PERCEPTIONS AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR CLIMATE CHANGE FROM SMALL RUMINANT FARMERS IN NORTH-WEST CAMEROON

Abstract

Background. Climate change is affecting the livestock sector in Cameroon particularly in the small ruminant sector. It is therefore essential to have information on the perception and adaptation strategies of farmers in order to improve animal production. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change from small ruminant farmers in Northern Cameroon. Methodology. 113 farmers were interviewed using questionnaires. The study was conducted from January to March 2018 in the Mezam division, North-West Region of Cameroon. Results. This survey revealed that small ruminant husbandry is practiced mostly by men (88%) with an age between 40 to 60 years (44%), married (71%) and with primary school education (40%). More than half of the surveyed farmers worked in both animal husbandry and agriculture (63%) as main activities and had between 6 to 10 years of breeding experience (32%). Most of them were not trained (72%) and more than half (53%) desired to be trained in all aspects of husbandry. Livestock were mostly purchased (88%), 61% had goats and 35% had sheep. Most (72%) farmers perceived climate change in the past decade and the majority (43%) identified deforestation as the main cause. Farmers observed a rise in temperature (41%) and a drop in precipitation (36%) and 63% did not practice any adaptation strategies to climate change on their herd. The majority (46%) of farmers perceived that climate change could be tackled with reforestation. Despite these constrains, 67% of the surveyed farmers wished to continue this activity by increasing their herd sizes. Implications. Surveyed farmers have noted a rise in temperature and decrease in precipitation in the past decade, which are believed to be major indicators for climate change. The farmers strongly think that climate change can be tackled through reforestation and education on the impacts of climate change.  Conclusions. Overall, it appears that most of the surveyed farmers of Mezam division North-West region have perceived that climate change is related to deforestation. However, they do not practice any adaptation option on their small ruminant herds.