Determinants of adoption of agri-environmental practices by maize producers organised in cooperatives in the Centre region of Cameroon

Abstract

In response to various environmental problems facing the intensive mode of agricultural production, this study analysed the factors influencing the adoption of agri-environmental practices by maize producers organised in co-operatives in the Centre region of Cameroon by using the case study of PIDMA project. For this reason, the survey was undertaken in all the 15 villages grouping maize producers in two out of the four cooperatives under the regional coordinating unit of the project (PIDMA). Data on the socio-economic situation of producers, level of knowledge and applicability of environmental practices were gathered in the study area from 50 out of 88 (i.e. 56.8%) active maize producers. The descriptive field results revealed that the adoption of agri-environmental practices was related to social, psychological and economic characteristics of producers. The binary logit model results indicated that the adoption of agri-environmental practices was associated with the frequency of PIDMA agricultural training and cultivated area under maize. However, certain variables such as gender, age, education level, marital status, cost of implementing practice, lack of funding, labour type, time spent for the implementation of the practice, income source, technical and professional support did not seem to be associated with the adoption of agri-environmental practices. In conclusion, the study recommended to the maize farmers, the setting up of working groups of at least 10 maize producers in order to practice rotations in the fields of each member of the group. The study also recommended the agricultural development projects to define and provide relatively simple mechanisms to enhance farmers’ performance such as financial assistance, demonstration workshops in the fields and to allocate environmental assistants to each co-operative’s headquarters.Keywords: Cooperative, logit model, maize producer, agricultural development project, socio-economic factors.

Impact of Mega-Agricultural Projects, Searching the Silver Lining in Cameroon

“…The irresistible majority of people in Cameroon live in rural areas making rural development an important objective of development planning (MINFI, 2023). Multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, and bilateral donor agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD), The AgenceFrançaise de Développement (AFD), Deutsche Gesellschaftfür Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) etc that have been working in Cameroon since the early 1960s assisting in this sector (Bamberger & Cheema,1990;Folefack et al, 2020). The World Bank alone has invested over US$ 1.2 billion from 1980 till the day in 29 megaprojects out of which, 3 are still ongoing, most of these projects included three components: (i) support for the production, processing, and marketing (focused on the funding of sub-projects from producers' organisations, funding of essential public infrastructure sub-projects and supporting access to rural finance); (ii) support to essential public services and technology transfer (focused on support to essential public services and improvement of agricultural technology transfer) (iii) project Coordination and Management (World Bank, 2023).…”

“…(iii) service providers, studies, technical assistance, and training; and (iv) salaries, allowances, and operating costs (IFAD, 2018;Folefack et al, 2020). The components were cross-cutting involving more stakeholders in implementations.…”

“…The components were cross-cutting involving more stakeholders in implementations. Folefack et al (2020) found that a hierarchical organisation model is used in implementing large-scale agricultural projects. The model comprises of project steering committee, a project coordination team at the national level, and Regional Coordination Units made up of appointed members (IFAD.…”

“…The steering committee had ensured optimal megaproject impacts especially in the information technology sector as reported by Merrow (2011). The steering committees are widely used in multilateral and bilateral mega-agricultural projects in Cameroon offering the opportunity to optimise the benefits and minimise the negative externalities (Folefack et al, 2020).…”

“…Another described joining 'a global online marketing group' to maintain market access and social interactions. Recent reports insisted that several farmers had developed relationships with potential customers in and out of their communities (Folefack et al, 2020;World Bank, 2023;IFAD, 2018). Some farmers said 'I have a phone but no internet connection, I do not use social media'; the cost of internet is too high and before you know the credit you had on your phone has disappeared' etc.…”