This study carried out in the Menchum River valley, Northwest Region of Cameroon, in the year 2013 had as objective to analyze the structure, conduct and performance of the rice market in this zone. The study interviewed a total of 92 respondents (75 farmers-traders, 3 millers, 4 wholesalers and 10 retailers) who were selected purposively. The analysis of the results showed that the main actors involved in the rice market were: farmers-producers, wholesalers, millers and retailers. The males generally dominate in the rice trade particularly wholesaling (80%), milling (100%), while women dominate in the retail business (70%). The millers and the wholesalers are the principal buyers of farmers' produce (paddy). The rice market is oligopolistic in nature, prices are determined mainly by the forces of demand and supply and it equally does not satisfy customer desires or requirements. The millers obtained the highest margins amongst the trader. In terms of equity, the margins vary from one actor of the market to the other with the miller getting the greatest share and closely followed by the farmer. The principal constraints identified by the study that affects actors of the rice market were, bad farm to market roads, lack of capital, poor quality of rice and the insufficient improved seeds for farmers as well as poor selling methods. The recommendations at the end of this study are centered mainly on enhancing production and productivity, facilitating extension services and enhancing marketing.
Dans un contexte d’importation massive de produits avicoles au Bénin, la problématique relative à la performance des exploitations avicoles nationales est au cœur du débat. Afin d’assurer une meilleure allocation des ressources productives, des considérations d’ordre socioéconomiques entrent en jeu. Cette étude visait à établir le niveau de performance des exploitations de poules pondeuses au sud du Bénin. A travers l’approche paramétrique, les niveaux d’efficacité technique ont été estimés à partir d’une frontière stochastique de production. Les données ont été collectées auprès de quarante-cinq exploitations avicoles au moyen d’enquêtes réalisées entre août et septembre 2016. Les analyses ont montré que ces exploitations étaient en majorité performantes malgré des écarts d’efficacité entre elles. Le capital humain, le travail, les traitements vétérinaires étaient les principaux facteurs significatifs du processus de production d’œufs. La régression de la fonction de production a révélé que la faible production résultait davantage de l’insuffisance technique des producteurs (84 %) que de la répartition inefficace des ressources (16 %). Les écarts d’efficacité s’expliquaient par des facteurs socioéconomiques, notamment l’appui de l’Etat, le niveau d’instruction, l’âge de l’aviculteur, ses compétences et la densité des élevages. En conclusion, au Bénin les exploitations avicoles enquêtées étaient performantes mais restaient fragilisées par des externalités.
This study was carried out in Oku, Bui Division, North West Cameroon with the aim of examining the uses of four selected Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) (Fuel wood, Alpine bamboo, Honey, and Bushmeat-Rodents) by households. Data were collected from randomly selected 400 households in 8 villages using semi-structured questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that Fuelwood was most exploited by Households (80.75%), followed by Alpine bamboo (68.5%), Honey (50%) and Rodents (38%). A great number of households exploited all the four NTFPs under review (20.75%). Just a few households collected only one NTFP (24.25%) while 75.75% collect at least two NTFPs. NTFPs were mostly collected in the households for both consumption and commercial purposes (90.5%), while 9.5% were collected for consumption purposes only. No households indicated that they collected NTFPs for commercial purposes only. The NTFPs were mainly used by Households for food, medicine, construction, culture and as tools, with "tools only" being the greatest use. From field findings, it can be concluded that respondents could not do without these NTFPs in their daily domestic activities as they serve as sources of food, medicine, income and thus means of livelihood. We therefore recommend that households should exploit sustainably and the government and NGOs should keep educating households on more sustainable ways of using the forest.
This study was carried out from February 2019 to May 2020 in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. The objective of the study was to examine women’s participation in agricultural cooperatives’ activities in the era of liberalization. A simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 350 farmers from the purposefully selected 52 agricultural cooperatives. Data was collected through the use of structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, frequency and percentages) and inferential statistics (Chi square). Eighteen interviews were conducted with officials of agricultural cooperatives and public extension organizations beside 5 focus group discussions. A five-point Likert scale was used to measure the extent to which women participate in agricultural cooperative and the extent to which cooperatives have succeeded in making women participative agents in cooperative activities. The findings of the study show that 90% of the respondents agreed that women do participate in agricultural cooperative activities and the extent to which women participate is ‘much’ as declared by 33.7% of the respondents. Seventy two percent of the respondents accepted that there are factors that hinder women’s participation in agricultural cooperatives, prominent among which are: low level of education, domestic and child care responsibilities and cultural constraints with low level of education being the major factor. However, 80.9% of the participants of the study declared that agricultural cooperatives have succeeded in making women participative agents in agricultural cooperatives. Women are members of Board of Directors, treasurers, vendors of agricultural products and farmers on their own right. Conclusively, women’s participation in agricultural cooperatives in the era of liberalization is not nominal, passive or a mere formality but interacting participation as women have a voice and influence decisions in their cooperatives.
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