System In Cameroon Research Articles

Strict liability for defective products in Cameroon? Some illuminating lessons from abroad

Notwithstanding the weaknesses of the tort of negligence as a mechanism for compensating victims of defective products, it remains the only avenue for recourse when the rights of consumers in Cameroon are infringed. While strict liability for defective products has been introduced in several (mostly Western) jurisdictions, Cameroonian law in this context remains unchanged. This article makes a critical analysis of the reform/experiences in those jurisdictions. It argues against the prevailing negligence or fault-based system in Cameroon within the context of the contemporary global economic order and advocates for the introduction of a strict liability regime. It contends that law reform will not have any more negative consequences on the Cameroonian economy and nascent industries than it did in those jurisdictions where the scheme is currently operational. Nevertheless, it cautions on what to expect in the advent of law reform and sounds a warning note on the potential pitfalls for the Cameroonian legislator to guard against.

Le problème Arabes Choa – Kotoko au Cameroun : Essai d'analyse rétrospective à partir des affrontements de janvier 1992

The tribal diversity of Cameroon (at least 200 ethnic groups) represents a perpetual hindrance for social cohesion in the country. Behind the veil of well-shaped political speeches issuing unity and national integration, confrontations between tribal communities are taking place imperturbably. Since late 70 ties, Arabs Choa and Kotoko of the Logone and Chari division are exterminating each other in unprecedented tribal clashes in collusion with political ities. This item attempts to point out causes of tribal exclusion which as become more effective since the advent of multiparty system in Cameroon (1990). (African Anthropologist: 2002 9(1): 66-83)

Smallholder Cacao (Theobroma cacao Linn.) cultivation in agroforestry systems of West and Central Africa: challenges and opportunities

The cultural features, management practice, environmental sustainability, and economic profitability of smallholder cacao (Theobroma cacao)production in West and Central Africa are reviewed. The aim is tohighlight factors affecting the cacao production and marketing sectorand to propose appropriate strategies to ensure sustainable and profitable cacao production in the region. The cacao cultivation system causes minimum damage to soil resources. In terms of carbon sequestration and below- and above-ground bio-diversity, the cacao agroforest is superior to the alternative food crop production land use. The food crop production system is based on the practice of slash-and-burn farming, which, due to population pressure and reduced fallow cycle, is no longer sustainable. Economic profitability analysis of this system in Cameroon showed that, at current prices, even with no value assigned to the tree species, the sector could still be profitable. Based on the current review and our knowledge of West and Central Africa, there is an urgent need to: (a) rationalize and optimize arrangement of the various components in cacao agroforest, (b) domesticate high value and shade tolerant indigenous species such as Gnetum africanum and integrate into the system in order to enhance the system's diversity and profitability, (c) develop shade-tolerant and disease-resistant cacao varieties, (d) integrate small-stock production into the system, and (e) develop an enabling policy environment addressing cacao marketing, plant protection, land tenure and transformation of non-cacao primary products from the cacao agroforests.

Response of Chromolaena odorata to timber tree densities in an agrisilvicultural system in Cameroon: aboveground biomass, residue decomposition and nutrient release

In low-input land-use systems combining timber trees with shade-tolerant understorey crops, it is essential to establish the effects of tree density upon weeds and the contribution of weeds to competition and nutrient cycling. Adjusting tree density may alter weed competition for light, water and nutrients, the storage of nutrients by weeds through growth and the release of nutrients via decomposition of slashed weed residues. The effects are reported of (1) two timber stand densities (TSDs) and, (2) retention versus burning of slashed vegetation at field preparation, upon Chromolaena odorata (kondengui), the dominant weed, in an agrisilvicultural system in southern Cameroon. The system comprised the timber species, Terminalia ivorensis, and plantain as an understorey crop. Total weed biomass was measured at the first weeding, 3 months after planting (MAP), and total weed biomass and aboveground biomass, partitioning and nutrient accumulation of C. odorata were measured at the second and third weedings, 7 and 12 MAP. Mass and nutrient loss were measured from stem and leaves placed separately in decomposition bags. Here, burning was not an appropriate weed management tool, as it resulted in greater weed biomass. A high TSD did reduce weed biomass. However, foliar nutrient concentrations were generally higher in high TSDs. Thus, retaining trees in the high TSD did not lead to any reduction in nutrient uptake by the C. odorata stand. Furthermore, in the high TSD, mass loss and nutrient release characteristics had higher coefficients, and a higher percentage of the total nutrients accumulated were released in the early stages of incubation, all increasing the risk of nutrients being lost from the topsoil. Thus, from a weed competition perspective, there were few benefits to retaining a high timber stand density.

Some aspects of the periurban dairy system in Cameroon

A survey to establish baseline data for future intervention in milk and dairy production in the peri‐urban areas of Garoua, Maroua and Bamenda was carried out. Dairy products are still produced in a traditional way in areas around Maroua and Garoua with milk from native zebu cattle (Red and White Fulani breeds). The important dairy products are pendidam and kindirmu, both of which are fermented milks. Naturally sour milk was found occasionally. Around Bamenda, milk is produced by herds comprising pure Holsteins, Jerseys and their crosses with local zebu cows; cross‐breeding is being intensified to increase rapidly the size of the dairy herds. Appreciable volumes of milk are produced daily, so allowing the industrial processing of fresh milk into pasteurized milk, yogurt and cheese. The potential for expansion of the dairy industry, and the possible constraints, were identified and solutions proposed.

Vegetative propagation of Calliandra calothyrsus ( Meissner )

The effects of propagation medium and the type of auxin on root and shoot development of stem cuttings of Calliandra calothyrsus were investigated in two experiments. Cuttings were taken from four-week-old coppice shoots from a cleared C. calothyrsus plantation. In Experiment 1, the effects of five propagation media; fine sand (FS) (3 mm), sawdust (SD), fine gravel (FG) (6 mm) and 50:50 mixtures of FS:SD and FG:SD were compared. In Experiment 2, two commercial brands of auxin rooting powder – ‘Seradix 3’ (IBA) and ‘Bouture CF’ (NAA, IBA and MNAA) were evaluated. The experiments were done in a low-cost, non-mist propagator system in Cameroon. Propagation medium had a significant (P = 0.05) effect on mean rooting percentage (FS = 43% and FS:SD = 93%). The effect of the media on shoot growth from the cuttings (height, basal diameter and root biomass) were also significant (P = 0.05). The application of both the commercial brands of auxin significantly enhanced rooting (84% for untreated cuttings and 91% for IBA- treated cuttings). Bouture CF promoted shoot development from the cuttings, while Seradix 3 inhibited shoot development. The results indicate that in the humid lowlands of Cameroon, where seed productivity of C. calothyrsus is known to be very poor, large-scale production of young plants using these techniques is possible.

Vegetative propagation of Irvingia gabonensis, a West African fruit tree

Three experiments are described investigating the effects of propagation medium, applied auxin (IBA) concentration and leaf area on the rooting of leafy stem cuttings of Irvingia gabonensis, a West African fruit tree species. Cuttings were taken from seedlings or coppice shoots from selected trees in a forest reserve, and inserted in a low technology non-mist propagation system in Cameroon. The three experiments tested respectively: (i) six propagation media, namely sawdust (SD), fine sand (FS), medium sand (MS), gravel (G), and 50:50 mixtures of G:SD and MS:SD; (ii) five IBA concentrations, namely 0, 8, 40, 200 and 250 μg IBA dissolved in 10 μl of alcohol; and (iii) five leaf area treatments, namely 0, 12.5, 25, 50 and 80 cm 2, obtained using paper templates. The overall effect of propagation medium on final rooting percentage was highly significant ( P < 0.001, ANOVA), highest values being recorded in FS and SD. Number of roots per rooted cutting also differed markedly between treatments, mean values ranging from 1.8–7.8 in G and SD respectively. In contrast, IBA had no significant effect on final rooting percentage or root number, although root development was more rapid in the 200 and 250 μg treatments. Leaf area had a pronounced effect on rooting percentage ( P < 0.001, ANOVA), with highest values recorded in the 80 cm 2 treatment, but relatively little effect on root number. Defoliated cuttings completely failed to root. The results suggest that for vegetative propagation of I. gabonensis, a cutting leaf area of at least 80 cm 2 and an organic medium such as sawdust should be used. The application of IBA would appear to be unnecessary for the successful propagation of this species.

Vegetative propagation ofGnetum africanumWelw., a leafy vegetable from West Africa

SummaryVegetative propagation of the edible climber Gnetum africanum Welw. was examined using a low technology non-mist propagation system in Cameroon. Leafy stem cuttings taken from vines growing naturally in a forest reserve were allocated randomly to experimental treatments. Three separate experiments tested respectively: (i) six propagation media, namely sawdust (SD), fine sand (FS), medium sand (MS), gravel (G), and 50:50 mixtures of G:SD and MS:SD; (ii) five IBA concentrations, namely 0, 8, 40, 200 and 250 µg IBA dissolved in 10 µl of alcohol; and (iii) five leaf-area treatments, namely 0, 12.5, 25, 50 and 80 cm2, obtained using paper templates. Propagation medium had a significant effect on final rooting percentage, values ranging from 43–82% in MS:SD and SD respectively. Although IBA had no significant effect on final rooting percentage, root number per rooted cutting was positively related to IBA concentration, values ranging from 6.8–13.8 in the 0 and 250 µg treatments respectively. Rooting perc...

Measuring time utilization in rural health centres.

During the recent re-design of the primary health care system in Cameroon a time-motion study was undertaken to determine how health workers at rural health centres use their time before redefining their roles. The study developed a simple, effective and inexpensive tool which uses the activity sampling technique, and was applied to 20 health centres with a total of 19,080 observations being made of 64 health workers who represented all grades of worker in the government health services. The study developed a clear picture of how health centre staff apportion their time, and how the division of labour and tasks is carried out in a rural health centre. It found that only 27% of health workers' time is currently being spent on productive, health-related activities, and of this time, the largest proportion is spent on curative, clinical work. Less than 1% of health workers' time is spent on preventive and outreach activities. This study has developed a simple and inexpensive tool which can be used in any health facility to determine how health-related activities are carried out. This is an important step if changes in the delivery structure are to be made, because it establishes the discrepancy between expected and actual behaviour, and provides an important baseline for the evaluation of the effectiveness of any changes that are introduced within the system.

The land use policy implementation system in Cameroon: Historical/contemporary perspectives and implications for national development

This paper analyses the interorganisational system for land policy implementation in Cameroon. The analysis reveals that the system has remained largely unchanged in terms of structure, organisation, composition and function since the colonial days. It is argued that this, and the fact that the system has, since independence, grown and proliferated for reasons unrelated to the task of land policy implementation, significantly inhibit its performance. Some suggestions on how the situation can be improved are proffered in the process. Particularly, it is recommended that serious efforts be made to decentralise the system, encourage interorganisational relationships amongst its members, and de-emphasise its regulatory role. The potential costs and benefits of this set of recommendations are also discussed. It is hoped that the analysis, the problems uncovered and the remedies suggested will be informative to land policy and administrative reform efforts in Cameroon in particular and developing nations in general.