Yaounde Initiative Foundation» Pierre Baleguel

CleanFarms Cameroon project completed successfully

Pierre Baleguel — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 11:54:42 +0000

With a final presentation to the Minister of Agriculture, the CropLife International-funded CleanFarms project in Cameroon has been completed with around 50 tonnes of obsolete pesticide from many sites repackaged in UN approved drums and bags and transported to a secure centralized store – see photograph of part of the stock. This was achieved without spillage or harm to any personnel involved, due in part to the expert supervision of the operations by the firm Veolia Environmental Services (UK) and the skill and dedication of the field teams from YIF and the Agricultural and Environmental Ministries. FAO also helped with some co-finance and logistics assistance from the country office, and are currently finalizing a Global Environment Fund project that will export the stocks for safe high temperature incineration.

CleanFarms Cameroon cleans up pesticide stores at Edea

Pierre Baleguel — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:20:06 +0000

The CleanFarms Cameroon project, funded by CropLife International, has been involved in late November/early December in theory and hands-on training in the skills of repackaging hazardous obsolete pesticides to safeguard them. The team included technicians from SECA – a national waste management company, and monitors from YIF, MINADER, MINEP and CropLife Cameroon. During the training, two pesticide stores at Edea were cleaned up, resulting in several tonnes of safely repackaged obsolete pesticide and associated waste. FAO have applied for funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to dispose safely of these obsolete stocks and others that will be safeguarded in 2012.

Capacity assessment of YIF

Pierre Baleguel — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 10:47:18 +0000

Manon Dohmen from the Knowledge and Skills Company based in Ghana, visited YIF in November 2010 to make an assessment of its capacity to continue to carry out work for CropLife International. She assessed managerial, technical and administrative capabilities and produced a very positive report highlighting the extensive experience, strong motivation and loyalty of Cameroonian staff, as well as the good managerial and technical support from its international staff. Her conclusion was that YIF is suitable and capable of implementing the CleanFarms project, but pointed out that the opportunity should be taken for YIF and CropLife Cameroon to work together to strengthen national capacity in both organisations for future implementation of initiatives such as empty container management programmes.