Improved Fireside : Here Comes More Convenient, Efficient Cooking!

Call it a “new” technology, innovation or whatever you choose. But the fact remains. That its introduction is revolutionizing lives. That is, making cooking more comfortable and less cumbersome. And more importantly, more efficient. Because, by far less fuel wood is required. Now, let’s look at the bigger picture. The multiplier effect or implication of the introduction of the technology. 

Major Objective Met
A major project objective is being met. Without much struggle! Because the pressure on forest cover through the cutting down of more trees for fuel wood is being checked. Welcome to the new technology! Welcome to the improved fireside! Welcome to efforts to protect the biodiversity in and around Benue National Park in the North Region!

Little Wood Required
 “The improved fireside built in our kitchen uses less wood, but prepares food faster! Before now, my wife could finish a fat log of wood in two days! Now, she now uses the same log for 7 days!” says Temsou Alphonse, a member of Takdaka farming group. Located in Pani village. On the outskirts of Benue National Park. 

Emulated By Other Villagers 
“Almost every home in Pani and even in neighbouring villages - including many who are not members of Takdaka group - now uses the new technology introduced by Forêts et Développement Rural, FODER,” concurs Djaourou Sali Haman. A local traditional chief and leader of Takdaka. 

Lives Transformed 
“FODER has changed our lives through the introduction of improved firesides,” says Halimatou Abbo, a member of Remobe farming group in Larki village. Also located near Benue National Park. Remobe comprises 35 members, including 24 women and also receives support from FODER. As part of the project, Ecosysteme du Nord Cameroun, EcoNorCam: Vers une approche intégrée du paysage (North Cameroon Ecosystem, EcoNorCam: Towards an integrated landscape management).

Consortium At Work
The project is sited in and around Benue National Park in the North Region. But covers Benue and Mayo Rey Divisions of the North Region. EcoNorCam runs from January 2021-December 2024 and is financed by the European Union. It is implemented by a consortium of three Non-governmental Organisations. They are the Wildlife Conservation Society, WCS, le Centre pour l’Environnement et le Développement, CED and Forêts et Développement Rural, FODER association. 

Routine Monitoring, Evaluation 
Meanwhile, a delegation from Forêts et Développement Rural headquarters in Yaounde is currently on a routine internal mission in the North Region of Cameroon to evaluate FODER’s component of EcoNorCam. The mission is led by Laurence Wete Soh. 

1,500 Improved Firesides Built 
“EcoNorCam has constructed about 1,500 improved firesides in homes in the project area. The firesides are constructed by 30 women trainers trained by the project. They move from village to village, helping women to construct improved firesides in their kitchens,” explains Bonné Guisatta, head of FODER’s component of EcoNorCam.

Material Locally Available 
“Improved firesides are constructed with clay soil, using thatch and stones. They have provision for a chimney that collects the smoke and makes cooking more comfortable. Their advantage is that flames and heat are concentrated under the pot, thereby making cooking faster. They also use less wood and therefore reduce the pressure for fuel wood on the park and the environment in general. Moreover, the material needed to construct improved firesides is available locally,” Guisatta assures.  

Spreading Far And Near
“The use of improved firesides is spreading to more households and communities. Some women constructed improved firesides for their families when they travelled home out of the project zone on holidays. This helps to reduce the pressure on forest cover for firewood,” Laurence Wete notes.

Expected Resistance 
However, the introduction of the improved fireside was expectedly not without struggle. “There was resistance amongst women who were used to the traditi...