In Chad: "Now We Are Seeing Results"

Africare
Monday, 1 March 2004

Africare Program Helps Turn Farmers into Entrepreneurs

In southern Chad, Africare is helping rural farmers become successful entrepreneurs. The Africare Project for Agriculture and Livestock Markets works in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is putting in place projects to enhance the ability of local communities to benefit from the Chad-Cameroon Pipeline Project. This project, the largest private sector investment in Sub-Saharan Africa, involves the development of oil fields in southern Chad and the construction of a pipeline to oil-loading facilities in Cameroon.

Africare's part of the project is to prepare and support rural farmers to provide agricultural produce and livestock, such as poultry and cattle, to the influx of populations around the oil fields. Africare provides technical support, access to credit, and training in business, technical areas, and marketing to local producer groups. Project participants must be very involved in developing business proposals, assessing risks, and managing for success and sustainability.

"IFC's partnership with Africare adds a lot of value to our work in Chad," states Eric Brusberg, senior environmental and social expert at IFC. "Africare has the technical and organizational expertise to deliver our agribusiness projects in a challenging environment. This work is very important for these small enterprises as it is their first step in transforming to larger, more efficient, profitable, and sustainable businesses."

The Africare team is headed by Tabo Nguero, a Chadian agronomist. He and his team are constantly visiting the farmers, dispensing advice and hands-on training on modern farming techniques, management skills, and marketing. Infrastructure in the Petroleum Zone where they work is very underdeveloped, so the team often has to make their visits on all-terrain motorbikes.

Mr. Nguero gave up lucrative job opportunities in Nigeria to return home to Chad to participate in the development of his country. He does not regret his decision, even though, he observes, "implementing the project has not been easy. But now that we are beginning to see results, it is gratifying." The results Mr. Nguero has observed include increased quality in products due to technical assistance and the newly acquired ability of illiterate farmers to negotiate bank loans.

For more information, or to contact Africare, see their website at: www.africare.org