Agroforestry preferences in refugee hosting communities in Cameroon

Abstract

Pressure on natural resources and local infrastructure often increase in areas of refugee settlement, and food and health security can decline as a result. Agroforestry is the use of trees and crops and/or livestock in the same farming system to achieve production and conservation objectives. These polycultures can help improve food security in refugee settlement areas by rendering diverse products while increasing conservation in the face of augmented population pressure. In the past 10 years, 90,000 Central African Republic refugees have crossed into Cameroon and settled in hundreds of villages. This study focused on agroforestry preferences among refugees and host-nationals in six villages in the Adamaoua Region of Cameroon. One-hundred and twenty-two community members participated in the study. Visual methods were used to quantify preferences for eight agroforestry practices and tested for statistically significant differences across gender, ethnicity, and status as refugee or Cameroonian. There were differences in practice preferences as well as preferences for implementation in a group or as a family. Most differences were between refugees and Cameroonians. Refugees were more likely to prefer practices that help meet basic needs and also more likely to prefer group implementation. Open-ended comments also were analyzed to contextualize quantitative results. Overall, results suggest that agroforestry preferences in refugee settings may relate to a greater degree on social class and experience rather than gender or ethnicity. Results also indicate common ground in that refugees and host nationals are likely to share many preferences.