Ebolowa block (Table 10.9). It is worth noting that crops with higher number of
cultivars or varieties such as cassava, groundnuts and plantain tend to be more
important for household consumption.
In terms of the preferred crop qualities, we identify a divergence of qualities for
crops destined for household consumption and market sales (Table 10.10). The most
important crop qualities for household consumption include high yield for crop
processing (88.5%); high yield for crop production (79.5%) and good taste
(59.8%). Others include good crop development (23.8%) and resistance to pests/
diseases (23%). On the other hand, some of the main desirable attributes for
marketed crops include taste (70.5%), ability to fetch high prices (51.6%), weight
(48.4%), healthy appearance (42.6%) and derived products (42.6%) (Table 10.10). It
is worth noting that there is some variation in these crop qualities between the three
blocks (see Table 10.11).
10.3.5 Pests and Disease Management Approaches
for Major Crops
Pests and diseases affect most of the main food and cash crops identified in Sect.
10.3.3. This can have important implications for household livelihoods, whether
these crops are used for household consumption or selling. Our household survey
reveals that the perceptions about the effect of pests/diseases on the yields of (and
income from) the main food and cash crops varied over time in the study areas.
According to Fig. 10.3, there is strong consensus among respondents that pests/
diseases have a high effect on cocoa yield and income, both during the time of
survey (87%) and 10 years prior to it (75%). Respondents suggest that the overall
Table 10.10 Desirable crop
characteristics for household
use and market selling
Crop qualities
Responses
Household use
High yield for crop processing
88.5 (108)
High yield for production
79.5 (97)
Good taste
59.8 (73)
Good crop development
23.8 (29)
Resistance to pests/diseases
23.0 (28)
Selling
Taste
70.5 (86)
Good price
51.6 (63)
Weight
48.4 (59)
Health and appearance
42.6 (52)
Derived products
42.6 (52)
Easy to sell
9.8 (12)
Note: Numbers in brackets indicate the actual number of
respondents
10 Forest–Agriculture in the Centre–South Region of Cameroon: How Does. . .
335
cultivars or varieties such as cassava, groundnuts and plantain tend to be more
important for household consumption.
In terms of the preferred crop qualities, we identify a divergence of qualities for
crops destined for household consumption and market sales (Table 10.10). The most
important crop qualities for household consumption include high yield for crop
processing (88.5%); high yield for crop production (79.5%) and good taste
(59.8%). Others include good crop development (23.8%) and resistance to pests/
diseases (23%). On the other hand, some of the main desirable attributes for
marketed crops include taste (70.5%), ability to fetch high prices (51.6%), weight
(48.4%), healthy appearance (42.6%) and derived products (42.6%) (Table 10.10). It
is worth noting that there is some variation in these crop qualities between the three
blocks (see Table 10.11).
10.3.5 Pests and Disease Management Approaches
for Major Crops
Pests and diseases affect most of the main food and cash crops identified in Sect.
10.3.3. This can have important implications for household livelihoods, whether
these crops are used for household consumption or selling. Our household survey
reveals that the perceptions about the effect of pests/diseases on the yields of (and
income from) the main food and cash crops varied over time in the study areas.
According to Fig. 10.3, there is strong consensus among respondents that pests/
diseases have a high effect on cocoa yield and income, both during the time of
survey (87%) and 10 years prior to it (75%). Respondents suggest that the overall
Table 10.10 Desirable crop
characteristics for household
use and market selling
Crop qualities
Responses
Household use
High yield for crop processing
88.5 (108)
High yield for production
79.5 (97)
Good taste
59.8 (73)
Good crop development
23.8 (29)
Resistance to pests/diseases
23.0 (28)
Selling
Taste
70.5 (86)
Good price
51.6 (63)
Weight
48.4 (59)
Health and appearance
42.6 (52)
Derived products
42.6 (52)
Easy to sell
9.8 (12)
Note: Numbers in brackets indicate the actual number of
respondents
10 Forest–Agriculture in the Centre–South Region of Cameroon: How Does. . .
335