Perceptions paysannes et stratégies d’adaptation aux changements climatiques des arboriculteurs de la Région des hautes terres de l’Ouest Cameroun

Abstract

The dependence of agriculture in tropical countries in general and in Cameroon in particular on rain-fed agriculture makes them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and variability. In order to align their agricultural practices with frequent variations in climatic conditions, farmers according to agro-ecological zones have developed a set of climatic indicators allowing them to assess climatic disturbances and develop consequent adaptation strategies. This study aimed to analyze the evolution of climatic parameters from 1990 to 2020 in the Western Highlands region of Cameroon, to document the links between farmers' perceptions and the observed variations as well as adaptation strategies adopted. The climate data were collected at the meteorological station at Bamougoum airport and at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development at Dschang. Ethnobotanical and sociological surveys were carried out among 414 arborists distributed in the divisions of Menoua, Haut-Nkam, Bamboutos and Noun. The resulting results show that climate parameters have varied over the past three decades with highest temperatures recorded during the years 2010 to 2013 (22.36°C and 22.5°C) and the years 2011, 2014 and 2018 were the ones that experienced major rainfall (164.61mm, 181.46mm, 191.16mm respectively). Regarding perception, 61.65% of arborists observed a drop in rainfall quantities and 73.79% of respondents observed an increase in temperature. These variations have a negative impact on the production and yields of rain-fed crops. As a result, arborists have opted for several adaptation strategies including the cultivation of fruit trees such as Persea americana, Dacryodes edulis, Mangifera indica, Citrus recticulata. It would be wise for decision-makers to better develop fruit growing as an adaptation strategy for rural populations in order to make them less vulnerable and effectively combat the effects of climate change.