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Socio-economic Characteristics of Family-run Maize Farm in the Centre Region of Cameroon

Received: 1 July 2021    Accepted: 12 July 2021    Published: 19 July 2021
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Abstract

This work presents the elements that characterise the socio-economic life of family maize farms. The research method was based on field surveys. The study was carried out between September 2019 and December 2020 in centre region of Cameroon. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 1060 (545 women and 515 men) maize farm managers who were selected in a reasoned manner using the snowball method based on the file of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cameroon. Data from the study was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that maize cultivation is mainly done by women, although women do not control the produce from these farms when they are married. 70.1% of the respondents are over 35 years old, 50% of the maize producers live in households with 4 to 8 people. Forty (40) percent of the respondents are in common-law unions without companies, but 73.9% of the respondent’s state that their main activity is farming and 13.6% state that they are engaged in "other" activities. The level of education of the maize farmers is low and 13.9% said they had never been to school for several reasons. However, the 21.5% of respondents who rent land do so from indigenous people who have customary rights to the land but whose rental principles prohibit the establishment of perennial crops. The characteristics of family maize farms in Central Cameroon predispose them to unprofitable and inefficient agriculture. Producers are limited by their social conditions to make the farms evolve over time.

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19
Page(s) 227-232
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Family, Main Activity, Maize Producers, Social Conditions

References
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[2] Institut National de Statistique (INS). Chapitre 14: Agriculture. République du Cameroun; 2015. French.
[3] Clavel D. Savoirs et développement rural: Le dialogue au coeur de l'innovation. Domont: Corinne Thonnat; 2013. Franch.
[4] Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM). Evaluation des risques agricoles au Cameroun. Rme: IRAM; 2017. French.
[5] Jeanneaux P, Blasquiet-Revol H. La Gestion des exploitations agricoles: Un état des lieux de la recherche en France. Creer et comprendre. 2012; 107: 29-40. French.
[6] Ngo Nonga F. Dynamique organisationnelle et professionnelle des exploitations familiales agricoles à base de maïs et à l'Ouest Cameroun. PCP_REPARAC; 2008. French.
[7] Minsitère de l’Agriculture et du Developpement Rural (MINADER). Publication semestrielle sur les prix des produits et intrants agricoles. Infos-prix. 2011; 01: 1-44. French.
[8] Mabah Tene G, Temple L, Havard, H. Déterminants socio-économiques et institutionnels de l'adoption d'innovations techniques concernant la production de maïs à l'ouest du Cameroun. Tropicultura. 2013; 31 (2): 137-142. French.
[9] Projet d’Investissement et de Développement des Marchés Agricoles (PIDMA). Etats des lieux de la chaine de valeur maïs au Cameroun. PIDMA; 2019. French.
[10] Kane GQ. Analyse des performances productives des exploitations familiales agricoles de la localité de Zoetele au Sud Cameroun. Thèse de DEA, Université de Soa; 2010. French.
[11] Aslihan A. Quel est l'âge moyen d'un agriculteur dans les pays en développement aujourd'hui? FIDA; 2019.
[12] Eyinga DE. Situation socio-économique des personnes âgées au Cameroun: État des lieux et facteurs explicatifs. BUCREP; 2011.
[13] Monsen JH. Gender and Development. Routledge; 2004.
[14] Eloundou EC. Analyse de l'accessibilité des femmes aux services financiers auprès des Etablissements de Micro-Finances du reseau A3C. Université de Dschang; 2013. French.
[15] Ministere de l’Economie, de la Planification et de l’Amenagement du Territoire (MINEPAT) Strategie du Secteur Rural. MINEPAT; 2016.
[16] Kengne FF. Les transports clandestins autour de Yaoundé. Les cahiers d'Outre-Mer. 1985: 175-195. French.
[17] Nembot Ndeffo L, Tagne Kuelah JR, Makoudem Téné M. Determinants of Access to Education in Cameroon. African Economic Research Consortium; 2014.
[18] Fon Engwali D. Access to Arable Land by Rural Women in Cameroon. Tropicultura. 2011; 29 (2): 65-69.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Eloundou Etoundi Christian, Fon Dorothy Engwali, Minkoua Nzie Jules René. (2021). Socio-economic Characteristics of Family-run Maize Farm in the Centre Region of Cameroon. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 9(4), 227-232. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19

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    ACS Style

    Eloundou Etoundi Christian; Fon Dorothy Engwali; Minkoua Nzie Jules René. Socio-economic Characteristics of Family-run Maize Farm in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Am. J. Agric. For. 2021, 9(4), 227-232. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19

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    AMA Style

    Eloundou Etoundi Christian, Fon Dorothy Engwali, Minkoua Nzie Jules René. Socio-economic Characteristics of Family-run Maize Farm in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Am J Agric For. 2021;9(4):227-232. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19,
      author = {Eloundou Etoundi Christian and Fon Dorothy Engwali and Minkoua Nzie Jules René},
      title = {Socio-economic Characteristics of Family-run Maize Farm in the Centre Region of Cameroon},
      journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
      volume = {9},
      number = {4},
      pages = {227-232},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20210904.19},
      abstract = {This work presents the elements that characterise the socio-economic life of family maize farms. The research method was based on field surveys. The study was carried out between September 2019 and December 2020 in centre region of Cameroon. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 1060 (545 women and 515 men) maize farm managers who were selected in a reasoned manner using the snowball method based on the file of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cameroon. Data from the study was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that maize cultivation is mainly done by women, although women do not control the produce from these farms when they are married. 70.1% of the respondents are over 35 years old, 50% of the maize producers live in households with 4 to 8 people. Forty (40) percent of the respondents are in common-law unions without companies, but 73.9% of the respondent’s state that their main activity is farming and 13.6% state that they are engaged in "other" activities. The level of education of the maize farmers is low and 13.9% said they had never been to school for several reasons. However, the 21.5% of respondents who rent land do so from indigenous people who have customary rights to the land but whose rental principles prohibit the establishment of perennial crops. The characteristics of family maize farms in Central Cameroon predispose them to unprofitable and inefficient agriculture. Producers are limited by their social conditions to make the farms evolve over time.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Socio-economic Characteristics of Family-run Maize Farm in the Centre Region of Cameroon
    AU  - Eloundou Etoundi Christian
    AU  - Fon Dorothy Engwali
    AU  - Minkoua Nzie Jules René
    Y1  - 2021/07/19
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19
    T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    SP  - 227
    EP  - 232
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8591
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20210904.19
    AB  - This work presents the elements that characterise the socio-economic life of family maize farms. The research method was based on field surveys. The study was carried out between September 2019 and December 2020 in centre region of Cameroon. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 1060 (545 women and 515 men) maize farm managers who were selected in a reasoned manner using the snowball method based on the file of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cameroon. Data from the study was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that maize cultivation is mainly done by women, although women do not control the produce from these farms when they are married. 70.1% of the respondents are over 35 years old, 50% of the maize producers live in households with 4 to 8 people. Forty (40) percent of the respondents are in common-law unions without companies, but 73.9% of the respondent’s state that their main activity is farming and 13.6% state that they are engaged in "other" activities. The level of education of the maize farmers is low and 13.9% said they had never been to school for several reasons. However, the 21.5% of respondents who rent land do so from indigenous people who have customary rights to the land but whose rental principles prohibit the establishment of perennial crops. The characteristics of family maize farms in Central Cameroon predispose them to unprofitable and inefficient agriculture. Producers are limited by their social conditions to make the farms evolve over time.
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Rural Socio-Economics and Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

  • Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

  • Department of Economics and Management, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

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