How Prepared are Cameroon's Cocoa Farmers for Climate Insurance? Evidence from the South West Region of Cameroon

Kimengsi, Jude Ndzifon; Azibo, Balgah Roland

doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2015.07.196

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Hence the continuous dependence on rainfall in order to cultivate these highly sensitive crops makes smallholder farmers vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate variability and change. Studies conducted in the North-West Region of Cameroon have shown that climate variability and change is already impacting negatively on agriculture especially on small-scale farmers (Tingem et al, 2008a;Sunjo et al, 2012;Kimengsi et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of small-scale farmers adaptation decision to climate variability and change in the North-West region of Cameroon

Awazi¹,

Tchamba²

2018

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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Small-scale farmers' adaptation decision in the face of climate variability and change (CVC) depends largely on their ability to perceive the impacts of CVC as well as their degree of vulnerability to these impacts. This research looks at the factors that influence small-scale farmers' adaptation decision faced with climate variability and change, with particular focus on Mbengwi Central SubDivision , NorthWest Region of Cameroon. The study made use of household surveys to identify the impacts, determine vulnerability and assess the factors influencing small-scale farmers' adaptation decision. Data obtained from household surveys was analyzed using descriptive statistics (bar charts, percentage indices) and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney test, Chi-Square, and the Binomial Logistic (BNL) regression model). Data analysis was done on Microsoft Excel 2007 and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 17.0. Results showed that, following small-scale farmers' perceptions, crop productivity decline was the main impact of CVC (96.7%) and poverty the principal cause of vulnerability to CVC (98.3%). Mann-Whitney test results revealed that there was a significant difference between farmers' adaptation decision and six hypothesized continuous explanatory variables (age, household size, farm size, number of farms, annual family income, farm experience) (p<0.01). Chisquare test results revealed that there was a significant difference between farmers adaptation decision and some hypothesized discontinuous explanatory variables (perception of extreme weather events, access to weather information, access to extension services, access to credit, membership in farming groups and distance to markets) (p<0.01). Results of the BNL regression model showed that the main determinants of small-scale farmers' adaptation decision in the study area were age of household head, farm size and access to weather information (p<0.05).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of small-scale farmers adaptation decision to climate variability and change in the North-West region of Cameroon

Awazi¹,

Tchamba²

2018

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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“…This could be attributed to the fact that as cocoa farms age, fertility declines naturally; while as density of cocoa plants increases, there is competition for nutrients which leads to a reduction in soil fertility; the excessive application of agrochemicals kills soil organisms which are the engineers working to keep the soil fertile, hence a drop in soil fertility. Studies have shown that poor farm management and poor agricultural practices lead to a decline in soil fertility in all agricultural systems [27,[42][43][44][45]. In cocoabased agroforestry systems, little or nothing has been done so far to examine the factors affecting soil fertility.…”

Section: Factors Influencing Soil Fertility In Cocoa-based Agroforestry Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cocoabased agroforestry systems in particular are dominant especially in the humid southern part of the country characterized by high mean annual temperatures and high average annual rainfall [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. These cocoa-based agroforests are controlled by smallholder farmers who are mostly resource poor, and largely depend on the sale of cocoa for survival [27][28]. Low cocoa yields and price fluctuations have pushed some of these smallholder cocoa farmers out of the cocoa sector [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the determinants of soil fertility in cocoa-based (Theobroma cacao) agroforestry systems in the Littoral region of Cameroon

Tsufac

Awazi

Yerima

2020

IJPSS

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Soil fertility decline is a reality across the globe. Soil infertility has led to falling crop yields for both food and cash crops precipitating both poverty and food insecurity. Poor agricultural practices have often been blamed for declining levels of soil fertility. It was within this framework that this study was carried out to assess soil fertility levels in cocoa-based agroforestry systems in the Littoral region of Cameroon. Through the use of a mixed research approach and descriptive and inferential statistical analysis it was found that the most perceived indicators of soil fertility by cocoa farmers in cocoa-based agroforestry systems were cocoa yields (100%), soil colour (90%), indicator plant species (75%), presence of soil macro-organisms (80%), indicator weed species (65%), growth rate/vigour of the cocoa plant (70%), and level of compaction of the soil (50%). Chi-square test statistic (X2 = 15.92, p<0.05) revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in cocoa farmers’ perceptions of soil fertility indicators in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Most cocoa farmers perceived the level of soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems to be between average (29%) and low (43%). Very few cocoa farmers perceived that soil fertility level in cocoa-based agroforestry systems was very high (5.3%). Chi-square test statistic (X2 = 38.42, p<0.05), revealed the existence of a statistically significant difference in cocoa farmers’ perception of the level of soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Correlation and regression analyses showed the existence of a direct and inverse non-causal and causal relationship respectively between several explanatory variables and soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. It was noticed that explanatory variables such as fertilizer/manure application, diversity of tree species in the cocoa agroforests, diversity of soil macro-fauna in the cocoa agroforests, and density of soil macro-fauna in the cocoa agroforests, all had a statistically significant (p<0.05) direct non-causal and causal relationship with soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Meanwhile, explanatory variables such as age of the cocoa farm, density of cocoa plants in the cocoa agroforests, and application of agrochemicals in the cocoa agroforests, all had a statistically significant (p<0.05) non-causal and causal relationship with soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. It is therefore recommended that there should be more organic fertilizer/manure application, more diversity of tree species in the cocoa agroforests, and measures to ensure the diversity and density of soil macro-fauna in cocoa-based agroforestry systems.

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“…In Cameroona major cocoa producing country in West and Central Africa, cocoa production has been dwindling enormously (Nfinn, 2005;Laird et al, 2007;Jagoret et al, 2011Jagoret et al, , 2012Jagoret et al, , 2014Jagoret et al, , 2018Essougong et al, 2020). Lack of investment in the sector and poor farming practices by cocoa farmers have led to declining cocoa yields (Kimengsi and Azibo, 2013;Kimengsi and Tosam, 2013;Tankou, 2015). With a drop in cocoa yields, cocoa farmers have resorted to the use of agrochemicals in their cocoa farms in a frantic bid to increase cocoa yields (Alemagi et al, 2015;Sonwa et al, 2008;Mahob et al, 2014;Pouokam et al, 2017;Mukete et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of agrochemical application on the diversity and abundance of soil macro-fauna in cocoa-based (Theobroma cacao) agroforestry systems in Cameroon

Tsufac¹,

Yerima²,

Enang³

et al. 2021

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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Cocoa farmers' excessive use of agrochemicals in cocoa agroforests has major repercussions on soil organisms, which play a great role in soil fertility enhancement. This study was carried out to examine the relationship between agrochemical use and soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa agroforests in Cameroon. A mixed research approach was used, and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. It was found that the main types of agrochemicals used by cocoa farmers in cocoa-based agroforestry systems were fungicides (100%), insecticides (100%), and herbicides (36.7%). The categorization of the major types of agrochemicals used by cocoa farmers revealed that, two types of herbicides, eight types of fungicides, and nine types of insecticides were used by cocoa farmers in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Most cocoa farmers perceived that all the agrochemicals lead to a decrease in soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Chi-square test statistic results (X2 > 78, p<0.05) showed that cocoa farmers' perceptions of the effects of agrochemicals on the diversity and abundance of soil macro-fauna in cocoa-based agroforestry systems differed significantly across the main types of agrochemicals (herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides). Correlation and regression analyses showed the existence of a statistically significant (p<0.05) inverse non-causal and causal relationship respectively between most agrochemicals and soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa-based agroforestry systems, implying that the use of these agrochemicals leads to a reduction in soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa agroforests. Thus, it is recommended that measures be taken to reduce the use of agrochemicals in cocoa agroforests in order to safeguard the diversity and abundance of soil macrofauna in these systems.

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How Prepared are Cameroon's Cocoa Farmers for Climate Insurance? Evidence from the South West Region of Cameroon

Cited by 16 publications

References 5 publications

Determinants of small-scale farmers adaptation decision to climate variability and change in the North-West region of Cameroon

Determinants of small-scale farmers adaptation decision to climate variability and change in the North-West region of Cameroon

Assessing the determinants of soil fertility in cocoa-based (Theobroma cacao) agroforestry systems in the Littoral region of Cameroon

Effects of agrochemical application on the diversity and abundance of soil macro-fauna in cocoa-based (Theobroma cacao) agroforestry systems in Cameroon

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