Socio-economic Characteristics of Family-run Maize Farm in the Centre Region of Cameroon

Abstract

This work presents the elements that characterise the socio-economic life of family maize farms. The research method was based on field surveys. The study was carried out between September 2019 and December 2020 in centre region of Cameroon. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 1060 (545 women and 515 men) maize farm managers who were selected in a reasoned manner using the snowball method based on the file of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cameroon. Data from the study was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that maize cultivation is mainly done by women, although women do not control the produce from these farms when they are married. 70.1% of the respondents are over 35 years old, 50% of the maize producers live in households with 4 to 8 people. Forty (40) percent of the respondents are in common-law unions without companies, but 73.9% of the respondent’s state that their main activity is farming and 13.6% state that they are engaged in "other" activities. The level of education of the maize farmers is low and 13.9% said they had never been to school for several reasons. However, the 21.5% of respondents who rent land do so from indigenous people who have customary rights to the land but whose rental principles prohibit the establishment of perennial crops. The characteristics of family maize farms in Central Cameroon predispose them to unprofitable and inefficient agriculture. Producers are limited by their social conditions to make the farms evolve over time.