Current situation of cavy production in Cameroon: Challenges and opportunities

摘要

ThereviewlooksatthecurrentstatusofcavyproductioninCameroonandsituatescavycultureintheareaoftheircontributiontomeatproduction,incomegenerationforcavyfarmersinCameroon.ItalsoreviewsresearchanddevelopmentofcavycultureinCameroon.Itindicatesthatcavycultureisanaffordablewayoutofmalnutritionforruralwomenandtheirfamiliesaswellasasustainablewayofincomegenerationforthesewomen.IthighlightstheworkdonebythevariouspromotionagencieslikeHeiferinternationalCameroonandtheprogrammeforthesupportofnon-conventionallivestockproduction(PAPENOC)incapacitybuildingforcavyfarmersaswellasprovidingmaterialsupport(improvedanimals,forageresourcesandveterinarycare).ItstressestheneedforcapacitybuildingforcavyfarmersasameansofpromotingcavycultureinCameroonandsummarisespresentandpaststudent/staffresearchoncaviesattheFacultyofAgronomyandAgriculturalSciences,UniversityofDschangincollaborationwiththeInstitutdeRecherchesZootechniquesetVétérinaires(presentlyInstituteofResearchforAgriculturalDevelopment-IRAD).Developmentneedsarealsosummarisedinthechallengesforresearchonbreedingandselection,nutrition,animalhealthandmanagementpractices.nbsp;ThepaperindicatesthatcavyproductioninCameroonwillhaveafaceliftasanewprojecton#8216;HarnessinghusbandryofdomesticcavyforalternativeandrapidaccesstofoodandincomeinCameroonandtheeasternDemocraticRepublicoftheCongo#8217;hasbeenimplementedsinceearly2012.ItconcludesthatthisprojectoffersagoldenopportunitytomovetheagendafordomesticcavyproductionforwardinCameroon.