International cooperation
 

In 2007 COTIR began some interesting international cooperation activities and some researchers became spokesmen of the opportunities offered by “Abruzzo System” representing our Region in occasion of international manifestations such as
“Multisector Mission To Calcutta” (10-14 Feb 07)
promoted by Abruzzo Region Productive Activities and Innovation Councillorship, and

“South Africa - Italy Business Forum” (8-12 July 07) organized by the  Italian Manufacturers' Association in collaboration with the Institute for the external commerce.

ITALY - SOUTH AFRICA

We would like to inform you about an interesting international cooperation project entitled 

ABRUZZO-CAMERUN cooperation
In 2006 CO.T.IR. carried out TIAC project “Irrigation Techniques from Abruzzo to Camerun”
With this project we started concrete actions at the basis of the primary sector growth and development, and in particular, of irrigated agriculture in the arid areas of this country to reduce hunger and poverty.
This project was developed in three phases.

1. Travel to Cameroon
The first phase of this project was carried out in  Cameroon northern province where COTIR researcher went, in February 2007, to acquire information on the study area in which the project foresaw the accomplishment of a pilot activity to introduce and diffuse irrigation techniques in family vegetables-gardens: the “Jardin Potager”. On the basis of this kind of gardens development, in which it is possible to find a great variety of local crops, we wanted to invest in order to improve nutrition and rural families income. According to the project aims, GIC Agri-Rey, (the agricultural association beneficiary of the intervention), had already started interventions to awake the rural population on the vegetables-gardens extensive utilization and agricultural and irrigation techniques improving. In this context COTIR researchers, together with a local reality representative group (consultants, collaborators of Cameroon Ministry of Agriculture, GIC Agri-Rey President, the co-operative technicians  and the heads of the village), visited in Rey Bouba district 5 sites potentially suitable for the pilot action.

Figure 1 – Cameroon - GIC demonstrative fields tilled with vegetables irrigated by  watering-cans 



Figure 2 – Rey-Bouba - soil samples taking to determine its chemical and physical characteristics

The second phase of this project concerned training in Italy of two technicians coming from Cameroon, which already worked in the selected area, for the intervention “Rey-Bouba district” (situated in Mayo-Rey department, in Cameroon northern province). This stage was carried out in CO.T.IR. experimental field and was structurated in theoretical lessons on aspects such as agri-meteorology, pedology, plants hydric balance, irrigation techniques and practical actions in open field, on irrigation plants designing, realization and management. Moreover, the two technicians had the chance to visit an irrigation equipment experimental field in Bologna, a company which produces micro-irrigation equipment in Fiano Romano, Consorzio di Bonifica Nord remote control and remote monitoring devices in Teramo and Fucino Plain agricultural and food reality.


Figure 3 – Stage at CO.T.IR. – drip irrigation plant creation

Figure 4 – stage at CO.T.IR. – side-penetration irrigation by means of furrows



Figure 5 – stage at CO.T.IR. – dripping wings positioning

The Italian phase of this project ended with Cameroon Minister of Agriculture official visit in Italy and the Agreement Protocol signature between Italy and Cameroon with the member of Abruzzo Regional Council for Agriculture Marco Verticelli.

 

Figure 6 – Signature of the partnership agreement concerning TIAC project between Abruzzo Region and Cameroon


Figure 7 – CO.T.IR. - Visit of Cameroon Minister of Agriculture.
Pilot Project creation 
At the end of their stage at COTIR, the two technicians, once went  back to Cameroon, received (in a container) the irrigation equipment necessary to create irrigation plants there. This was the final phase of a growth process which made true a pilot project deeply wanted by rural population and started Abruzzo Region new international cooperation actions.