Commercial and industrial activities in Tubah Council Area
The main occupation of the people of Tubah is agriculture, and animal husbandry.
Commercial Activities
All markets within the municipality operate on weekly basis and the market days rotate. The cattle and goat markets at the entrance to the Council is a point of business attraction. Buyers come all the way from the Southwest, Littoral, and West region to buy livestock and Agricultural outputs
Real Estate
With the presence of the University of Bamenda, there is a high rise of investments in constructing Student hostels and documentation centres as well as relaxation spots.
Trading
Trading is among the most important economic activity that occupies a significant proportion of the population. Bambui is the focal point for business in the municipality. Most of the markets within the municipality operate on weekly basis and these market days rotate. The cattle and goat markets at the entrance to the Council is a points of business attractions. Buyers come all the way from the Southwest, Littoral, and West region to buy livestock and Agricultural outputs. However, the general problems of these markets are the fact that the sellers are not organized and the markets not constructed. There are temporary markets in Tubah which appear spontaneously and may be short lived, or eventually grow into a permanent market. Such markets appear in front of some churches on Sundays, occur at some spots where buyers and sellers happen to be, or simply develop along the road for the benefit of travellers. Thus, firewood markets have appeared along the road to kom, between kedjom keku and Bambui, and along the road to Ndop, between Bambili and Sabga. Spots have been identified where farmers around and hunters display cocoyam’s, plantains, and bushmeat whenever there is something to sell.
Industries
Industrial activities in the Sub Division are still in its infant stage. Mostly small and medium sized enterprises are operated in the Sub Division such as; rice houlding, cassava grating, wood works, motor/motorcycle garages, tailoring, shoe makers and menders, embroidery, bakeries are operational.
Micro Credit Activities
The dominant financial institutions in Tubah are the Cooperative Credit Unions organizations. They are found in almost all the villages and are thriving. Also, an Express Union which carryout money transfers operation is found in Bambui.
The micro financial sector in the municipality is rapidly developing given the development of the private sector in creating jobs in the domain of trading, bike businesses, transport businesses, restaurants businesses.
These Cooperative credit unions provide saving and borrowing facilities to its members, thus, playing a positive role in the economic and social development of the area. It is a tool for poverty alleviation.
Private Sector Economy
The economy of Tubah is mostly in the hands of the private sector such as farmers, traders, cattle rearers, missionary bodies and N.G.O.s to hotel owners. The farmers and traders pay taxes to the government. The cattle rearers pay Jangali tax. This goes to boost the government treasury. On the other hand, income from their various activities circulates through the area, boosting the economy.
Unfortunately, most of these businesses like the bakeries in Bambili offer very little employment.
The private sector is, however, limited by low productivity, very low incomes, and limited employment possibilities and limited business opportunities. Apart from beer sales and small trading stores, other businesses are really restricted. There is inadequate infrastructure, and the high rate of rural exodus is taking its toll on the economy.
Common Initiative Groups
In order to improve upon their production and benefit from group effort, many farmers in Tubah group themselves and register as Common Initiative Groups (C.I.Gs). There are C.I.Gs specifically for women, C.I.Gs for youths, and mixed C.I.Gs. Some active C.I.Gs in Kedjom Keku are; the Vertiva Farmers Group, Chubali Food and Livestock Farming Group with about 30 members, Gamteh Ma Gamte Wuo, made up of 6 women; Multipurpose Women Center with about 70 members. Most of them are engaged in farming, animal husbandry, weaving and craft.
Bambili has many C.I.Gs with activities such as farming, tailoring, dress making, knitting, hair dressing, beer selling, medicine stores, small laboratories, and operational grinding mills.
Cooperatives
The C.I.Gs in Kedjom Ketinguh have come together in a union, thus, forming a cooperative of C.I.Gs called KEKUFAC (Kedjom Ketinguh Union of Farming Groups), which has a motto “If man will not work, he will not eat.” It is a union of 126 C.I.Gs, 107 of which are very active.
There is also the Sabga Dairy Cooperative with a membership of 54 men and 70 women, created in 1990. Most of the milk produced by this cooperative is sold.
