effect has increased slightly in the 10 years prior to the interviews. There is also
strong consensus that that pests and diseases had a high effect on cassava yield/
income at the time of the survey, and that this effect had increased in the 10 years
prior to the survey. On the contrary, there is a strong consensus that pests and
diseases do not have a high effect on cocoyam yield/income over time. Responses
for plantains and groundnuts are more mixed, but suggest the increasing effects of
pests and diseases in the 10 years prior to the interviews.
Depending on the crop type, there are different pest and disease management
approaches, both on whether to take action and the action itself. The main actions
adopted in the study areas include (a) use of modern pesticides, (b) abandonment of
Table 10.11 Desirable crop characteristics for household use and market sales (% respondents)
Crop qualities
Ebolowa
Mbalmayo
Yaoundé
Humid forest zone
Household use
High yield for crop processing
84.4 (38)
88.1 (37)
94.3 (33)
88.5 (108)
High yield for production
82.2 (37)
69.0 (29)
88.6 (31)
79.5 (97)
Good taste
57.8 (26)
54.7 (23)
68.6 (24)
59.8 (73)
Good crop development
26.7 (12)
16.7 (07)
28.6 (10)
23.8 (29)
Resistance to pests/diseases
22.2 (10)
28.6 (12)
17.1 (06)
23.0 (28)
Sales
Taste
53.3 (24)
73.8 (31)
88.6 (31)
70.5 (86)
Good price
57.8 (26)
76.2 (32)
14.3 (05)
51.6 (63)
Weight
31.1 (14)
57.1 (24)
60.0 (21)
48.4 (59)
Health and appearance
37.8 (17)
40.5 (17)
51.4 (18)
42.6 (52)
Derived products
53.3 (24)
42.9 (18)
28.6 (10)
42.6 (52)
Easy to sell
11.1 (05)
9.5 (04)
8.6 (03)
9.8 (12)
Note: Numbers in brackets indicate actual number of respondents
Fig. 10.3 Incidence of crop pests and diseases
336
W. A. Mala et al.