Tropicultura (Jan 2005)
Analysis of Constraints to Agricultural Production in the Sudano Savanna Zone of Cameroon and Implication for Research Priority Setting
Abstract
A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) survey approach was used to identify the major constraints to agricultural production and to describe the major production systems in the sudano savanna and sudano sahelian zone of northern Cameroon. Relative emphasis was placed on the household level characterization to have a better understanding of the land use system, farmers' constraints to production and opportunities, so as to better target agricultural technologies and interventions in this vast agro-ecological zone. It was noted that, large variations exist in agriculture management practices between agro-ecological zones, among villages and households in terms of access to resources, such as labour, fertilizers, livestock, farm equipment, and land. Intensive and extensive farming practices might co-exist within the same village and households. The mains sources of vulnerability were identified. Results are used to set research priorities which will be directed towards the need of the majority of area's population; the improvement of sustainable food and feed crop production.
