Agriculture
Conservation Agriculture
Overgrazing—caused by continuation of traditional cattle grazing practices despite the significant influx cattle—has contributed to grasslands overuse. Pollution, nutrient runoff, strained natural water resources, and cattle over-concentration is shown to decline soil fertility and decrease arable farmland in the Bamenda Highlands region.
Changing and unpredictable climate patterns—specifically sporadic rainfall and elongated dry-spells—reduces the productivity and frequency of pastures available to pastoralist cattle farmers in the Bamenda Highland slopes. It has caused food insecurity in the region. Reduction of available pastures creates unreliable (often declining) cattle and milk production along with increased of agropastoral conflicts. Precarity in farmland is increasing both food security and tension amongst farmers.
Land encroachment—the result of a fast-growing native North-Western population and pressure for food security—have forced the minority Mbororo cattle herders to hilly slopes that lack grazing and water resources for their cattle. Tension between predominantly crop farming native North-Western inhabitants has escalated: cattle in search for water and food return to farmed highlands, destroying crops, and producing unrest between Mbororo herders and native farmers
Agribusiness
Women make up a significant proportion of the agricultural sector worldwide. The majority of economically active women in the least developed countries work in agriculture, and roughly 30% of the agricultural labour force in the most developed[1]. However, inherent gender bias in access to credit, investment, planning, and effective farming materials limit the capacity and perception of women in as equals to men in agriculture. Marginalised from the financial and managerial positions in farming, consequently women have less access to agricultural information, sites of knowledge production and exchange, or support in accessing these. This phenomenon, however, is a result of gender stigmatisation, and a space potential for women’s empowerment in employment, education, and knowledge exchange.
These can all be supported thorough adjustment of social norms, legal education and access to resources for support, and access to justice.
Women’s limited access to land and natural resources—by legal and social bias—reduces women’s ability to engage equally in sustainable farm planning. Women’s engagement in agricultural management is shown to increase the health and education of she and her children, familial food security, and often more strategic planning that accounts for climate change mitigation and adaption
Agroforestry
Strategic tree plantation is shown to contribute to agricultural farming techniques. Benefits include increased water catchment, mitigation of wind damage to crops, and reduction of nitrogen in local soil.
Changepoints:
- Reduction of overgrazing
- Mitigation against pasture degradation
- Conflict reduction for farmer-herder conflict
- Enhanced access to natural resources (including land) for Mbororo women
- Access to justice
- Reducing legal barriers
- Promoting de-stigmatisation of women landowners
