systems are frequently encountered in the Yaoundé block, which has the best access
to urban markets (see below) (see also Chap. 2, Vol. 2).
The intensity of agricultural production and management follows the resource use
intensification gradient within the forest margins of southern Cameroon. These
differences are very significant when it comes to the use of improved varieties,
fertilizers, fungicides and insecticides (Gockowski et al. 2004). In particular, the
greatest intensification in the Yaoundé block, with 56%, 39% and 51% of households using improved crop varieties, fertilizers and pesticides, respectively
(Gockowski et al. 2004). Purchased agricultural inputs are not common in the
Mbalmayo block, while fertilizer/pesticide use is practically non-existent in the
Ebolowa block (Gockowski et al. 2004). Practices such as soil tillage before
planting, use of ridges and row planting is also more frequent in the Yaoundé
block (Gockowski et al. 2004). The number of different farms types is a final aspect
related to resource use intensification and farming system diversification
(Gockowski et al. 2004). Previous studies have revealed that 62% of the households
in the Yaoundé block have five to eight distinct field types, compared to only 28% in
the Mbalmayo block and 44% in the Ebolowa block (Gockowski et al. 2004).
10.2.2 Data Collection and Analysis
In order to understand the type, role and outcome of forest–agriculture innovations in
the study area, we selected two villages in each block (Sect. 10.2.1). These villages
were selected based on the intensity of relevant innovations, and especially villages
with a relatively high number of such innovations. In each village we aimed to
understand:
– Human–nature relationships (Sect. 10.3.1)
– Traditional knowledge about forest use, soil fertility and agro-diversity management (Sect. 10.3.2)
– Plant characteristics for household consumption and selling (Sect. 10.3.3)
– Pests and disease management approaches for major crops (Sect. 10.3.4)
– Social demand and supply of forest–agriculture innovations (Sect. 10.3.5)
Data were collected through a combination of:
– Household surveys
– Focus group discussions (FGDs)
– Agro-diversity surveys
In each selected village (six villages in the three blocks), we survey five households (N ¼ 30 households). In each village, these five households were selected
based on their participation in the development and utilization of forest–agriculture
innovations. Based on this criterion, the selected households could be divided in
three categories: (a) farmers involved in on-farm research, participatory farm
research and innovation testing; (b) farmers not directly involved in on-farm
10 Forest–Agriculture in the Centre–South Region of Cameroon: How Does. . .
323
to urban markets (see below) (see also Chap. 2, Vol. 2).
The intensity of agricultural production and management follows the resource use
intensification gradient within the forest margins of southern Cameroon. These
differences are very significant when it comes to the use of improved varieties,
fertilizers, fungicides and insecticides (Gockowski et al. 2004). In particular, the
greatest intensification in the Yaoundé block, with 56%, 39% and 51% of households using improved crop varieties, fertilizers and pesticides, respectively
(Gockowski et al. 2004). Purchased agricultural inputs are not common in the
Mbalmayo block, while fertilizer/pesticide use is practically non-existent in the
Ebolowa block (Gockowski et al. 2004). Practices such as soil tillage before
planting, use of ridges and row planting is also more frequent in the Yaoundé
block (Gockowski et al. 2004). The number of different farms types is a final aspect
related to resource use intensification and farming system diversification
(Gockowski et al. 2004). Previous studies have revealed that 62% of the households
in the Yaoundé block have five to eight distinct field types, compared to only 28% in
the Mbalmayo block and 44% in the Ebolowa block (Gockowski et al. 2004).
10.2.2 Data Collection and Analysis
In order to understand the type, role and outcome of forest–agriculture innovations in
the study area, we selected two villages in each block (Sect. 10.2.1). These villages
were selected based on the intensity of relevant innovations, and especially villages
with a relatively high number of such innovations. In each village we aimed to
understand:
– Human–nature relationships (Sect. 10.3.1)
– Traditional knowledge about forest use, soil fertility and agro-diversity management (Sect. 10.3.2)
– Plant characteristics for household consumption and selling (Sect. 10.3.3)
– Pests and disease management approaches for major crops (Sect. 10.3.4)
– Social demand and supply of forest–agriculture innovations (Sect. 10.3.5)
Data were collected through a combination of:
– Household surveys
– Focus group discussions (FGDs)
– Agro-diversity surveys
In each selected village (six villages in the three blocks), we survey five households (N ¼ 30 households). In each village, these five households were selected
based on their participation in the development and utilization of forest–agriculture
innovations. Based on this criterion, the selected households could be divided in
three categories: (a) farmers involved in on-farm research, participatory farm
research and innovation testing; (b) farmers not directly involved in on-farm
10 Forest–Agriculture in the Centre–South Region of Cameroon: How Does. . .
323