Abstract
Vegetable farming is an activity sensitive to the dynamism of the population and to the level of intensification in the use of soil resources. A study was conducted in the peri-urban zones of Yaoundé to present the socioeconomic characteristics of vegetable farming and the farmers’ perception of soil and water degradation as a result of this activity. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to this purpose in 2016 in two vegetable farming sites in Yaoundé, namely Nkolbisson and Nkolondom III. Results showed that most vegetable farmers from both sites (around 75%) lack training in agriculture while 74 and 90 didn’t benefit from training on management of pesticides. Spreading and landfilling of amendments are the two most popular ways of applying fertilizers. In fact, while the majority (35.4%) of these fertilizers is applied at planting time, the minority (4.9%) is applied several months before planting. Besides young plots are more exploited (52.4% and 30%) compared to older ones (2.4% and 5%) in Nkolondom III and Nkolbisson respectively, as they are more responsive to fertilizer application. As consequence, high rates of fertilizers are applied to the oldest farms. As for irrigation water, it is altogether polluted. Base on the above, the farmers’ perception of degradation is seen through the degradation of soils properties with time in the order of 14.3% to 60% and 15% to 44% at Nkolbisson and Nkolondom III respectively resulting in a gradual decrease of crop production (up to 50%). It is also seen through the polluted produce obtained from irrigation and cleaning water.
Highlights
Water and soil are important natural resources that play a prominent role in domestic activities and agricultural development in most African cities, the pressure on the use of these resources is constantly increasing due to the exponential increase of the population orchestrated by rural exodus
The increasing demand for vegetable produces leads to an intensification of their production [5] aiming to high yields, which may negatively impact the preservation of water and soil resources [6]
This situation may be due to urbanization, lack of jobs and dynamism of women who are conducting activities out of their homes. vegetable farming are mostly done at the Nkolbisson site by farmers age between 0 to 60 years while at Nkolondom III, it is carried out by those age over 30 years old
Summary
Water and soil are important natural resources that play a prominent role in domestic activities and agricultural development in most African cities, the pressure on the use of these resources is constantly increasing due to the exponential increase of the population orchestrated by rural exodus In this situation, the design of food stuff supply is modified in urban and peri-urban areas of Yaounde in Cameroon [1]. Vegetable farming reveals an interaction among the categories of actors, spaces types, crops species, the products obtained and the average incomes generated [4] It constitutes one of the main economic activities on which the population depends. This study aimed at having a better knowledge of the characteristics of the vegetable farming in Yaounde, Cameroon
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
