Fruit trees cultivated in family farms in the humid zone of Cameroon: a survey.
Kuate J., Bella-Manga, Damesse F., Kouodiekong L., Ndindeng S. A., David O., Parrot L.
Author Affiliation: Irad Nkolbisson, Programme Fruits, BP 2067, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Fruits (Paris) 61 : 373-387
Abstract : A survey on fruit tree cultivation at 3 locations (Bokito, Foréké and Yaoundé) in the humid zone of Cameroon was conducted. Fruit tree farming was characterized by analysing the producer status and the place of this speculation among the various activities conducted in the household. The various fruit tree species in the orchards, number of plants, origin of planting material and age of trees, and production constraints were studied for 193 family farms. The heads of the households (51 years old, on average) are 90% males and have a relatively low education level. The diversity of fruit tree species varied with the location. Orchard composition in terms of species was also variable. Four major species (African plums or Dacryodes edulis, oranges, mangoes and pears) constituted approximately 78% of the trees. This distribution globally matches preferences expressed by farmers for these species. Among these trees, young ones (10 years), which indicate a move in recent plantings, constituted 15, 21 and 38% of the trees in Bokito, Foréké and Yaoundé, respectively. In terms of contribution to family food security, fruits ranked 1st, 2nd and 4th, respectively, in Bokito, Foréké and Yaoundé, among other activities. Production constraints were from 3 main sources: phytosanitary (poor management of pests and diseases), agronomic (unimproved seedlings) and socioeconomic (land and input availability). The implications of these findings are discussed with the perspective of improving quality, quantity and sustainability of fruit production in the country.