The Farmer Tantoh Foundation

Born in 1978, in a village called Nkambe (Donga-Mantung, Northwest Region, Cameroon), Farmer Tantoh was interested in issues concerning the environment ever since his childhood. His father greatly supported him in pursuing those interests. He died however, when Farmer Tantoh was still young. In his adolescent years Farmer Tantoh carried out a number of experiments completely on his own, including planting garlic, raising animals for fertiliser and income and growing a vegetable garden. 

“If you don’t have what you want, use what you have”

Farmer Tantoh on using a perforated bucket for irrigation.

While some tried to ridicule his pursuits by calling him Farmer, many became interested in what he was doing. In 2002 Farmer Tantoh received a scholarship from Far and Wide Scotland to study Tropical Agriculture and Rural Development at the Regional College of Agriculture in Bambili (Mezam, Northwest Region, Cameroon). His studies were abruptly interrupted when he got Typhoid fever as a result of drinking unclean water. Months of high fever, intense cramps and severe weakness followed. It took 7 years for him to fully recover. Because of this he then specialised in spring water catchment protection and agroforestry. Farmer Tantoh graduated as Senior Agricultural Technician (with Higher National Diploma) in 2004. Ever-since, he is proud to be called Farmer.

Equipped with sophisticated knowledge and high enthusiasm – but without any funding – Farmer Tantoh continued to expand his projects, which eventually lead him to establish his foundation (with it’s predecessor, the Save Your Future Association, also known as SYFA, dating back to 2005). Because of his work with the foundation in the local community Farmer Tantoh was invited to study watersheds by the Tahoe-Baikal Institute in 2007. From his training abroad, Farmer Tantoh brought back important knowledge about watershed management and continued environmental projects with the foundation in the local community (see What we do).

In 2010 Farmer Tantoh received a scholarship from the United States Department of State, which led to his graduation form the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College with a certificate on Sustainable Organic Farming Practices and Horticulture in 2011. In the same year Farmer Tantoh also received the African Achievers Award (selected as best Grassroots Environmentalist in Africa) and the International Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice and Sustainable Development (selected as Gold Winner of Africa). In 2012 Farmer Tantoh was furthermore elected an Ashoka fellow. In 2015 Farmer Tantoh was appointed as ambassador for Forest Nation and in 2016 he was named Best Environmentalist of the Year by World Echoes as well as awarded by the Marie-Claire Nabila Kuja Foundation.

In 2019 a book about Farmer Tantoh entitled “I Am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon”, written by Baptiste and Miranda Paul, with illustrations by Elizabeth Zunon, was published to be taught at schools around the world.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from. You are never too small or too insignificant to contribute to the long term sustainability of our planet. By doing simple things to the best of your ability, you are improving our world.”

Farmer Tantoh, looking back at his achievements so far.

Network of support

The foundation is supported by an international network of people (volunteers, fund raisers, donors, …) and organizations:

Adrienne Langlois, Agatha Nye, Albert Onega, Anne Desmoucelles, Aparengeng Augustine, Bawe Bernard, Beri Mercy, Beth Huston, Botan Adel, Botan Joseph, Botan Martin, the Bower family, Charlotte Colomg, Chifu Dieudonne, Christophe Heyman, David Elbaum, Dr. Roger Tatoud, Francis Tessier, Guylaine Dube, Jeanette Tabah, John Gurr, Jomo Kevin, Karlinger family, Kawas Austin Yetoh, Kum Festus, Kunde Kevin, Masumi Hayashi-Smith, Michael Levy, Mimba Betrand, Mimba Elvis, Molyne Nye, Muring Nadesh, Nchiah Calaris, Nfor Afanyu, Nfor Emmanuel, Nfor Ivo, Nfor Pascaline, Njingti Denis Joney, Ntala Cynthia, Ntani Kevin, Olivier Jegou, Rebecca Brier-Rosenfield, Remi Rida, Salack Emmanuel, Sheila Blethyn, Shey Tierry, Shey Walters, Yi Zhang.

“Abi yu ngir.”

“Unity is strength”, as the Limbum saying goes. Limbum is one of roughly 250 languages spoken in Cameroon, including Noni, Fula and many others.