TY - JOUR
T1 - PERCEPTIONS AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE FROM SMALL RUMINANT FARMERS IN NORTH-WEST CAMEROON
AU - Tendonkeng, Fernand
AU - Arnaud, Hako Touko Blaise
AU - Noumbissi, Marie Noël Bertine
AU - Miégoué, Emile
AU - Sawa, Camara
AU - Essie, Férence Matumuini Ndzani
AU - Mboko, Arsène Valery
AU - Tovignon, Gilbert Zougou
AU - Nde, Awah Nelson
AU - Tedonkeng, Etienne Pamo
AU - Vargas-Bello-Pérez, Einar
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Background. Climate change is affecting the livestock sector in Cameroon particularly in the small ruminant sector. It is therefore essential to have information on the perception and adaptation strategies of farmers in order to improve animal production. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change from small ruminant farmers in Northern Cameroon. Methodology. 113 farmers were interviewed using questionnaires. The study was conducted from January to March 2018 in the Mezam division, North-West Region of Cameroon. Results. This survey revealed that small ruminant husbandry is practiced mostly by men (88%) with an age between 40 to 60 years (44%), married (71%) and with primary school education (40%). More than half of the surveyed farmers worked in both animal husbandry and agriculture (63%) as main activities and had between 6 to 10 years of breeding experience (32%). Most of them were not trained (72%) and more than half (53%) desired to be trained in all aspects of husbandry. Livestock were mostly purchased (88%), 61% had goats and 35% had sheep. Most (72%) farmers perceived climate change in the past decade and the majority (43%) identified deforestation as the main cause. Farmers observed a rise in temperature (41%) and a drop in precipitation (36%) and 63% did not practice any adaptation strategies to climate change on their herd. The majority (46%) of farmers perceived that climate change could be tackled with reforestation. Despite these constrains, 67% of the surveyed farmers wished to continue this activity by increasing their herd sizes. Implications. Surveyed farmers have noted a rise in temperature and decrease in precipitation in the past decade, which are believed to be major indicators for climate change. The farmers strongly think that climate change can be tackled through reforestation and education on the impacts of climate change. Conclusions. Overall, it appears that most of the surveyed farmers of Mezam division North-West region have perceived that climate change is related to deforestation. However, they do not practice any adaptation option on their small ruminant herds.
AB - Background. Climate change is affecting the livestock sector in Cameroon particularly in the small ruminant sector. It is therefore essential to have information on the perception and adaptation strategies of farmers in order to improve animal production. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change from small ruminant farmers in Northern Cameroon. Methodology. 113 farmers were interviewed using questionnaires. The study was conducted from January to March 2018 in the Mezam division, North-West Region of Cameroon. Results. This survey revealed that small ruminant husbandry is practiced mostly by men (88%) with an age between 40 to 60 years (44%), married (71%) and with primary school education (40%). More than half of the surveyed farmers worked in both animal husbandry and agriculture (63%) as main activities and had between 6 to 10 years of breeding experience (32%). Most of them were not trained (72%) and more than half (53%) desired to be trained in all aspects of husbandry. Livestock were mostly purchased (88%), 61% had goats and 35% had sheep. Most (72%) farmers perceived climate change in the past decade and the majority (43%) identified deforestation as the main cause. Farmers observed a rise in temperature (41%) and a drop in precipitation (36%) and 63% did not practice any adaptation strategies to climate change on their herd. The majority (46%) of farmers perceived that climate change could be tackled with reforestation. Despite these constrains, 67% of the surveyed farmers wished to continue this activity by increasing their herd sizes. Implications. Surveyed farmers have noted a rise in temperature and decrease in precipitation in the past decade, which are believed to be major indicators for climate change. The farmers strongly think that climate change can be tackled through reforestation and education on the impacts of climate change. Conclusions. Overall, it appears that most of the surveyed farmers of Mezam division North-West region have perceived that climate change is related to deforestation. However, they do not practice any adaptation option on their small ruminant herds.
KW - Adaptation strategies
KW - Cameroon
KW - Climate change
KW - Perception
KW - Small ruminant husbandry
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85126521002
VL - 25
JO - Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems
JF - Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems
SN - 1870-0462
IS - 1
ER -