The process of the creation of Rice Cooperative Associations in the West and Far North Regions of Cameroon has been effectively completed. The rigorous exercises took place successively in the West and Far North Regions following the prescriptions of the OHADA law and under the Registrars of Cooperatives and CIGs in the West and Far North Regional Delegations of MINADER, respectively.

In the West Region, delegates of the two Cooperative Unions: Unions des Societes Cooperatives de Production et Transformation du Riz de Bangorain, (USOCOPTRIBA-COOP-CA) and the Union des Cooperatives des Riziculteurs de Santchou (UCARISA COOPS-CA) unanimously elected Professor Anaclet Fomethe as the President and Mr. Njikam Salifou as Vice-President of the West Rice Cooperative Association, through a voting exercise that took place in the West Regional Delegation of Agriculture, under the supervision of the Regional Delegate of Agriculture and Rural in the presence of staff of the RVCDP led by the Project Coordinator, and delegates of both cooperatives. The Board of Directors and Supervisory Board were also put in place to pilot the affairs of the West Rice Cooperative Union.

The same activity took place in Maga in the Far North Region of Cameroon, where the over 30 Rice Cooperatives in the area were able to unanimously elect Mr. Hamadou Paul and Mr. Zigha Adibe as President and Vice-President respectively, of the Far North Rice Cooperative Association. The elections took place in the Conference room of the Divisional Office of Maga, under the supervision of the Divisional Officer for Maga, the Regional Delegate of Agriculture and Rural Development for the Far North, the Project Coordinator of the RVCDP, the Divisional Delegate for MINADER for Maga and facilitated by the Registrar for Cooperatives and CIGs in MINADER for the Far North Region. After 2 days of intense work, the Delegates from the various cooperatives elected the executives for the Association, the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Board to run the affairs of the Cooperative Association.

They duly elected officials were installed into their functions by the Divisional Officer for Maga, who asked them to put aside their differences at the level of the cooperatives and join forces to ensure a success of the project. The Project Coordinator of the RVCDP on his part, called on the elected officials to regard their election as an opportunity to serve and not to be served. He reminded them that the success of the project in Maga lies in their competence and sense of responsibility and sacrifice.

With all 3 Apex structures in the project implementation units set up, we anticipate the commencement of field activities of the RVCPD soonest, while the Associations finish up the paper work to complete the registration process.