notes on educational disciplines

CHAPTER ONE

THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE STUDY

  Read these notes and have glimse background on the problem statement on the viability of mixed farming in Cameroon.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter treats the background to the study, the study area, aim and objectives of study, motivations of the study and finally it presents the structure of this dissertation.

1.2 STUDY BACKGROUND

A wider range of different farming systems have evolved, each adapted to the local ecological conditions and strictly entwined with local culture. In a constant struggle to survive, farm communities have developed innumerable ways of obtaining food and fiber from plants and animals.

In Cameroon, the agricultural development strategy put in place is aimed at increasing production in smallholder sector as well as in the large-scale agro-industrial sector. This so-called modernization strategy is necessarily characterized by increasing commercialization of production. Experience however, has taught that nutrition wise this transition is often fraught with problems, and the need to include nutritional objectives in agricultural and rural development programs has been stressed.

These emphasis laid on the promotion of nutritional objectives is more or less theoretical. Agricultural production is still characterized by traditional methods or techniques. The use of tractors for cultivation, the use of combine harvesters to harvest and above all the use of artificial fertilizer and insecticides are still alien to most farm households in Cameroon.

Though Reijntes et al (1992: XVI) thinks that:

“rapid changes in economic, technological and demographic conditions demand increasingly rapid changes in small holder farming systems”, this case seems to be either a reverse or stagnant in Cameroon. Farming in-puts still respect the traditions of yester-years. Besides, the increasing demographic explosion is having a negative impact on an already balkanized land due to complicated land tenure. In fact, population increase lead to reduction in farm size, on account, farm splitting makes it necessary to extend farming to more marginal areas or to overexploit resources or to look for income sources outside the farm. All these leave us to wonder whether one can talk of sustainability in farming with such a background.

However, if this smallholder farming system (mixed-farming) is supported and modernized by the powers that be, Cameroon with such abundant human and natural resources can benefit from its agricultural sector.

Reijntjes et al (ibid) suggest that:

 “Development workers can assist smallholders in their constant endeavors to adapt their agriculture to changing conditions“. Strengthening farmers’ capacity to develop and manage technology therefore could make the mixed-farming system sustainable for increase productivity.

The assistance supported by Reijntjes et al above, is what the smallholder farmers in Cameroon especially those of Tubah Sub-division lack. In order to survive, the system of mixed-farming where many crops are grown on the same furrow is adapted. Community members give each member support by sharing or exchanging labor, animals, fields or farm products. These interactions are part of the survival strategies of families and individuals. With all these rudimentary methods of production, one is forced to ponder whether the system could be viable to ensure increase productivity hence sustainability.

1.3 THE MAIN RESEARCH QUESTION

How sustainable is the mixed-farming system in ensuring increase productivity?

1.3.1 Sub-Research Questions

·        How sound is the ecology of the mixed farming system?

·        How viable is the mixed farming system economy?

·        Is the mixed farming socially just?

·        Is the mixed farming system adaptable?

·        What changes could be made to bring improvement on this system of farming for increase sustainability?

1.4 MAIN AIM OF REASEARCH

To find out whether mixed-farming is a sustainable farming system in the Tubah Sub-Division.

1.4.1 Research Objectives

·        To find out if the mixed farming system is ecologically sound;

·        To demonstrate its economic viability;

·        To find out whether the mixed farming system is socially just;

·        To show that the mixed farming system is adaptable.

1.5 STUDY AREA

1.5.1 Situation

Tubah Sub-Division was created by a presidential decree in 1984. It is made up of five villages. These villages are: Kedjom Ketinguh, Kedjom Keku, Bambui, Bambili and Funghi. This region is situated in the Mezam division, North West Province of Cameroon (See figures 01-03). It is part of geographical boundary between West and Central Africa. That is the actual division of the large basins of the river Niger and Congo. It is situated on an altitude of 1800-2200m above sea level.

1.5.2 Physical Presentation

Topography: The slopes range from flat and gently slopping in the basin to very steep slopping towards the ridges and downwards to the stream intake. The farmers cultivate on the plains.

Hydrology: The Sabga hills are very rich in water resources which supply the five villages and some neighboring villages like Bamessing and Bamali. The catchment of the Bambui water supply is fed by three streams coming from the upper watershed which is divided in six sub-basins. The annual min. rainfall is 1600mm. The streams flowing down the slopes in this region have an average flow of approximately 60lts/sec. However, due to deforestation, careless farming and grazing methods, the min. flow in the dry season is much less. This explains why farming activities are reduced during this period in this region.

Soils: Deep and dark topsoil is considerably acid (pH 5.5-5.0) in the valley bottoms, under virgin forest and where agriculture is carried out. Grazing land as such is severely eroded with very little topsoil left and advanced acidification (pH 4.0-4.5). This explains why grazing land in the Tubah region is eroded from farm land where the soils are relatively fertile.

Vegetation: Vegetation in this region ranges from thorn bushes to thick forest along the ridges. The indigenous forest measures about 300ha. The vegetation provides natural organic manure which boosts crop cultivation in this area.

1.5.3 Socio-economic presentation

Human settlement: The five villages in this sub-division are estimated to about 63,000 inhabitants (National household survey 2004). They have opted for a sparsely type of settlement. This is explained by the land tenure system that is practiced here. An individual may own a very large plot and prohibit people who are not part of his kindred to settle. This land tenure system has given rise to mixed farming system since most people concentrate on small plots around their homes to cultivate a variety of farm products.

The principal economic activity here is farming. Of recent, especially in Kedjom Ketinguh most households have grouped themselves into cooperatives to produce for the market. However there are other off farm economic activities like teaching, nursing and craft work.

1.6 MOTIVATIONS

What finally motivates me to choose this topic for study is my personal interaction and active participation in producing food through mixed farmi ng system. Infact while growing up I experienced how my family interacted with other families in the community to adapt mixed farming system as part of an agricultural strategy for food production. This has spurred me to wonder the viability of the system thus pushing me to contribute through writing.

Equally, the decision to undertake the study in Tubah Sub-Division, Cameroon is because this region has stood the test of time over the years in serving as one of the bread baskets of the people of Mezam Division and beyond. Throughout the year, they produce a variety of products ranging from leaf (cabbage, lettuce) stem (celery) Fruits (egg plant, cucumber, peppers, okra, pumpkin and tomatoes) seed ( beans, corn, peas) tuber (potatoes) bulb (garlic, leeks, onions, shallots), roots (beets, carrot, sweet potatoes).

1.7 DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS

1.7.1 The concept of farming system

Systems are mental concepts and their construction depends on the point of view and purpose of the manager. In our study, the farmers themselves presented a faint definition of what a system is. Applying to farming, Reijntjes et al (1992:42) think that farming system refers to a particular arrangement of farming enterprises (e.g. cropping, livestock-keeping, processing farm product) that are managed in response to the physical, biological and socio-economic environment and in accordance with the farmer’ goals, preferences and resources. 

In the above definition, farming is used in a wide sense to include not only crops and livestock but also the other natural resources available to the farm households, including resources held in common with others. Thus hunting, fishing and harvesting honey and other non-woody products from wooded areas and also extensive grazing of livestock on natural pasture can all form part of a farming system.

1.7.2 The concept of mixed farming

Mixed farming is just one of the numerous farming systems found in tropical Africa.

Altieri (1995) looks at mixed farming as polyculture, intercrops or mixed cropping. He reported at least 80% of the cultivated area of West Africa and predominates in other areas of Africa as well.

Meanwhile Shiere et al (1997) opine that mixed farming systems refer to a situation where crop cultivation and livestock rearing are more or less integrated components of one single farming system. The more integrated systems are characterized by interdependency between crop and livestock activities. The less integrated systems are those where crop and livestock activities can make use of but not rely on each other. This type of mixed-farming is what prevails in the Tubah Sub-division. This is because many small household farmers do not keep significant number of livestock. The small that is kept is left to graze on the large open fields along the hills which are uninhabited.

They remarked that, the principal objectives of farmers engaged in mixed farming are:

-          Complementary benefit from an optimum mixture of crops and livestock farming;

-          Spread income and risks over both crops (primary) and livestock (secondary) production;

-          To adjust crop/livestock ratio to social and economic needs and opportunities.

 1.7.3 The concept of sustainability in relation to farming system

Sustainability in itself relates to the ability of a characteristic to maintain itself that is, not to decline with the passage of time. In the context of agriculture, Reijntjes et al (1992) think that sustainability basically refers to the capacity to remain productive while maintaining the resource base. 

Referring to farming system, sustainability is defined according to FAO (1993) as the ability of an agro ecosystem to maintain productivity when subject to stress or shock. In this case, stress is defined as a frequent (sometimes continuous), relatively small and predictable disturbing force that has a large cumulative effect. Examples of stress are salinity, toxity, erosion, indebtedness and declining market demand.

In our study therefore, we will be finding out whether the mixed farming system under study is able to sustain when subject to stress/shock.

1.8 DISSERTATION STRUCTURE

The work is divided into six chapters. Chapter one presents the subject matter to study, here, the study background, area of study, aim and objectives and motivation of the dissertation are presented. In chapter two we review the related literature to our study. Chapter three presents the methods used in collecting data from the field. Here, we used the qualitative method to collect our data. The next chapter, four, grapples with the presentation of data and discussions. Chapter five tackles the analyses of findings. Finally, chapter six rounds up with a conclusion and makes some recommendations and then.