-Campo. This was in collaboration with not-to-profit organization, Green Development Advocate (GDA).
It was presided by the representative of the Divisional Officer (D.O) of Campo in the presence of the Subdivisional Delegate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) and the representative of the Mayor.
This year had several innovations. According to AFRiSC-Campo, compared to the previous two years, the 2025 edition witnessed the presence of hundreds of women. They attributed the growing numbers to massive sensitization.
Also, the women, it was said, displayed a variety of foodstuffs which attracted an unprecedented crowd. However, one of the main innovations was the involvement of the youth who are taking keen interest in agriculture.
Campo women commit to “feed the population”
Speaking during the peasant mini-fair, the President of AFRiSC-Campo, Mengue Medjo Marlyse Nadege revealed that the women of Campo are determined to end food insecurity in their communities.
Mengue said through the two-day gathering, the women of Campo have, beyond the shadow of a doubt, proven that “they are already capable of coming together and to feed the population of Campo”.
“The women of Campo have already taken the decision to feed the population. We know that they are going to accomplish the task. This was not only to flatter the population and authorities, but it is a commitment that the women of Campo have taken the decision to feed the population of Campo regardless of obstacles that they will face,” Mengue told reporters.
Mengue added that they are determined to reach their targets albeit the challenges. She admitted that the women of Campo are confronted with several obstacles that have prevented them from reaching their full potential in the agricultural sector. She cited the effects of climate change, deforestation, the lack of seeds among others.
“We have taken the decision to work harder, preserve seeds to replant. We are trying to conserve the soil through various techniques that do not destroy them [referring to the soil]. We practice modern agriculture, one that prevents women from destroying biodiversity. We do not burn anymore. We use agro-ecological methods”.
“Do not give up”-GDA tells Campo women
The Project Assistant of GDA, Kengmo Fouego Maree Clarissa seized the occasion to underscore the importance of the theme of this year’s peasant mini-fair.
According to the GDA official, agro-ecology remains key in combating climate change and strengthening food security. She admitted the hurdles the women faced but reminded them of the need to believe in themselves.
She said: “We encourage these women not to give up despite the direct and indirect effects of several projects. They should summon the courage to move forward, continue to work and never give up because hard work pays”.
Kengmo also hailed the women for their resilience and impeccable organization of the event. She confessed that: “There is a great improvement. We came here to witness how these women are able to organize this peasant mini-fair. We are here to support them”.
“We are proud of the women of Campo”
The representative of the Divisional Officer of Campo, Ntari Bon Vingedou, rained praises on the women for their consistency and efforts in the agricultural sector.
Ntari, who is also the Assistant Divisional Officer of Campo “encouraged them to go ahead, make a step forward, and redouble efforts”.
“We are proud of the women of Campo for the efforts they are making. We have seen tubers; cassava, plantain at moderate prices. We encourage them to move forward.”
“Campo is strengthening its development. We are happy to see the efforts of our women in Campo,” he added.
He assured them of the support of the government stating that they are ready to assist them to mitigate the challenges on their way.