By Ngunyi Sonita Nwohtazie
BUEA, Cameroon – The South West Development Authority (SOWEDA) has successfully held the second edition of its Open Door’s Day in Buea. The event on Friday, April 4, aimed at showcasing the organization’s achievements and engaging directly with stakeholders, drew a large and diverse crowd, including partners and farmers, eager to connect with the institution.
SOWEDA, which has been operating for over 30 years, focuses on improving living conditions in rural communities across the South West Region of Cameroon. Its efforts span various sectors such as rural infrastructure, livestock development, rural electrification, and agriculture. The Open Door’s Day served as a platform to highlight these accomplishments.
“Existing for over 30 years and having an active online presence, we found it necessary to meet our people face-to-face to present what we’ve done and are currently doing,” said Dr Besong Ntui Ogork, Director General of SOWEDA. “This event offers a chance for the public to engage directly with our technicians and understand our work better.”
The event featured several exhibition stands representing different units within the organization. Visitors, especially farmers, expressed strong appreciation for SOWEDA’s ongoing support and developmental initiatives.
“SOWEDA has helped me as a farmer. Since its inception in 1987, it has carried out numerous rural development projects, constructing farm-to-market roads and distributing agricultural inputs that have significantly improved my productivity,” one farmer shared.
SOWEDA continues to support local agriculture by providing high-yield farm inputs such as cassava cuttings, maize, oil palm, cocoa, white pepper, and plantain at affordable prices. These efforts have encouraged farmers to invest in modern, more productive farming methods.
“The seedlings I received today are hybrid and it’s my first time trying them. I’m excited to see how they perform. With the affordable pricing, I’ll be back for more,” another farmer added.
This year’s Open Door’s Day introduced several innovations and showcased recent progress made by the organization. According to
Dr Besong Ntui Ogork, SOWEDA has completed numerous projects initiated in the previous year, including the PULCCA project and the ongoing promotion of white pepper cultivation, launched two years ago.
“In the area of infrastructure, one notable success is the Loum-Tombel-Kumba road, which was previously impassable but is now frequently used thanks to our intervention,” he noted.
Through initiatives like training centres for farmers, the construction of boreholes in rural communities, and continuous agricultural support, SOWEDA remains committed to uplifting the region’s rural populations. These projects not only enhance food production but also contribute significantly to local economic growth.
About SOWEDA
The South West Development Authority, SOWEDA, is an Administrative Public Establishment that was set up by presidential decree NO.87/1874, officializing its creation and operation. It serves as an instrument in the South West Region to oversee the identification and implementation of Government Programmes in Agriculture and Rural Development. SOWEDA’s ultimate goal, therefore, is to improve the socio-economic development of the people of the South West Region.
