About this project
The Western Region of Cameroon is one of the country’s major agricultural hubs. The population, mostly rural, relies heavily on subsistence farming for both food security and income. However, agricultural yields have been alarmingly declining in recent years, mainly due to the progressive degradation of soils. This deterioration largely results from the intensive and prolonged use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. While these inputs may temporarily improve productivity, in the medium and long term they disrupt the biological structure of the soil: they destroy beneficial microorganisms, deplete natural nutrients, acidify the soil, and reduce its water retention capacity.
This situation has led to an increasing dependence of farmers on chemical fertilizers, rising production costs, declining soil fertility, and reduced crop quality. In light of this, it has become urgent to initiate a transition towards sustainable, ecological, and resilient agriculture. It is within this framework that the present project is being developed, aiming to restore soils depleted by chemical inputs through the use of biological amendments derived from local resources, particularly rabbit urine — a natural resource that remains underexploited despite its promising agronomic potential.
The project leader, trained in organic agropastoral practices, owns and manages a functional rabbit farm located in Bafoussam. The farm is equipped with modern hutches that enable regular and hygienic collection of rabbit urine, which is currently underutilized. Yet, rabbit urine is naturally rich in essential fertilizing elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg), making it a complete, natural, cost-effective, and readily available organic fertilizer.
This project addresses three key challenges:
Environmental – restoring soil fertility, reducing pollution from chemical fertilizers, and promoting biological regeneration of degraded lands.
Economic – offering farmers a local and affordable alternative.
Social and Educational – training youth in agroecological practices and creating green jobs.
The proposed solution is simple, sustainable, and requires neither chemical processing nor complex equipment. It is based on a circular economy approach, whereby livestock by-products directly nourish the soil, thus reducing waste and strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems.
In addition to the use of rabbit urine, the project also includes the production of enriched compost made from manure, crop residues, and plant ashes, as well as the introduction of cover crops (such as mucuna, soybean, and beans) to combat erosion and enhance nitrogen fixation in the soil. The project is scalable and replicable in other rural areas, relying on local resources and methods adapted to the socio-cultural realities of the communities.
Goals and Objectives
General Objective
Contribute to the ecological restoration of degraded agricultural lands through the valorization of a natural organic fertilizer: rabbit urine.
Specific Objectives
Promote the use of biological amendments among young farmers.
Test the effectiveness of rabbit urine on depleted soils.
Reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in the medium term within the target area.
Expected result
This project, focused on restoring soils degraded by the excessive use of chemical fertilizers through the application of biological amendments based on rabbit urine, aims to generate concrete, sustainable, and replicable results on the environmental, economic, social, and educational levels. The expected outcomes are structured as follows:
1. Improved soil fertility and reduced dependence on chemical inputs
The target lands in the Bafoussam area, depleted by prolonged use of chemical products, will benefit from a regular supply of organic fertilizers, particularly rabbit urine and enriched compost. This will enable:
The biological regeneration of soils through the restoration of microbial life.
Improved soil texture, water retention capacity, and physical structure.
A progressive and measurable reduction in the use of costly and polluting chemical fertilizers.
2. Valorization of local resources and promotion of the circular economy
Using rabbit urine as an organic fertilizer will transform a previously neglected by-product into a valuable agricultural resource. This process:
Reduces losses in the livestock system (no unnecessary waste).
Generates local added value at low cost.
Strengthens farmers’ self-sufficiency in fertilizer inputs.
3. Creation of economic opportunities and green jobs
The production, collection, valorization, and distribution of rabbit urine, along with compost production and increased legume cultivation (beans, soybeans, mucuna), will create new income-generating activities. The project foresees:
The involvement of young people (both girls and boys) in these local value chains.
The creation of 4 to 6 direct jobs (collection agents, packaging, outreach) and additional indirect jobs in the medium term.
The development of a viable local economic model based on renewable natural resources.
4. Capacity building of producers and dissemination of agroecological practices
Training sessions will be organized for young farmers, local producers, and cooperative members. These sessions will cover:
Techniques for producing and applying organic fertilizers.
Ecological farming practices (cover crops, crop rotation, etc.).
Awareness of soil health, resource conservation, and climate resilience.
5. Replicability and sustainability of the model
Through the documentation of implemented practices and continuous evaluation of results, this project aims to:
Serve as a pilot model that can be replicated in other rural areas facing similar challenges.
Promote a community-driven dynamic in favor of sustainable and regenerative agriculture.
In summary, these outcomes will contribute to improved food security, strengthened local agricultural sovereignty, and the protection of fragile ecosystems in the region.
About me / organisation
MAWE FOTIE DAMARICE
Name: MAWE FOTIE Damarice
Position: Founder and Manager of Dam’s Délices Farm
Experience: Over 2 years of experience in rabbit farming and the valorization of agricultural resources, after completing training in organic agropastoral practices and agro-food processing. Volunteer and Trainer in income-generating activities in the agro-food sector for the empowerment of women at HURAC.
Role in the project: Ensure overall supervision and coordination of production, collection, and valorization activities of rabbit urine as a biological amendment. Provide guidance to beneficiaries during training sessions, monitor the implementation of activities, and evaluate the achievement of results.