How Endogenous Cultural Institutions May (Not) Shape Farmers’ Climate Adaptation Practices: Learning from Rural Cameroon

Abstract

Climate change is high on the science and policy agenda of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), requiring context-specific adaptation. Studies on endogenous cultural institutions (ECIs) in climate adaptation are fragmented, impeding policy orientation. This suggests the need for complementary evidence on ECIs to inform adaptation practice. Through a sample of 158 households in rural Cameroon, we contribute to bridge this gap, by: (1) exploring socio-political factors shaping peasant farmers’ compliance with agro-based ECIs, and (2) estimating the effect of ECI compliance on farmers’ adaptation practices. Our estimation revealed the following: While political factors do not sufficiently explain compliance, state influence, mirrored through the application of formal rules negatively affects ECI compliance. Traditional rain forecast significantly explains climate adaptation; however, the pouring of libation does not. The age of peasant farmers also positively affects compliance with ECIs. We conclude that compliance with ECIs manifest in climate adaptation in varying proportions.