129-133Analysis of the Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Cocoa Farmers in South West Cameroon

Abstract In this study, we assess the technical efficiency of smallholder cocoa farmers in the Meme division of South West Region, Cameroon. Through stochastic production functions and field surveys, the study further examines how the cocoa sector socioeconomically impacts the Cameroonian economy. Using a participatory research approach, data were collected from 515 household heads across four villages on the quantity of cocoa produced, number of cocoa trees per hectare, quantity of fertilizer, and labour availability and socio-economic characteristics. Our results showed the technical efficiency to range between 0.11 and 0.99, with a mean technical efficiency of 0.86. We also observed access to credit and extension services to significantly influence technical efficiency. Therefore, innovative institutional arrangements that enhance extension and farmer training, accompanied by improved access to credit are likely to efficiently boost cocoa production in this part of Cameroon and elsewhere

URBANIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN CAMEROON: AN AUTO-REGRESSIVE DISTRIBUTED LAG MODEL TECHNIQUE

The relationship between urbanisation and the environment has elevated much public attention recently. Therefore, this study examined the effect urbanisation has on environmental sustainability in Cameroon using time series data from 1991 to 2018. To establish this, the study adopted the STIRPAT framework, the Principal Components Analysis and Autoregressive Distributed Lag Technique for data analysis. The models were tested for stationarity by applying the Phillip-Peron test. Results indicated that urbanization and trade openness had positive and significant effects on environmental sustainability in the long-run but negative in the short-run, thus, supporting an inverted U-shaped EKC. The study therefore, recommended that Cameroon revisits its trade policies and urban planning strategies and implement policies that will discourage dirty technology and encourage technological innovations (green) so as to improve energy efficiency which will go a long way to improve environmental sustainability. JEL: R10; R51; Q01 Article visualizations