Socioeconomic and Biophysical Analyses of Food Crop Production in Mbiame Sub-Division, North West Region, Cameroon
Lukong Christian Jaidzee *
Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 222, West Region, Cameroon.
Moye Eric Kongnso
Department of Geography, University of Dschang, P.O.Box 222, West Region, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study was undertaken to analyses the impacts of multiple socioeconomic and biophysical factors influencing food crop production in Mbiame, North West Region of Cameroon. To show this, we used a comprehensive data of socioeconomic and biophysical environment to investigate their potential determinants of food crop output. An assessment on the trend in yields showed a general decreased with soya beans (14.29 percent), maize (18.57 percent), groundnut (18.57 percent), beans (17.14 percent), cocoyam (8.57 percent), Irish potato (14.29) and cassava (8.57). A cause evaluation analysis was undertaken through a farmer participatory approach (with 150 questionnaires) and focus group discussion (Njanawa women’s group, mbohnso maize producers, Rifem common initiative group, Mbohchari farmers group and Ngorin farmers group); with a 69.3 percent acceptance that socioeconomic and biophysical factors are responsible for food crop fluctuation.
Keywords: Biophysical, socioeconomic, food crop production, yields.