Advantages of using Biochar

• When applied at the tropical forest frontier amongst small-scale farmers, biochar thus allows for an amazing synergy:
• Farm productivity is increased and food insecurity reduced.
• Slash-and-burn farming phased out, and forests protected.
• Energy poverty is reduced, because biochar is produced in efficient char-producing stoves that no longer rely on wood fuel, but on farm residues.
• Climate change is tackled by avoiding emissions from deforestation, and by the creation of a stable soil carbon sink.
• Most interestingly, besides boosting the productivity of most infertile soils, biochar establishes an extremely stable and permanent carbon sink that can last for centuries, possibly millennia (this in contrast with other carbon sequestration efforts, such as reforestation, no-till farming, etc., which all face risks of impermanence and have very short turn-over times).
• Biochar improves soil fertility, which stimulates plant growth. Healthier plants are able to consume and convert more carbon dioxide (CO2), thus improving air quality.
• Due to its ability to retain soil nutrients for long periods of time, biochar reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
• Best of all, because during several implementation steps, carbon is sequestered and/or emissions avoided, our biochar project will tap the (voluntary) carbon market and become a self-financing venture; thereby improving the livelihoods of farmers.

Donate to our current Biochar programs in Cameroon

Key Farmers Cameroon has over ten years experience in training communities, farmers and non-farmers in biochar production, application and marketing; and intends to expand its activities to cover three major international conservation communities in the South West Region as well as other threatened forest covers in Cameroon. These communities are located in: Ndian Division (Korup National park), Manyu Division (Takamada Forest Reserve) and Meme Division (Mount Bakossi and Banyang-mbo Sanctuaries).

Join Key Farmers Cameroon and support our biochar initiatives now!

You can also become an investor for our Biochar programs

After a decade of hard work on biochar initiatives for climate change reduction, Key Farmers Cameroon and its partners are finally inviting potential investors to join us for the project “ Biochar Climate Action and Food sustainability Centre, “BICAFOS”. A new business plan for this project has been fully developed and we are at the stage of launching it to the world. The business plan is suitable for investors with high potentials of eliminating global warming, promoting food sustainability and also helping the less privileged to flourish in their day to day living.

Applications are limited. You can contact us via our email address or contact page here

Our Biochar activities in Cameroon

• January 2009, Key Farmers Cameroon and the Biochar Fund launched field trials testing the effects of biochar on crop productivity in Cameroon’s South-West Region.
• The participants were Key Farmers Cameroon members, Cameroonian subsistence farmers in Common Initiative Groups (CIGs). The majority of which were women. Trials took place in fields around Kumba proper and the surrounding villages of Kake, Barombi Kang, Mambanda, Ikiliwindi, Teke, Mabonji, Mbalangi, Malende, Kossala, Ediki and Kendem.
• In order to create the biochar, crop waste was sourced. The bulk of the biochar was produced in dedicated “barrel-in-a-barrel” devices made from repurposed oil drums. Biochar production using this device has an efficiency of around 20% (1 ton biomass in as fuel, 200 kg of biochar out). One person can produce around 40 kg of biochar per day with a single device, in batches yielding up to 10kg of char per run.
• </
• Researchers chose to conduct the trials with maize because the crop can be planted and harvested twice in a single year. Even though maize is a staple crop, average yields are low, below 1.7 tons per hectare. Key explanatory factors for low yields include low soil fertility, poor farm management, lack of access to quality seeds and fertilizers, pests and diseases.
• 66 test plots were prepared, measuring 54 square meters and divided into 12 sub-plots. Maize was planted at a high density of 62,500 seeds per hectare. The maize used was obtained from the Rumpi Program run by the Cameroonian government.
• With financial donation from the Mayor of Tinto Municipal council, in 2011, KFC trained 11 women groups in Kumba on soil conservation and forest reclamation using biochar. The project enabled these women to increase food production in their communities. Thus biochar became one of their main soil amendment components for food security promotion.
• Furthermore, in 2014, KFC built awareness of biochar in 12 Kumba schools by training more than 200 students on biochar production and use for soil improvement. As a result of this initiative, biochar was incorporated into school vegetable gardens. Graduated students from those schools are helping out themselves with proceeds from biochar.
• Through own means contribution, in March of 2012, Key Farmers Cameroon conducted trainings with 20 rural subsistence farmer groups in Kendem Village in Manyu Division in the South West region. Promoting biochar as a robust way to improve soil quality, participants were taught how to produce and use biochar on nutrient depleted soils. Farmers that applied this technology reported increases in maize production, in some cases 150% or more.
• Given the success of the field trials and training events in the Southwest region, Key Farmers Cameroon shared its expertise with farmers in the Extreme North region of Cameroon.
• Sponsored by German International Corporation (GIZ) Maroua – Cameroon, Key Farmers Cameroon held a two week workshop, focused on biochar production from field stocks and its uses to increase tree production. 45 nursery operators and tree farmers were trained in Biochar production using agricultural wastes, including corn and sorghum stalks and cow manure and applied it during tree planting in Maroua. The project helped these poor farmers to switch from expensive mineral fertilizers to biochar, for soil improvement and for restoration of their deserted land.
• -With request from Sunshine Ladies Common Initiative Group (CIG), for a training to help them develop more knowledge and skills in marketing of biochar, in 2018, Key Farmers Cameroon organized a training titled: ‘Biochar Women’s Entrepreneurship Training’ to support the CIG to drive biochar commercial in Cameroon. As a result, more women economic and cultural groups in Kendem are now earning extra income from production, processing to marketing of biochar.
• Between 2016 and 2018, Key Farmers Cameroon (KFC) partnered with Carleton University and Viresco Solutions Canada, to conduct a research study on the impacts of biochar production and use on women’s livelihoods, labour, income and responsibilities. This study was unique in that most biochar studies only consider gender roles peripherally. Through this project KFC has gained a better understanding on how to improve its programs and shown leadership in the comprehensiveness of its approach. KFC biochar farmers are now producing and using biochar in growing nutritious food crops and for forest restoration. The project is also helping them in using the acquired skills in generating financial benefits from biochar sales and from carbon credits.
• In addition, in 2018, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada funded the first ever biochar conference organized by Key Farmers and partners in Cameroon and whole of Africa. The theme of this conference was “Helping Biochar Farmers and Researchers make the Difference”. Beneficiaries included: government agencies, Agronomists, politicians, students, farmers and traders. They learned many lessons including but not limited to: practical skills on biochar production, biochar theory using PowerPoint presentations, and women’s role as drivers of biochar and of course research studies and biochar marketing inclusive concluded the conference. Participants were over 120 drawn from all walks of life. The knowledge and skills participants took home is improving their livelihood.
• As at 2022, Key Farmers Cameroon and CarbonFace Canada signed a MOU to work and promote biochar for environmental protection and economic development. During this time, CarbonFace provided funding, for the construction of biochar cookstoves for KFC members. This is helping them in producing more biochar, increasing crops production and obtaining carbon credits for sequestering biochar in their farming practices.