New (September 10, 2009): Cameroon trial data show strong improvement in maize yield - summary report

Kumba, Cameroon, September 10, 2009 - Since December 2008, more than 1500 subsistence farmers in Cameroon's South-West Region (SWR) have been participating in the largest-ever field trial testing the effects of biochar on crop productivity. The first results of this ongoing experiment, based on maize planted in a large series of plots, are now available.

The data can be described as 'remarkable', in that they demonstrate how biochar consistently helps to boost crop productivity in tropical soils, sometimes in a spectacular manner.

The preliminary results suggest that biochar may offer a solution to hunger and food insecurity amongst the world's poorest, as well as to soil depletion and tropical deforestation. 

Read the SUMMARY REPORT, or go straight to the DATA PAGE or to the PICTURE PAGE .

Key Farmers Cameroon is a non-profit self-help organisation with the mission of promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development. KEY FARMERS is an umbrella organization of 50 autonomous groups and 1,200 members. Members come from 25 different villages.

Our aim is to pool efforts for the fight against poverty, misery and social inequality in our households and communities. Our strategy is participatory agricultural outreach, training and research activities. Our main activities are crop and animal husbandry, gender, HIV & AIDS education, agro-forestry, agro-tourism, etc.

As a farmers-owned organization, our mission is to effectively share our knowledge to manage resources and develop our potential, while taking into consideration our understanding of the causes and effects of structural poverty.

Within the past three years, KEY FARMERS has been very active in agricultural extension, research and training of farmers on:

Improving cultural practices through seed propagated tree crop nurseries 

Training and education of farmers through demonstration plots

HIV & AIDS education campaigns 

Marketing assistance

Empowerment of women 

Pest and disease control

Bio-diversity conservation through agro-forestry and bee-keeping

These themes are executed through: 

Individual farms

Group demonstration farms

Farmers' exchange visits

Exhibitions and advertisements

Trainings, workshops and farm trials

Collaboration with government services and institutions