Farm income, gender differentials and climate risk in Cameroon: typology of male and female adaptation options across agroecologies

Abstract

This paper explores the response to risk of smallholder agricultural producers in the face of variable and changing climate in Cameroon. The low rainfall distribution in some regions of the country and the high interseasonal variability of rainfall makes crop production, on which the livelihood of rural inhabitants is based, a risky enterprise. Women farmers in Cameroon are an important group for whom risk aversion influences production outcomes and welfare. This study identifies and analyses the effect of climate risks on the productive activities and the management options of male and female farmers. Womenowned farms, on average, record profits of US$ 620 per hectare to about US$ 935 for crop enterprises across the different agroecological zones. Comparatively static results indicate that increases in climate variability and the uncertainty of climate conditions have an explicit impact on farm profit. The impacts of increased uncertainty in climate and risk aversion are ambiguous depending on the agroecology. Ex-ante and ex-post risk management options reveal that female-owned farms in the northern Sahel savannah zone rely on more sophisticated strategies to reduce the impact of shocks. While adapting to uncertain climate positively influences profit levels, risk measured as the variance of rainfall or temperature per unit variation in profit is significant. This analysis stresses the increased importance of climate risk management as a prelude to the panoply of adaptation choice in response to expected climatic change.

The influence of gendered roles and responsibilities on the adoption of technologies that mitigate drought risk: The case of drought-tolerant maize seed in eastern Uganda

“…A farmer's characteristics, such as gender, age, and income, shape his or her roles and responsibilities with regard to agricultural production and livelihoods (e.g., Carr, 2008b;Simtowe, 2010;Buechler, 2009;Koopman, 2009;Molua, 2010), and therefore strongly influence the decision to adopt a new technology. Women are heavily engaged in agricultural production across SSA.…”

Climate Change Perception and Farmers’ Adoption of Sustainable Land Management for Robust Adaptation in Cameroon

“…For instance, Bryant et al (2000), Maddison (2006) and Gbetibouo (2009) note that the perceptions of climate change influence farming decisions. While the agricultural decisions are wide and varied, they could however be grouped into soil management choices, crop management choices and socioeconomic choices (Molua, 2011;Kurukulasuriya & Mendelsohn, 2008). Despite these challenges, improving the productivity, profitability and sustainability of such smallholder farming is an important pathway out of poverty (Kassie et al, 2008;Holden et al, 2004).…”

Rural local institutions and climate change adaptation in forest communities in Cameroon

“…The large number of women who are involved in the saving and loan groups is also important. Women are dependent on agricultural and forest resources for their livelihood and are often a marginalized group within society (Brown 2011, Molua 2011. These collective resources could be available to help them adapt to climate change.…”

“…According to Molua (2011), women farmers in Cameroon are risk averse, which influences production outcomes and welfare. Because climate variability undermines agricultural development, it is important that government play a role in developing the capacity and strategies to help both men and women adapt.…”

“…In Cameroon, the economy is predominantly agrarian and the exploitation of agricultural and other natural resources plays a central role in the country's economic development (Republic of Cameroon 2005). About 80% of the country's poor live in rural areas and work primarily in agriculture (Molua 2011). In the humid forest zone, these primarily small-holder farmers are also dependent on the forest for food, fuel wood, medicinal plants, and other resources as part of their livelihood strategy (Sonwa et al 2012).…”