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Researcher Diary: From nerves to know-how

11.12.2025 The latest Researcher Diary comes from Rhianna Brahier, a final year BFH-HAFL International Agriculture BSc student who completed her internship in Cameroon.

Rhianna Brahier spent six months in Cameroon for her BSc in Agriculture, specialising in International Agriculture. Here she is at cattle market in the capital city Yaoundé. Cattle is raised in the north of the country, and then brought to Yaoundé by train, truck or foot.
Rhianna Brahier spent six months in Cameroon for her BSc in Agriculture, specialising in International Agriculture. Here she is at cattle market in the capital city Yaoundé. Cattle is raised in the north of the country, then brought to Yaoundé by train, truck or foot.

For my six-month internship in International Agriculture, I wrote my bachelor’s thesis in Cameroon, in the town of Obala.

I worked at the Agricultural Institute of Obala (IAO), a large school that offers classes from sixth grade up to master’s level. To combine theory with practice, the school also runs its own farm.

On tour: visitors with the farm's bull.
On tour: visitors with the farm's bull.

A day out

The farm is impressive: chickens, ducks, pigs, fish, sheep, goats and cattle. There are also small trial fields with pineapple, rice and many vegetables.

At the moment, the IAO is developing agrotourism. Visitors can already meet turtles, monkeys, ostriches, horses and donkeys, they can feed the fish and hold freshly hatched chicks.

The idea is to create a profitable activity in the near future, and families from Yaoundé already come regularly to enjoy a day in the countryside.

An aerial shot of the farm, taken by Rhianna with her drone.
An aerial shot of the farm, taken by Rhianna with her drone, shows the lush grounds.

Biggest challenge

My bachelor’s thesis focused on ruminant feeding, but my internship was more than that. I helped in many areas of the farm: vaccinating day-old chicks, taking care of a baby chimpanzee, and even making mango jam and juice.

The biggest challenge for me was the farm visits. I acted as a tour guide for visitors and school classes. At first, I was nervous, but I soon realised how much I learned by having to explain to others how each production sector works.

A guided tour took about two hours, during which visitors also got to taste fruit juices, produced by the IAO students, and pick and eat fruits, such as mangos, pineapples or oranges. 

One of Rhianna's most memorable and enjoyable tasks while in Cameroon was spending time with an abandoned chimpanzee, Julie, who is being cared for at the farm.
One of Rhianna's most memorable and enjoyable tasks while in Cameroon was spending time with an abandoned chimpanzee, Julie, who is being cared for at the farm.

Favourite task

The highlight of every visit is meeting the chimpanzees. There are two: Anna, a five-month-old baby, and Julie, a lively four-year-old who loves attention. If the group was small enough, we took Julie out of her enclosure, gave her mangos or avocados, and let her interact with people.

In Cameroon, there is a sad business going on with chimpanzees: hunters kill the adults for the meat, leaving babies without parents to take care of them. Julie’s original caregiver had to leave the country, so he brought her to the farm when she was already two years old, and Anna was brought by a hunter’s friend at the beginning of my internship.

Looking back at my first guided tour, I remember how stressed I felt. But I got used to it and after a few times, I started to really enjoy it. I learned so much, met inspiring people, and gained experiences I will carry with me for a long time.

I really miss my evening walks with Julie and my play dates with Anna.


Text and photos by Rhianna Brahier.

Find out more about the BFH-HAFL BSc in Agriculture here.

About the series

The Researcher Diary series provides photo snapshots and testimonials from researchers and students participating in BFH-HAFL and partner projects around the world.

Subject area: International agriculture and rural development
Category: International