STORY: ICRC sows seeds of hope for conflict-affected young farmers in Cameroon
DATELINE: Aug. 12, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:58
LOCATION: Yaounde
CATEGORY: ECONOMY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of views in Kerawa locality in the Far North region, Cameroon
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): NOURATOU BOUBA HADJA, ICRC agricultural engineer
3. various of people visiting a field of okra and maize in Mozogo locality in the Far North region
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): BOUKARA ABBA, Farmer
5. various of the family of Wandala Hoda eating together
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): WANDALA HODA, Displaced person
7. various of Simplice Sadou talking to others
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (French): SIMPLICE SADOU, Far North regional chief of agriculture and rural development
9. various of people chatting under a tree

STORYLINE:
 
Since 2014, a wide area of Cameroon's Far North region has been suffering from the fighting between the terrorist group Boko Haram and government forces.
   
The armed conflict and worsening humanitarian crises have left the region's agriculture sector struggling as more than half of the displaced persons come from agricultural backgrounds.
   
Thanks to an agricultural program by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), displaced persons are now earning a living through farming.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (French): NOURATOU BOUBA HADJA, ICRC agricultural engineer
"This year alone, we helped 26,000 people affected by the conflict, and we distributed high-quality seeds such as okra, corn, sorghum, and cowpea to them, which improved their diet. Through this help, they no longer go begging, and they no longer die of famine. There are families starving before ICRC's help. They did not eat for two days. Some people are forced into debt and sometimes they are forced to travel to other affected areas where they may risk their lives."
 
Boukara Abba owns a three-hectare farm.

The 31-year-old is one of several young people who have found fortune in agriculture in the volatile region.

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): BOUKARA ABBA, Farmer
"It wasn't like this before. Everything has changed. Production has increased. Look at the maize field, it is not the same as before. As a young man, we were unemployed. The ICRC came, and now we are living our lives."

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): WANDALA HODA, Displaced person
"We had nothing. Thanks to the agricultural project, we can prepare our meals. Everything we have was taken away, but the ICRC came to help us and gave us kitchen utensils, mats, sheets, and tarps. You see my neck was not like this, and you see how it is now thanks to the ICRC."
 
SOUNDBITE 4 (French): SIMPLICE SADOU, Far North regional chief of agriculture and rural development
"There has been a leap in the quality and quantity of seeds distributed in the region. Thanks to the important partnership established between ICRC and the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, it is recognized that in all areas where the partnership is operational, the income of these young people has increased because of the quality of the seeds."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Yaounde.
(XHTV)