To fight poverty and enable youth of his section start life afresh, Pius Mingo is investing time and resources to this effect.
He has been involving the youth in a series of trainings on different economic activities that can enable them earn a living. Most of these young people are internally displaced persons who are returning home haven fled the area due to the socio-political crisis. Shortly after the trainings the smart ones are already setting up small farms.
David Yuven a 25 year old youth from Bamali is a typical example. He has launched his snail farm and according to him he started it at no cost. All he did was t build a cage for them; their food is readily available as they feed basically on vegetables. The little money he gets from selling the snail from restaurant operators has enabled him to start school again. It was easier for me to delve into herliculture (snail farming), than any other business because it does not require much capital, he said. Snail farming is one of the most overlooked agricultural businesses in Cameroon. However, with the increasing demand for snail in Cameroon and abroad, it is believed that there is likely going to be an explosion in the field not long from now. Reason why many youths are encouraged to get into the cultivation of snails in a bit to meet up with local and international demand. Snail farming meets a lot of needs in the market, from meat production to skincare productions. The meat, the slime, the snail eggs or the shells, are economically useful.
This explains why Pius Mingo is leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that youths from his section carry out this activity and many more that have been neglected such as fish smoking, Mushroom cultivation, and rabbit farming.
To facilitate the task for his youth, he lobby’s for support from the elite and well wishers in the sole objective of uplifting the youth from poverty.
He continues to urged them to invest in heliculture, adding that it’s a viable business venture that is being explored in other parts of the world, and which if the youth of his section successfully catch the vision there is no doubt that they will be reestablish economically in no time
“Snail farming is a low-risk business, unlike many other livestock businesses, snail farming required very little start-up and operating costs.” Yuven emphasizes.
“It is not time-intensive and allows you to focus on other businesses,” he continued.
Romanus Bouna, another heliculturist, who says his children are in school thanks to this business noted that snail farming practice is highly untapped, it is a money-making machine with vast possibilities, he said.
They plan to seize this opportunity and grow rather than wait on the government.
Irene Aweneg, with Field Reports
