Fossiculture — the farming of palm weevil larvae — may sound unusual to international audiences, but in Cameroon, it's a culturally rich, nutritionally powerful, and increasingly profitable enterprise.
YOSADO identified fossiculture as a high-potential livelihood opportunity and funded four young entrepreneurs in Douala to launch their own palm weevil farming operations.
Pascaline, one of the beneficiaries, produced 2.5 kg of larvae in her very first batch and immediately reinvested her earnings into two new production batches. Her 90-day production cycle demonstrated that with proper setup and monitoring, fossiculture can provide a sustainable income stream.
Not every journey has been smooth. Another beneficiary faced a setback when high room temperatures killed an entire batch of beetles. But rather than give up, she adjusted her setup and started a second attempt — embodying the resilience that YOSADO looks for in every entrepreneur it supports.
These stories — both the successes and the challenges — are why YOSADO requires monthly progress reports from every beneficiary. Real impact isn't just about the wins. It's about showing up, adapting, and persisting.
YOSADO believes that fossiculture represents a significant opportunity under its Livelihood and Economic Empowerment pillar, particularly for young people in urban areas seeking alternative income sources.