The Kitchen-Garden Project is a farm initiative that involves the use of aquaponics technology_ a climate-smart agricultural farming system that merges fish farming and crop cultivation. This project is designed to solve the problem of water scarcity, limited availability of arable land, and increase in demand for food. Apart from providing solution to these problems, the Kitchen-Garden Project equally has a significant economic potential. Its inclusion of aquaponics farming technology favours the limited use of chemical fertilizers hence boosting the health and life span of those consuming it. Furthermore, this system conserves water as compared to traditional farming methods. Despite the economic opportunities offered by the Kitchen-Garden Project there are still some hinderances to its implementation. However, if the right measures and resources are put in place, these hinderances can be resolved, allowing for the maximum exploitation of this circular economy agricultural technique on which our project is based.

Following the unrest in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon, urban and sub-urban areas in the country have witnessed a heavy influx of Internally Displaced Persons. This is especially true for the cities of Douala and Yaoundé. As a result of this rural-urban migration, there is an increase in the population of these cities. This increase in population has led to an up surge in the demand for food, water scarcity and limited availability of arable land. RDWB felt the need to address the above listed problems. That is why we implemented the Aquaponics Project. a. Water scarcity By merging fish farming and crop cultivation the Aquaponics Project addresses the problem of water scarcity in the sense that, the same water which is used in the fish ponds is irrigated through the pipes in which the vegetables are grown. b. Increase in the demand for food Aquaponics resolves the problem of a high demand for food in the sense that this method of farming favours the growth of quick maturing vegetables such as cucumbers, cabbages, lettuce, cucumber and broccoli_ all of which have very high nutritive values. c. Limited availability of arable land Aquaponics involves a soilless approach of farming. As such, one does not require much space or land to set up an aquaponics system.

i. The non-use of fertilizers in crop cultivation reduces farming cost ii. Aquaponics favours the cultivation of quick maturing vegetables such as lettuce, cabbages, cucumber, broccoli and cauliflower. This implies that farmers do not have to wait for a long time before they can sell farm produce. iii. The combination of fish farming and crop cultivation in the same space provides farmers with a diversity of farm produce. iv. Aquaponics aligns perfectly with future market trends which are leaning more towards organic food and crops v. Aquaponics allows for all year crop cultivation thereby increasing annual yield for farmers vi. Aquaponics uses 90% less water than conventional farming. vii. This method of farming has a lower operational cost since it does not require soil, thereby eliminating the need for land, a resource which is becoming scarce and expensive. viii. The system requires less maintenance given that there is no need for tilling the soil or weeding the plants.

a. No use of fertilizers In this farming system, all the nutrients needed for plants growth are gotten from fish waste. As such farmers use of fertilisers is reduced to a greater extent given that the fish waste serves as a major nutrient source for the plants. The fact that there is no application of inorganic fertilizers helps to reduce the cost of farming or production. b. Health benefits i. The non-use of inorganic fertilizers in crop cultivation reduces the chemical content of the crops thereby preventing illnesses such as cancer. Thus, encouraging farmers to go in for this farming method would consequently improve their quality of life and increase their life span. ii. Via this method, breastfeeding women can now afford nutritious food which is good for their wellbeing and that of their babies, given that a lot of vegetables and cereals can be grown via this method. c. Adaptation to climate crisis: Climate change has resulted in unsteady weather patterns and droughts. This has reduced the quantity of water available for farming. Aquaponics intervenes at this point through the fact that it requires less water for irrigation and fish farming. Aquaponics uses 90% less water than conventional farming. d. Novelty Our Kitchen-Garden Project embeds the aquaponics technology, a climate-smart method of farming which is relatively new in Cameroon and is still unknown to a lot of Cameroonians. e. Community Empowerment i. our initiative is implementing a food-water-health nexus which is giving hope to displaced women and girls. The program is training these women to develop their own kitchen gardens so that they can afford healthy meals and also sell some to gain funds to buy other needs. Some of the girls whom we have trained explain the technology to former British High Commissioner in Cameroon ii. This initiative is implementing a food-water-health nexus which is giving hope to displaced women and girls. Through this program, we are training women to develop their own kitchen gardens so that they can afford healthy meals and also sell some to gain funds to buy other needs.