Promoting Small & Medium Enterprises for Sustainable development in Manyu through Trade shows by Simon Etta

Beds produced with fine Manyu wood and sold locally.

Poverty results from unequal access to resources and power and sometimes between social and cultural groups. It is therefore important that the fight against any form of poverty galvanizes strong organizations that serve the interest of the poor and help change structures that sustain poverty. We also know too well that the basic purpose of development is to enlarge people’s choices by creating enabling environments to live long, healthy and prosperous lives. The question is how do we develop the right model within our current organizational structures to fight poverty in Manyu division?

This food processing company based in Mamfe packages spices for export.

Although global wealth has more than doubled since the 90’s, half of the worlds’ population still sustains on less than $2 (900CFA) a day. In most parts of the world, especially in sub-Sahara Africa, poverty remains a major challenge to sustainable development, security and stability. Economic growth that is inclusive and reaches the majority of the masses is the only medicine to alleviating chronic poverty. Since small and medium size enterprises are the backbone of economic activity in any society, improving their performance, and sustainability at the local level through public events and exhibitions can increase their leverage to the world.

Locally made Cane chairs are durable and affordable for many house-holds.

Food processing machinery - needed by our farmers:

Trade shows have therefore become a perfect setting to meet potential customers and develop business network resources for our local enterprises. One such event took place in Mamfe during the week of November 14, bringing together business and investors all over Cameroon and Manyu division. The forum provided an opportunity to make direct entries to markets, interact with exhibitors and show case products made in Manyu such as machinery, textiles, clothing, woodwork, building material, food products etc.

Egusi Pudding cake, now used for weddings and special events.

Although many of our people do not currently take advantage of trading for lack of capital and entrepreneurial spirit, events like trade shows do provide the opportunity to develop synergy with trading partners from far and near. With a vast forest land and abundance of food and cash crops, Manyu division can certainly develop a fledging small and medium enterprise infrastructure that will help sustain development and alleviate poverty through open border trade with the biggest market in Sub Sahara Africa (Nigeria).

Office table made out of Mahogany wood found in rich Manyu forest.

Customized/mechanized Tri-cycle for handicap use - made in Manyu division.

Note:

Pictures were taken by MEDWC USA Member - Mr. Victor Eware Tataw who was present during the 2009 trade show in Mamfe.

Buying a ticket for International travel by Elizabeth Smith, eHow Writer

When you're purchasing plane tickets, timing can be everything. Ticket prices change from day to day, and even from seat to seat. When purchasing plane tickets, you can get the best price by heeding a few simple tips and following some basic strategies:


Time Frame

1. In general, the best time to start searching for a plane ticket is the moment you have an idea of your itinerary and travel dates. The sooner you start assessing the general trend of ticket prices, the more able you will be to find a good deal. As a travel date approaches, plane tickets tend to get more expensive due to increased demand.

Geography

2. When buying a plane ticket, consider the general trend of prices. Normally, ticket prices rise during the high tourist season. A ticket to Rome in January, for example, will generally be far cheaper than a ticket to Rome in July. When planning your trip, consider buying plane tickets for travel in the tourist off-season.

Identification

3. Take advantage of an airline search engine's alert features. Both Kayak and Orbitz allow you to sign up for email alerts when prices for your specified itinerary drop below a target price. When you get such an email, act immediately to purchase your plane ticket, as the price may rise soon thereafter. For some itineraries, ticket prices can vary by hundreds of dollars within the same month or week.

Features

4. Use websites like FareCompare to get an idea of the pricing history of you chosen route. FareCompare will give you the best prices between a selected pair of cities for each month of the year, and will allow you to see prices from the past year. Once you have selected a month to travel, the site will display prices for each day of that month, so you can choose by price or schedule.

Theories/Speculation

5. It is widely felt that the best time of the week to buy plane tickets is from midnight to 1 or 2 a.m on Wednesday. Apparently, this is the time when airline reservation systems are updated and new fares come into effect. As only a certain number of seats are generally available at a low fare, they tend to sell out quickly. While there is no hard evidence to support this belief, it can't hurt to try; also try your searches at different times of the day and night to increase your changes of getting a bargain.

Cameroon: Electricity supply - Foundation to Industrial Expansion by Lukong Pius

Bassa Dam - Mozambique

Achievements

The liberalisation of the electricity sector followed by the privatisation of the then National Electricity Corporation (SONEL), giving out 56 per cent of its shares to AES SONEL, a component of the United States' group in July, 2000, remains one, if not, the major reform taken by the New Deal regime to foster energy production in the country.

The persistent shortage of energy accompanied by constant cuts and seasonal load shedding has not left the powers indifferent. This is explained by the building up of a national electricity development programme which consists mainly of the construction of giant hydroelectric projects. These include the Memve'ele Hydroelectric Dam to be built on the river Ntem in the South region and the Lom Panga water reserve in the East region. Other minor hydroelectric projects have equally been earmarked such as the Natchtigal dam to reinforce energy supply to the Aluminium Smelting company (ALUCAM) in Edea.

Another milestone covered in the drive to step up energy production was the creation in November, 2006 of the Electricity Development Corporation (EDC). The mission assigned to this structure is as follows: management on behalf of the state of public assets in the electricity sector; studying, preparing or executing of any infrastructure project in the electricity sector that is entrusted by the State; and participation in the promotion and development of public and private investment in the electricity sector.

Challenges

Due to certain factors, the measures so far taken may not have produced expected results notably satisfying increasing demand from industries and the population. According to AES-SONEL, total energy production in Cameroon today, stands at 971 Megawatts against an estimated demand of over 1,500 megawatts. The major challenge in the electricity sector is to put to maximum the exploration and exploitation of the country's energy potentials. Already, some electricity projects abound in the likes of Lom Pangar and Memve'ele. As the Head of State said in his speech to the Council of Ministers last April, there has been a lot of laxity in the execution of the said projects. Experts blame the delay on lack of financing. The seven-billion cubic metre-Lom Pangar dam project is estimated at CFA 140 billion while the Memve'ele hydroelectric dam will cost CFA 365 billion.

The Way Out

Menchum Falls - Bamenda

The cabinet meeting of July 09, 2009 that followed the Council of Ministers' Meeting set records straight. The Prime Minister defined the channel to follow in order to increase energy supply in the country. That channel has to do with using thermal and natural gas resources, pending the completion of on-going hydro-power projects. Authorities of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and AES-SONEL have earmarked a strategy to boost production pending 2011 when some of the Kribi gas Fired Plant and the Lom-Panga projects are expected to go operational. The strategy has to do with rehabilitating energy supply plants and stations to enable them attain their normal production capacities. These include: the Edea and Songloulou electricity supply stations which could lead to additional 43 Megawatts, the Bafoussam power station (13MW) and the Bertoua power station (between 11 and 12 MW).

Ref: http://allafrica.com/stories/200911060902.html

NEWEST PROFESSIONS, GROWING SALARIES: By Larry Buhl

The latest directory of job titles from Occupational Information Network (O*Net) features a variety of new entries that many people have never heard before.

Some of these jobs -- at least the duties -- have been around in some form for a while. What's new is a "professional pathway" for these careers, according to employment expert and author Laurence Shatkin. "O*Net officially recognizes job titles once there is a critical mass of workers in those jobs and a clear road map for attaining the positions," he says.

Green Energy
There are many new green-collar job titles on O*Net, which is developed for the U.S. Department of Labor. The number of new green jobs is not surprising, given the federal government's active role in building a green economy.
Even before the federal stimulus dollars kicked in, wind energy was big and growing. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reports that the wind industry grew by 45 percent in 2007 alone. Civil engineers who work on various aspects of the wind farm now have their own job category: wind farm engineers. These engineers work on performance of turbines and the overall performance of the wind farm and also oversee aspects of construction and mechanical development. They usually have a B.S. in engineering with a focus in construction or civil or structural engineering. Some technical colleges now offer degrees in wind farm engineering. AWEA pegs the average salary at $80,000.

Solar thermal technicians design, develop, install, and maintain solar thermal systems used to heat water and produce energy. Renewable energy plants, companies that install solar panels for domestic use, construction companies, consulting firms, and hotel chains use these technicians. A degree (2- or 4-year) in mechanical engineering or electronics is helpful, but some apprenticeship programs exist as well.Salaries vary widely and will increase if demand continues to outstrip supply. Solar thermal technicians can expect to start at around $40,000 a year or $20 an hour, according to Red Rocks Community College in Colorado. The upper salary limit is a moving target, as the job category is emerging so quickly.

Health Care
Nursing informatics is a nursing specialty that integrates nursing science, computer science, and information science to manage and communicate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom in nursing practice. Informatics nurse specialists are registered nurses trained in graduate level informatics. Salaries start at $60,000 but can more than double after a few years' experience.
"Most often they are liaisons between clinicians and information and computer science people. These jobs are growing because information technology is now becoming a major tool in health-care settings," says Stacey Prince of the American Nurses Association.

Anesthesiologist assistants work under the direction of a licensed and qualified anesthesiologist in hospitals. They perform preoperative tasks, support therapy, recovery room care, and intensive care support. They do well money-wise: around $90,000 to start and more than double that with 10 years of experience, according to the American Medical Association. A master's degree in nursing and certification by the National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants are required.

Business and Management
The roles of IT professionals continue to splinter and become more specialized as new technologies dominate businesses. Business continuity planners are responsible for developing plans to recover from cyber attacks, terrorism, or natural disasters. They also may be responsible for scaling IT as a company grows (from regional to national, for example), duties that used to be handled by information systems managers. A bachelor's degree in business, management, or disaster management is the minimum requirement. The median salary for disaster recovery managers, who have a similar job description, is $100,000, according to salary.com.

America's interest in getting healthy has led to a growing business specialization of spa managers, who are employed by resorts, health clubs, and other facilities offering sports and wellness activities. The median income for spa managers in the U.S. is $56,000. A college degree is not mandatory, but a high school diploma or GED and at least five years experience in the managing a related area are usually required.

Education
Distance learning, which provides instruction to students who are not on-site, is booming. O*Net now recognizes distance learning coordinators, who prepare and run online courses at colleges, trade schools and secondary schools. A master's degree instructional design, curriculum design, curriculum development is usually required, as is a strong understanding of Web-based technologies.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't yet recognize distance learning coordinators as a job category, but an analysis of job openings shows a range from the upper $30s to the low $60s for a coordinator with at least two years' experience.

Entertainment and Media
Video game designers have been around for a while, but as the $9 billion interactive entertainment industry matures, new specialties are emerging, such as user experience designer, which focuses solely on improving the user interaction. Designers can also move up to be creative directors as well. A college degree is still not mandatory everywhere, however, strong skills in computer programming, computer engineering, software development, computer animation, graphic design, and computer graphics -- or all of them -- are helpful.

Big employers like Microsoft and Electronic Arts snag a large chunk of new designers, but smaller companies are starting to offer competitive wages and career tracks as well. Designers earn $50,000 and $80,000 annually, and the highest reported salary was $200,000, according to the International Game Developers Association.

Social media is a specialty field of public relations that uses the growing social networking technologies, including RSS, Twitter, Facebook, and blogs. A few years ago, social media duties were performed by marketing managers or communications directors. Now there is a social media career track.

An entry-level company blogger can earn less than $20 per hour (and many blogging jobs are part-time). A director of social media, the top of the social media chain, can pull in $70,000 or more. In the middle, a social media manager, can expect to earn around $50,000. A bachelor's degree is usually required, and job seekers should possess strong writing abilities and a keen understanding of online marketing, public relations, and new media.

Taako Industries Cameroon: Leading the way in Food Processing Machinery and Equipment construction by Simon Etta.

Lack of private sector investment in Sub-Sahara Africa’s manufacturing sector, has been identified as a primary reason for dismal growth, and increase in poverty. Most consumers and local producers continue to feel the impact as most industrial equipment is imported from abroad. The only remedy is a striving service sector with goods and services at 300% cost of production. However, without an increase in manufacturing to raise local production, increase employment and leverage the economies of scale, Sub-Sahara Africa will never bridge the poverty gap.

As a general rule, the greater a society’s entrepreneurial activity, the faster the growth of its local economy. Increase in economic activity therefore calls for innovation through manufacturing and use of abundant raw materials. One may be tempted to ask, what benefits a country most, manufacturing of goods or financial institutions? Although both institutions supplement one another, it has been documented that wealth in any country comes primarily from one of only three sources. What we manufacture, what we grow (agriculture) and what we extract from the ground (mining). Indeed sub-Sahara Africa has failed to industrialize and in some cases experienced de-industrialization. One reason is the lack of affordable machines for use by small businesses. The tide may be turning due to the technical ingenuity of a few local firms. Takoo Industries has leap frog the pack in Cameroon with innovative strategies in mechanizing processes that took manual hours to complete.

Taako industries innovation can best be visualized from an industrial revolution prism; conception, design, manufacturing and production. Although most engineers spend a great deal of time in research, development and design, very few venture into the manufacturing phase.


Engineer Patrick Egbe is a seasoned and passionate professional. With a chemical engineering background and a passion for manufacturing and production through years of working experience, Patrick is changing the lives of Africans in his native Country of Cameroon by transforming scrap materials into production machines.

Plastic Recyling MachineTaako industries was founded in 1987 and specialize in research, design and construction of processing machines for Cameroonian raw materials. It also designs and constructs artisanal and semi industrial machines and equipments tailored to the customer’s need. Unlike foreign competition, Taako industries provide turnkey solutions with maintenance and after sales service support. Capable of constructing, delivering and commissioning hundreds of machinery, its customer base is growing with well over 200 clients in Cameroon.

A listing of some machines in circulation is as follows:
- Palm oil mills
- Fruit juice equipment
- Palm kernel oil mill
- Egusi peelers
- Cassava processing
- Powder soap equipment
- Plastics recycling machines

One advantage of the machines produced by Taako industries is the small front print and little space they occupy. Due to lack of electricity in some rural communities, machines are manual, motorized or electrical. Patrick understands halting sub Sahara Africa’s relative weakness as a Manufacturing force remains a challenge due to lack of skills, management and industrial organization. Moreover, in a continent where manufacturing lags behind other regions of the developing world, Takoo industries is putting growth and poverty reduction at the center of Cameroon’s development efforts by providing machinery to tap and maximize both human and natural resources. The company welcomes potential investors and interested parties in joint ventures.

Contact Information:

Company Name: Takoo Industries
Location: Douala Cameroon
Telephone: 7773-8032 or 7999-7895
Fax: 3337-2453
Address: B.P. 7382, Douala, Republic of Cameroon
Promoter: Engineer Patrick Egbe
Email: patrickegbe2003@yahoo.com

Africa Connected - the Internet Revolution by Shin Shagaya

It will change Africa forever. Within the next couple of months four high-speed fibre optic cables will link up the east and west coasts of Africa to the rest of the world. It’s going to revolutionise how the continent connects and communicates in many ways – some we can imagine, some we can’t.

Through the 20th century, Africa was regarded as a media backwater – little communication and even less content. In many African countries, up until the 90’s, TV was government owned, newspaper articles had to be approved by the state, and phone lines were provided by inefficient bureaucracies. Back then, an ambitious coup plotter only had to sever a few lines of communications infrastructure to render entire nations effectively deaf and dumb.

Then the revolution started. The first decade of the 21st century for Africans represented the advent and proliferation of the mobile phone. The private companies that spawned these mobile networks made huge profits and their Pan-African brands have become fixtures in the minds of Africans. Internet cafes mushroomed across the continent, PCs were imported in ever increasing numbers and remorseless software piracy ensured that basic productivity applications were available to most people.

One particularly illustrative anecdote is of a particularly challenging installation of an outdoor digital billboard in Nigeria’s capital city – Abuja. After my team and I spent a few days unsuccessfully dealing with technical problems, I called the Chinese supplier who asked if I had a sufficiently fast internet connection. We quickly connected our billboard to a recently acquired wireless broadband modem.

Our Chinese technician, sitting in Shenzhen, took remote control of the billboard and undertook the process of fixing our media equipment – as if he was sitting next to me in the sweltering heat. Periodically, he would ask to see the billboard, and it would require only a few minutes to take a photo with my blackberry and email it to him. Barely a year earlier, we would have had to fly that Chinese engineer to Nigeria – securing a visa, buying an air ticket, and booking a hotel room with attendant expenses in time and money.

This experience represents the kind of productivity gains that can be obtained by the application of Internet technology. While there still remain real problems with electricity and transportation infrastructure, the mobile phone and the Internet have greatly reduced the barriers to entrepreneurship.

These technologies also have implications for governance and civil rights. Recently, a passerby recorded, on his mobile phone, an ugly episode involving Nigerian security forces physically abusing a woman. The video was quickly posted on YouTube and led to an unprecedented firestorm of criticism and legal action against the federal security services.

Because of technology, the negotiation between government and the governed has changed permanently. Now, it seems, the aforementioned coup-plotter who seeks to undemocratically change a government must do much more than seal off a few broadcast stations and newspapers to silence a nation. All of a sudden, every African is a journalist and there are a multitude of information paths into, out of and within the continent. Perverse political forces can no longer as readily control our collective mind.

Governments also will utilize information technology in interesting ways by creating more efficient systems for delivering healthcare, education and other public services. Successful public administration will, for a large part, be defined by how innovatively governments in Africa apply technology to simultaneously improve the quality of service deliver and fiscal position.

When not building outdoor media assets, I nurture two Internet properties – Alarena.com (West Africa’s largest matchmaking community) and Gbogbo.com (free local classifieds). Both are essentially online services that seek to fulfill specific needs in the life of the modern African who finds himself increasingly mobile, urban, global and internet savvy. The success of both services speaks to the ability of Africans to grab new technologies but speaks even more to a lack of incumbent alternatives.

Craigslist, gumtree and kijiji have proved that free local classifieds services are valuable, but my bet is that they are even more needed in the complete absence of old-fashioned yellow pages and telephone directories. The lack of fixed line phones, for further example, has effectively made Africa an almost purely mobile environment. The absence of retail bank branches, ATMs and credit cards have led us to a point where mobile payments are becoming mainstream in Africa before Europe and North America. Already, you can spend a cashless day in Nairobi and other African cities and pay for everything with your mobile phone.

It seems that Africa, by not investing in older systems can leapfrog entire models of communications and commerce and apply the newest and most cost-effective way of doing things. This unexpected advantage conferred by being late to the game is about to reveal itself with all its ramifications. While the first decade of the 21st century represented the mobile telephony revolution, the second decade will bring an explosion in mobile broadband.
A number of large infrastructure projects promise to deliver cheap and reliable broadband across the continent. One month ago, the SEACOM undersea fiber-optic cable landed in Kenya.

As I write this, I have just learned that the Glo-1 undersea cable has arrived in Nigeria. In a couple of years, the O3b satellite network (O3b stands for “Other 3 billion”) sponsored by Google and HSBC will deliver “fiber-like” broadband connections to the continental interior.
For Africans, these fiber and satellite networks represent massive pipes of information and, more importantly, liberty. Acting with these pipes are 3G and Wimax networks, low-cost open-source based netbooks and smartphones, and affordable software that will be delivered online as a service. In concert, by the end of the next decade, these technologies will reach the most remote corners of Africa – bringing with them opportunity and enlightenment.

But these systems must be supported by human capital of some form. With the failure of the public school systems on the continent, many young Africans programmers and engineers will teach themselves complex skills. It is unclear whether an army of African autodidacts will be sufficient or required to power this transformation. However, the very tools of software creation are becoming more simple and modular as to one day make creativity more important than brute technical ability. Should this be the case, Africa will thrive in the new world – and likely be more of a driver than a follower of new models for organising economies and societies.

Sim Shagaya is a serial technology and media entrepreneur who shares his time between Nigeria and South Africa. He has worked for Google, RealNetworks, Microstrategy and other tech leaders and holds degrees from George Washington U, Dartmouth and Harvard.

Private Business Investment Key to Economic Success

The private sector is the most important vehicle for economic growth and regional integration, the Director of NEPAD and Regional Integration Division at the United Nations Commission for Africa told participants at the 5 th African World Business Congress (AWBC) and the 1 st IGAD Investment Forum 2009 (IIF). Addressing the closing session of the three-day congress, Mr. Abdalla Hamdok said that although the global economic crisis had seriously affected the continent in terms of trade, investment and remittances, Africa remains the best place to do business.



But he warned that countries of the region would need to create an enabling environment for business venture in order to strengthen economic growth, which is estimated be more than 3 percent this year.

He said that the current global economic downturn should not cause African countries to lose sight of the long-term goals of achieving Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) and diversification.

He urged African countries with large reserves to use them to finance projects such as infrastructure and other basic services to help increase domestic development and diversify economies. “It is time to achieve our short and long term objectives and by focusing on diversification and achieving the MGDs Africa will be able to recover (from the economic crisis) in two to three years time”, Mr. Hamdok assured.

The AWBC is a forum where experts brainstorm on topical issues with the view to coming up with useful recommendations for practical actions. It also provides a platform for doing business.

This year the conference was held in conjunction with the 1st IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) Investment Forum and the Government of Ethiopia hosted both events at the UN Conference Centre.

The African Business Roundtable and the NEPAD Business Group also participated in the Congress.

The Congress opened on 2 March under the theme “Achieving Economic Growth under Global Downturn ”.

Subjects discussed were: Investment opportunities in IGAD countries; Success Stories of Investments in IGAD countries; Roundtable meeting on issues of Trade and Regional Integration; Africa Readiness for the 21st Century Economy; Identifying Effective Infrastructure Projects to facilitate Inter-Regional trade and developing suitable financing mechanisms; Enhancing Africa's Industrial and Manufacturing Competitiveness, Output and Access to markets; African Economic Outlook: Achieving Growth under Global Downturn; and Privatization Programme and Investment in the mining and Energy Sector.

The meeting ended with a strong call on African governments and the business community to put the development of ICT on the national agenda to make Africa an active participant in the paperless and secured global economic interaction.

It also expressed the need for private sector investment and for creating value added African products, which allow for meaningful regional economic integration.

http://www.uneca.org

Reinventing Manyu - Street Tree Planting and Environmental Problems: By Augustine Tambekong

Introduction

In the first half of this century we learnt that the community cannot achieve its aims without the help of government providing essential services and a backdrop of security. In the second half of the century we learnt that the government cannot achieve its aims without the energy and commitment of others – voluntary organizations, businesses and crucially, the wider public. That is why the third Sector is such an important part of the Third Way, (Blair, 1998).

This paper triggers a recollection of memories when some of us where growing up in towns and villages surrounded with canopy of trees within our village cathedrals. Much was not known of man’s tree health benefits. As a result of such ignorance today we live in concrete environments without trees around us or on our streets. This paper however, intends to trigger that reminder for the present need of street tree planting development for our local environments in Manyu as well as a road map for a local environmental action plan (LEAP), to try and bring to the attention of our people the importance of maintaining the biodiversity of Manyu planet Earth and of carrying out our daily lives in a fashion that ensures our offspring will inherit a cleaner, greener, more ecologically sustainable Manyu environment through this literature review..

What Mamfe- Manyu Division could look like in 2020
The specific objectives of the paper were to:

Review the published literature from the biological, medical and social sciences to determine whether there are quantifiable physical and psychological benefits to human health, and to the indoor and outdoor environments, that could be linked to street planting in Manyu.

Recommend strategies based on proven science that could form the basis for unique approaches to marketing street plants based on improving lifestyle, health, and the world in which people live, work and play in our towns and villages.

Identify new opportunities for domestic marketing and increased sales of street tree planting beyond the traditional concepts of beautification of the outdoor environments.

Provide a functional bibliography of sources of further information that could be quoted to justify any future marketing claims if necessary.

Street Tree planting :

Given the “scotching heat” that burns down our necks in Manyu due the tropical sun, it has to be acknowledged that many studies have found significant energy savings for the cooling of buildings when trees are planted in streets (Rosenfeld et al., 1998; Akbari, 2002). The trees provide shade and reduce the amount of solar radiation hitting a building, thereby reducing energy requirements for cooling that building. Akbari (2002) estimated that planting one shade tree in an urban setting can avoid the combustion of 18 kg/yr of carbon due to savings in demand for air-conditioning. Plants can be used to manage air movement and wind to create more comfortable and pleasant microclimates (Robinette, 1972).

BENEFITS:

Increased Property Values

Private landscapes can influence habitat and water quality, among other environmental attributes (Helfand et al., 2006). To capture these benefits, landscapes that incorporate ecologically beneficial land cover patterns have been designed on different scales for private homes (Nassauer, 1993). Many studies have documented the positive effect of landscaped yards on the value of residential homes.

Des Rosiers et al. (2002) summarized a number of past studies dealing with the effect of landscaping on house values (Des Rosiers et al., 2002). The following table outlines the results of these studies.

As well, Des Rosiers et al., (2002) surveyed 760 single-family homes sold between 1993 and 2000 in Quebec. The survey focused on landscaping characteristics of homes and their immediate environment, i.e., the neighbourhood visible from the property.

Their results found the following relationships regarding landscapes and property values:
. A tree cover between the property and its immediate neighbourhood raises the house value.
. For bungalows and cottages, the higher the percentage of ground cover (lawn, flower arrangements, rock plants, etc), the higher the value of the house.
. The presence of a hedge or a landscaped wall raises a property’s value by nearly 4%.
. The presence of a landscaped patio can result in as high as a 12.4% premium.
. Landscaped curbs also provide value, as high as a 4.4% premium.

Overall, a 7.7% market premium for either a typical bungalow or cottage was estimated could be achieved in the presence of different landscaping variables and the presence of a hedge.

Municipal Economic Benefits:

Effective landscape design can also add value to municipalities and communities. The presence of landscaping has already been shown to increase property values, but it is also a wise city investment for many reasons:
• It increases community health and vitality through civic involvement in beautification projects.
• Beautification projects represent a sense of pride and value by residents and businesses.
• Plants stabilize soil and reduce runoff in open spaces (refer to section 3.0).
• Natural habitats protect biodiversity (refer to section 3.0).
• Low maintenance open spaces and xeriscaping reduce maintenance costs.
• Evergreen trees reduce the impact of cooling wind in rainy season and deciduous trees provide shade in the dry season.
• Increases public safety and reduces crime and accidents.
(Gardner, 2006)

Community Beautification and Pride:

Plants play a role in the development of healthy communities by:
1) providing a physical condition or appearance that makes people proud to be considered part of the community and by enhancing the economic and social condition of the community;
2) providing opportunities for sharing value interests and commitments; and
3) providing a surrounding that is more comfortable physically in which to live and work (Relf, 1992).

Passing time in Mamfe:
This is the opposite of the above, stressful and uncomfortable environment for our people. Street trees planting will give our communities the beautification and pride described above.

Research at the University of Washington examined how trees were valued in the community, across eight revitalized communities in the United States (Center for Urban Horticulture, 1998b). Participants of the study were asked to aesthetically rank 32 different scenes. Overall, the survey found that retail shopping districts with an orderly and well-maintained planting scheme, including both trees and accessory vegetation, received the highest visual quality ratings. Manyu can have this vision and reinvent herself by attracting better quality people to retire and invest there. As seen in the picture above, a dry scotching environment drives people and businesses away.

A mail survey of licensed drivers in Washington State was used to evaluate the perceptions of places that people may associate with roadside landscape (Center for Urban Horticulture, 2000). The study was aimed at determining whether the amount of green space and vegetation along the road and in a community influenced what people thought of the community. The survey found that the presence of trees and green space positively influenced consumers’ attitudes about the character of a place, and also the prices that shoppers were willing to pay in local businesses (Center for Urban Horticulture, 2000).

Furthermore, trees and landscaping in neighbourhood commercial districts will create a pleasant space that attracts patrons in Manyu. A study of business owners and business association staff indicated that trees and landscaping attracted patronage through the following means:
• Acting as an outdoor extension of the business’ customer service commitment.
• Developing a distinctive identity for and defining the boundaries of a business district, which encourages repeat visits. (Center for Urban Horticulture, 1998a)

Privacy and Security:

Trees and shrubs can be used to build both physical and visual barriers, providing security and/or privacy. With specific reference to privacy, Robinette (1972) discusses that there are varying degrees of privacy and different lines of sight that should be considered in planting design. Thus, the density of planting and the types of plants used are necessary considerations. Privacy can bring with it a certain amount of security but hedges can be used to screen (block from view) a security fence that provides the physical secure barrier (Robinette, 1972).

Recreation, Parks, Sports and Fitness :

Mamfe-Manyu, is an example of a community that should be attempting to revitalize itself with the use of landscaping schemes (Burchfield, 2004). One of the primary efforts should be the restoration of town/city parks and recreation areas. Mamfe as the central location of many communities can attract a lot of activities, athletics, businesses etc. The global promoter of sports, the Olympic movement, has acknowledged the importance of the environment by incorporating Agenda 21 into their action plan (International Olympic Committee, 1999). Agenda 21 is the global plan for sustainable development which has been defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." That emerged from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in 1992. Recently the committee developed a guide for integrating sport, environment and sustainable development. The document covers many aspects of environmental protection and improvement. One aspect, which is of particular interest to the horticultural industry, is the promotion of biologically diverse environments. The horticultural industry is the provider of plants within built environments and sporting venues (International Olympic Committee, 2007). In addition to the opportunity for the horticulture industry, there are multiple spin-off benefits to the host city (from the Olympics initiative) as outlined above.

Tourism:

A study conducted by Evans and Malone (Relf, 1992) looked at the hotel/tourism industry at Opryland. The study found that the landscaping positively impacted a number of things including a high occupancy rate (85%), numerous awards, and continuous expansion. Additionally, the higher rate charged for rooms overlooking the scenery, plus the high occupancy rate can translate into much revenue in additional annual income.

The above studies show that landscaping brings positive economic benefits to communities. It encourages tourism, recreation, and attracts businesses to the area and all of this translates into more finances flowing into the community.

Environmental Benefits of Street Planting:

I believe that by some time in 2020 over half the Manyu population will live in an urban environment (Worldwatch Institute, 2007). The urbanization of Manyu would be reducing the connectivity humans have with the natural environment. Despite human disconnectedness that we shall have from the natural world, street plants will continue to provide environmental benefits at every spatial level: global, local and individual. This section outlines these environmental benefits of street planting in the following: oxygen production, pollution amelioration, indoor air quality improvements, water management and erosion control, plants in ecological sewage and wastewater treatment systems, wildlife attraction and preservation, windbreaks and noise amelioration, urban shade, green space and location of plants. In brief, let me dwell into some of these environmental benefits slightly:
Oxygen Production :

The fundamental benefit provided by plants is their production of oxygen; thus providing the atmosphere with the element that allows humans to breathe and live on this planet. Oxygen is produced by the plant during the process of photosynthesis as shown in Figure 3.1. Photosynthesis is how plants produce their food (energy). It requires carbon dioxide, water and sunlight. The outputs of photosynthesis are sugars and oxygen. On average, a tree can produce 260 pounds of oxygen per year and two mature trees can produce sufficient oxygen for a family of four (Environment Canada, 2005). Similarly, a natural turf area just 50 feet by 50 feet releases enough oxygen for a family of four (Virginia State University, 2004).

Pollution Amelioration:

Trees and plants have been labeled as the “lungs of cities” (McPherson, 2005) because they have the ability to remove contaminants from the air that is breathed. Acting as natural filters and reducing air pollution, it has been shown that plants generate health benefits by reducing the mortality rate and reducing visits to the hospital (Powe and Willis, 2004). A few ways in which plants reduce air pollution are as follows:
Absorption of gaseous pollutants through their leaves, e.g., ozone, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide.

Further reducing ozone concentrations at ground level by reducing the temperature via evapotranspiration as mentioned above.

Collection of dust, ash, pollen and other particulate matter on their leaves hence reducing its presence in the air breathed.

Releasing of oxygen, as mentioned above, which increases the quality of the air for human use.
(McPherson, 2005)

Indoor Air Quality Improvement:

As our population continues to urbanize, the number of people spending 80-90% of their time indoors (Orwell et al., 2004) is also increasing. Many studies have reported that the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are higher indoors than outdoors (Sakai et al., 2004). Plants continue to function as atmospheric filters indoors as they do outdoors and enhance the air quality of confined environments.

As with the outdoor environment, particulate matter such as dust, ash, pollen and smoke are also irritants and pollutants of indoor air. Lohr and Pearson-Mims (1996) found that the levels of particulate matter accumulation in a room were lower when plants were present than when they were not. In addition to finding a reduction in particulate matter it was also found that relative humidity was slightly higher when plants were present. An increase in relative humidity, particularly in heated environments, increases the comfort level. Another means by which indoor plants improve enclosed environments is by removing offensive odours from the air (Oyabu et al., 2003).

Water Management and Erosion Control (retention, filtration, purification, flood control)

There are significant benefits that can be gained from plants with respect to water management. As the discussion above pointed out, plants can be used to remove pollution from soils and air. In addition, plants can also remove pollution through filtration and purification processes and can also assist in flood control by retaining water.

Using plants to reduce run-off and pollutants can occur in many situations. As watersheds increasingly become urban landscapes the amount of penetrable ground is reduced. This can be improved by using “rain gardens”, a small swale or retention ditch, near impenetrable surfaces (e.g. roads, parking lots). This creates areas for water to be cleaned and reduces the speed with which water re-enters the watershed (University of Wisconsin, 2004).

For clarification purposes, I include in this paper a list of trees for Street and Avenue planting which are entirely hardy under all conditions. These standard types of shade trees can be planted almost under any condition of climate or soil, and be rest assured that they will develop an interesting normal habit of growth. This list may be termed “the TEN best trees” for general use in Street and Avenue planting in city, suburban, and urban districts:

1) Acer Saccharum Sugar Marple
2) Quercus alba White Oak
3) Quercus Coccinea Scarlet Oak
4) Quercus rubra Red Oak
5) Quercus Velutina Black Oak
6) Tilia Euchora Crimean Linden
7) Tilea Tomentosa Silver Linden
8) Tilea Vulgaris Common Linden
9) Ulmus Americana American Elm
10) Ulmus Glabra Scotch Elm

Conclusions:

It is my belief that this study clearly illustrates that there are significant benefits from street tree planting in Manyu, whether economic, environmental or lifestyle. Many of these benefits, however, are not well known or understood within the general population. As a result, there is a considerable opportunity to educate the masses based on the benefits identified throughout this literature review. This essay has discussed planning and management of Manyu urban street tree planting and suggests a model for urban planning. Whilst street planting of trees can beautify the communities, it is not without its difficulty to adequate funding that this might entail, increased citizen demands for municipal services, low visibility, lack of public advocates, dispersal of tree management responsibilities, limited recognition of benefits of urban trees, and environmental stress. To succeed I do suggests that the wider public to get involve to the success of future urban tree planning. The planning process must be comprehensive in scope, including municipal, national agency - the Forestry Department, and private lands. Planning must also incorporate a broad range of benefits such as aesthetic or visual quality, microclimate modification, energy, conservation, environmental suitability and the fulfilment of community needs. Community participation can occur on three basic levels: official lay groups, community activist groups and private individuals or corporations. Education will also provide a necessary support to this community involvement. Finally, the essay emphasizes the need for establishing goals. The goals suggested include: economic survival by attracting tourism and businesses, neighbourhood vitality, preservation of city character and urban health and liveability. Discussion was heavily based on developed counties, predominately the United States. Given these conclusions, some obvious recommendations emerged and are outlined below.

The natural beauty of street lined with trees:

Recommendations:

• Tell the people about the ‘big picture’ benefits of street planting provides and how comprehensive the ‘good news’ story is.

• Study and emulate the successful programs of Europe, the US and Australia.

• Work more closely with municipalities to show them how street plants can improve their bottom line, make citizens happier and more proud of their community, and reduce crime and violence in inner city locales.

• Develop national-class centres of street tree excellence that will be immune to the political nature of government and changing forestry Department policy.

Future Research Opportunities:

• Investigate opportunities presented by climate change.

o Greater variability in temperature, day/night temperatures, water and more extreme events may make today’s climatic conditions unbearable.

o This research finding is not exhaustive but merely a scratch of the problems behind problems facing Manyu. It is therefore recommended that further research into same or other areas of our environmental problems be conducted to ascertain ways of exploring tangible solutions to them in future.


References :

Complete list of references and tables for this article will be posted on the MEDWC website: http://www.medwc.org/ under publications.

Manyu Diaspora: Do they have a role in the Economic Development of their Division? (Part II) by Simon Etta

Simon Etta:

Advocates for Manyu Economic Revival:

It is not enough to question what Manyu has done for you. We must ask, what have we contributed to the well being and development of Manyu? How much are we giving back or investing? It is only Manyuans who can advocate for their own development. Without a doubt, strangers will not do it for us.

During visits from abroad some of us embark in Limbe, Douala and Yaoundé without ever visiting our towns and villages of origin. How do you develop a place you don’t even know? The portrayal of our division amongst us in the Diaspora has not always been positive. We fail to motivate and instead paint a picture of a division that remains under-developed and in neglect. We talk of Mamfe without a single petrol station, township taxis, decent hotels and restaurants.

The German bridge Mamfe:
It is alright to discuss all our ills, but fail to ask what we have done to produce a cure. Isn’t time we challenge ourselves to a higher order for the economic progression of Manyu? Besides, we have stakes as the educated and well financed class. Now is the time for the Diaspora to advocate for the economic rebirth of the division.

Market in Mamfe:
A Vibrant private sector:

The Diaspora has a chance to strengthen the private sector in Manyu. The existence of a vibrant private sector with warehouses, IT and industrial training centers, to cater for a 21st century workforce, shops, banks, private schools etc will benefit the masses and economy, creating jobs and employment. By us playing an active role, small businesses will operate on the basis of wealth, ideas and skills learned from the Diaspora, thus facilitating the transfer of technology and sound business practices.


In the old days, our parents cultivated and opened small size farms for food consumption. Manyu has plenty of vast forest land for us to implement industrial farm practices, cultivating hectares of farmland for palms, cocoa, coffee, and cash crops such as cassava, plantains. What about snail and fish farming, a sector with a ready market that fetches quick returns.

Tinapa - free trade zone Calabar:
Legal Cross Border Trade:

Although trade is often cited as the best solution to Africa’s problems, the irony is, many countries find difficulties trading formally with each other. Custom duties, tariffs and other barriers tend to hinder intra-country trade.

For many years, informal cross border trade between Manyu and Nigeria has manifested an inseparable economic link of the communities living along the borders. The tarring of the Ekok – Mamfe road will hence open doors for formal trading. The Diaspora can infuse capital by setting up warehouses in Mamfe. These storage facilities will be a replica of “John Holt”, and serve as distribution points for wholesale trading and employment.

Furthermore, Manyu benefits from Tinapa in Calabar, the premier Africa business and leisure resort free trade zone. Tinapa is the Dubai of Africa and no other free trade zone offers similar services in the West/Central African region. Manyu also has a dynamic opportunity to ensure food security by availing markets for its agricultural products. Large markets are good incentives for our farmers to produce more. The Manyu Diaspora can play an active role in this sector through partnerships and joint ventures.

Infrastructure development:

Many of us own and live in decent housing abroad. However, when we return home to visit, we end up in hotels or put up with friends. One simple and obvious reason is because the infrastructures we left behind are no longer comfortable and lack basic amenities.

A few years ago, former Minister of Environment Chief Clarkson Mbianyor challenged every Manyu elite to build a house in their division of origin. The idea of owning a piece of property in Manyu is meant to help us strengthen ties with our families and division. Besides being a lifelong investment, it encourages us to make frequent visits as custodians instead of passive observers in our own land of birth. There is no better pride for a Manyu person than a simple investment of owning a piece of his own property. “Show me your house, show me your farm, or better let us die in our poverty” (Clarkson Mbianyor).

All it takes is for us to engage a Nigerian or Ghanaian in a conversation and he will tell you of his investments back home. We can definitely acquire knowledge about community development from these people. The Manyu Diaspora can help boost the economy by embarking on infrastructure development projects which employ our youths and spur economic activities. If ten Diasporas per year were to invest in building construction, the net gain for the Manyu economy will be less unemployment, increased commerce and wealth distribution. Every sector of the economy will benefit as well as the investor, and even in Manyu real estate do appreciate in value over the long term.

Manyu rain forest - idle for large scale agriculture plantations:

The Diaspora needs to assist in the establishment of small and medium enterprises (SME) and engage in large scale agriculture production to accelerate economic achievement. There is no doubt the Diaspora can contribute their quota and make an impact.

What Manyu needs is development and empowerment at all levels. No single person, group or organization has a monopoly of ideas or policies that can lead to Manyu’s economic evolution. It is therefore apparent we need an inclusive strategy and not one that is exclusive. We need a development strategy founded on the ideals that unite us and core principles that can uplift our people and economy. Because there is so much that unites than divides us, we have to confront new ways of doing things. To achieve this, we have to be creative and be challenged to contribute our quota. Manyu is our pride, to help develop it; we must therefore have a shift in mindsets and not only follow but act, guide and lead.

About the writer:

Simon Etta has been an active member of MECA Washington since 1989 and served as chapter President. He strongly supports the activities of MEDWC and manages its blog and website (http://www.medwc.org/) during his spare time. Mr. Etta is a telecommunication executive; he lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland. He can be reached by email: ecotelusa2002@yahoo.com

Manyu Diaspora: Do they have a role in the Economic development of their Division? (Part I) by Simon Etta.

Justice Hilman Egbe (then Minister of Forestry) visits Washington DC and meets with Manyu community.


From the Americas through Europe to Africa, the Manyu Diaspora’s role in the development of its division continues to decline as compared to similar ethnic groupings. Groups from Cameroon, and other African countries like Nigeria, have time and again jointly committed substantial resources during conventions, and other annual gatherings to raise funds and implement major projects in their homelands of origin. Lately, instead of moving forward, the Manyu Diaspora has shown a tendency to divide and conquer, argue, bicker, belittle one another, disrespect elders and women and at the same time lack a sense of humility. We all want to be leaders with no followers even when it means burning down the same house it took us years to build. Whatever happened to the community spirit, sense of purpose and one voice (eyongemot)? Is our arrogance a curse or a genetic disposition?

Credible data on the number of Manyu elements pursuing education or working as professionals abroad is lacking. However, estimates put the number of our people overseas at close to a few thousands. The irony is that, this vast wealth of economic power consisting of students and professionals has not done much collectively to advance economic and social development back home. Whereas many belong to organizations like MECA and NOMA, the average contributions from individuals on enlisted projects has been very little to make an impact. MECA has for many years been run as a cultural organization and has been successful in promoting our rich culture abroad. However, cultural preservation alone will not foster needed development. We must start to embrace economic and social initiatives as part of the overall MECA development framework. For some, the status quo of relishing in our comfort and privileges while our division continues to struggle is simply unacceptable. We need to do much more in the long term to ensure that Manyu once again become the beacon of hope for the younger generation. This noble vision can be achieved. All it takes is the initiative, leadership and “a can do attitude”. When each of us collectively and through partnerships decides to do something, the cumulative effect can be huge. What then is our role in the development of Manyu? The answer is, there is none for now unless we reassess our priorities and become proactive.

Portion of the Mamfe - Ekok Road (soon to be tarred - ADB project)
As Manyu awaits the completion of the Numba – Bachuo road and the eventual tarring of Ekok- Mamfe, the Manyu Diaspora is well placed now more than ever to not only help in strengthening support, but more importantly make practical economic contribution to accelerate growth and development. There is no question that the Diaspora is seen and regarded as an important stakeholder. After all, it has at its disposition the highest number of intellectuals and high income earners out of the division who collectively or as individuals can make an everlasting impact in development. It is true some have started, but only a minority who truly believe they can make a difference are doing so.


Custodians of the rich Manyu culture - display Ekpe attire

Without dwelling on the role of the MECA’s abroad which have become weakened in recent times due to infighting and squabbles, the Manyu Diaspora has organized itself into a myriad of small groups. Groups such as subdivisions, villages, quarters and even families do co-exist with each involved in some form of development effort and virtual networks. Despite their small memberships, these unique groups enhance culture and provide long term commitment to the development of their communities with modest efforts. It is therefore reasonable to surmise that, grand style development programs can still originate from these groups if properly planned. Now is the time therefore for the Diaspora to wake up and provide the necessary impetus for its development. We believe such contributions can come in the following areas:


Part II – to be continued.

The modern day African Entrepreneur: Balance between success and failure.

Whereas striving to become independently wealthy is the American dream, being self employed can be termed an American destiny. Almost 70% of all U.S. business revenue is accounted for by small business. They also account for half of the private workforce and national output. Small businesses fill niche markets, boast competition, provide market innovation, and offer an opportunity to create wealth.

Every day the opportunities for self employment grow but in most Africans economies, the primary source of employment is government first and business second. The idea of of running your own business although varied and enticing is often a challenge to many. For one thing, governments in Africa make it so difficult to set up a business. The bureaucracy and upfront taxes are a compounding nightmare. Despite these roadblocks, a few daring Africans venture into small business and eventually succeed. Ideally, if you want to run a business and become an entrepreneur, you must have a passion – passion for your product or service, passion for day to day rewards and challenges of being your own boss and dealing with a diverse and demanding clientele.

For some people, the decision to start a business may be based on factors such as the need to make a living, work at your own pace, do something after retirement or simply own a business and make lots of money. To begin with, the aspiring African entrepreneur needs to firstly identify what motivates him or her. For some people, the fear of starting a business is a willingness to take risks. By taking risks, it implies working in an environment that allows you to try out new approaches that are distinctively yours. It also implies taking an approach that goes beyond conventional practice; the risk taker believes he or she can provide a service or product that can not only compete with others but goes above that which others offer.

Quite often when one visits Africa and meets a relative or friend, the first thing they demand is money to start a business. The next question one tends to ask; what type of business and how much do you need. Without any serious thought, the casual response is - I just wish to start something and any amount will do. What this indicates is that the prospective entrepreneur does not have a business plan, and there is every indication the business will fail. Sometimes we meet friends or family who were in business and after a year, they tell stories of failure. On careful examination and analysis you later discover, they did not spend much time managing the business and hired relatives who instead helped to run it down. We are therefore left to ponder, why do some small businesses in Africa stumble so fast?

At some time in the life of a business, most will experience failure due to over taxation from the government or loose financial controls. Besides arbitrary tax policies that stifle growth, most of the prevailing reasons small business fail in Africa are poor management, insufficient capital, poor location, and lack of planning and in some cases expanding too quickly. Most new business owners in Africa frequently lack the relevant business and management expertise. They tend to lack the expertise in hiring and managing employees, finance and book keeping. Because small business owners in Africa tend to hire relatives, they are not alert to fraud until the situation becomes uncontrollable. These individuals neglect their business and forget to take regular care to study, plan, organize and control all activities of the operation. Due to the excitement and anxiety in owing a business, the African entrepreneur fails to ascertain how much the business will need not only in startup cost, but operating cost. The reason is business takes about a year or two to get off the ground and therefore enough funds are needed to cover all initial cost for those early years.

Lack of business planning is common amongst Africans wishing to get into business, having a business plan is critical in setting goals. Most start up entrepreneurs are so fast to get the business running and neglect to write down their business plan. In essence, your business plan should include a detail outline that evaluates the economic viability of your business. Since a business plan is the roadmap to chart the course of the business and eventual success, it must outline your business purpose, goals, profile and economic assessment.

According to the U.S. small business administration, (SBA), you will have a better chance of entrepreneurial success if you have a passion for what you will be doing and believe your product or service will fulfill a need in the marketplace. Besides possessing a mental stamina to withstand potential challenges, success comes with having a drive, determination, patience and a positive attitude. Eventually, you will make mistakes and have failures, however do not defeat yourself by building on failures. Every small business man must strive on independence and be skilled at taking charge when a creative solution is needed. The successful entrepreneur has to be compassionate, provide good customer service, like your fellow man, show honesty and integrity when interacting with others.

Ultimately, everyone is drawn into business to create wealth and become wealthy. The reality is the African entrepreneur has a stepper hill to climb. African governments must realize as the U.S. did a long time ago that small businesses are the drivers of any striving economy. Small businesses hire more people than the government and if allowed to operate in a free market where competition reins, will contribute immensely to the national output. The success of any new business hinges on the owner. For any business that strives to succeed, failure is never an option. Armed with a determination and a positive outlook the successful African entrepreneur must view any setback as an opportunity to learn and grow. Some self made African millionaires have been known to possess average education and intelligence. However, what distinguishes them is their openness to new knowledge and willingness to learn what it takes to succeed even in a hostile environment where the tax man is overzealous and arbitrarily assess tax on income and inventory.