Integrating livestock into farming systems in Northern Cameroon

The determinants for the adoption of compost from household waste for crop production by farmers living nearby Yaoundé, Cameroon: descriptive and logit model approaches of analysis

“…The same study reveals that, 3% of farmers have a disfavourable opinion on compost efficacy so that they would never use this input even if it is offered "free of charge". The remaining 45% of farmers from that study who have a neutral opinion are willing to change their compost adoption's opinion from neutral to favourable if the government decides to offer the compost and its transportation cost "free of charge" or at a subsidized rate of at least 77% (Ngambeki et al, 2002;Jaza, 2005). Hence, the government should consider subsidizing the compost price or its transport cost or let the extension team from the Ministry of Agriculture to multiply contacts with farmers so as to convince them on the compost efficacy (Ministry of Agriculture, 2003).…”

“…The explanation is that, educated farmers better understand the role or multitude agronomic benefits of compost use in their farms as well as the techniques of compost application into the land (dosage, spreading, processing/coverage against sunshine, etc.) (Ngambeki et al, 2002;Focarfe, 2005). Hence, apart from occasional training offered to farmers, the government should reform the contents of academic curricula of primary or secondary schools so as to include topics related to agriculture or compost use in farming activities.…”

“…According to the agronomic requirements, the vegetables need a lot of water to grow up. Unfortunately, water is a scarce resource in areas surrounding Yaoundé which is characterized by an equatorial climate of Guinean type with moderate precipitations (varying from 1565 to 1600 mm annually) and two annual dry seasons (Ngambeki et al, 2002;Kuete et al, 2003). However, because compost functions like a sponge by saving water in its organic matter, one of the advantages of using compost in such zone with moderate precipitations is that, this input has a mechanism to store water in such a way that water needed by vegetables to grow up can easily be found in compost (Duane, 2004).…”

“…Hence, the practice of animal husbandry is a handicap to compost adoption (Ngambeki et al, 2002;Focarfe, 2005;Jaza, 2014). As compost already contains the organic matter like animal manure, the agricultural exploitations which simultaneously breed animal (in conjunction with crop production) would not need supplementary organic matter for the maintenance of their soil fertility.…”

“…As a matter of fact, farmers who regularly meet the extension agents have the opportunity to get explanations and informations on the compost efficacy, productivity, long term effect, transportation issues and solutions or other advantages of using compost for farming activities (Ngambeki et al, 2002;Jaza, 2007). Knowing such advantages would attract them on adopting this input.…”