Wikipedia
Santchou is a town and commune in Cameroon. It is located in the Menoua division of the West region of Cameroon. It is home predominantly to the Mbo people; this is reflected in the name. Santchou in the local dialect is pronounced San-nzoh, meaning, father (San) of elephants(nzoh). It is located on a plain and it is part of the region known as the Plain des Mbo. It is boarded to the north by mount manengouba to the south by the cliff of Dschang and to the east by Kekem.
San-nzoh is made up of several villages, these include: Mgwatta, Mbamia, Fougwoh, Mboukock, Bebong, Moyong, Mankang, Bale, Ngang, Mokot, Nden-Matock, Mbokou, Mbongo, Mogot, Nganzon, Nteingue, Nfowang, Nfonsam and Njijang. Each village is run by a committee of elders headed by a chief. Moreover, all the chiefs in these villages report to the paramount chief (chef superieur in French). The present paramount chief is Pierre Milla Assoute a prominent political heavy weight now on exile in France. Commune of Santchou is made up of three groups namely group Fombap LEZAP, this multicultural village predominantly Bamileke. it is composed of the small villages such as Nganzom, Mabe, and Fombap, Nsala. Village Fondenera, it is a village on the mountain. the population is economically most dynamic in Santchou.
It was once a thriving agricultural town due to the presence of the rice cultivation and research company (SODERIM) created in 1978 to improve rice production that was slowly becoming a staple food for the Cameroonian people. This company accounted for most of the economic activity in the town and also was responsible for the rapid population expansion in this town in the early to late 80s from about 15000 to approximately 25000 people. This also attracted other ethnic groups to the town predominantly the Bamilekes who resided in the surrounding towns and villages. The bamileke took advantage of this rapid population growth to open other businesses within the town.
Due to lack of investment, poor road infrastructure, inadequate management and planning, the rice cultivation company was closed and this greatly affected the town's economy.
Most recently though the vibrancy in the town has returned due to the completion of the Melong to Dschang road with the town acting as a major transport hub for people travelling to Bamenda and other parts of the North West region of Cameroon. About 80% of the population is made of subsistence farmers growing food crops such as cocoyam, cassava, beans, maize. plantain, banana etc. Some are also engage in growing cash crops such as cocoa and coffee which act as a major source of income for these individuals.