Extent and Impact of Vegetable Oils Import Surges in Cameroon

The trade liberalization has resulted in massive food imports into Cameroon and this is affecting the livelihoods of the farmers, industries, traders, and service providers of the imported foods. Cameroon was selected by FAO as one of the 12 country case studies on the impact of food import surges in developing countries with the overall objective of studying and analyzing the impact of the most prevalent and frequent surge commodities (poultry meat, rice, and vegetable oils) on stakeholders. The methods and analytical approach used for this study are those for WTO Safeguards investigation as outlined in the FAO working document, “Extent and impact of food import surges in developing countries: An analytical approach and research methodology for country case studies”. Information for the study was obtained from both secondary sources and from primary sources (stakeholders’ survey). Quantitatively and qualitatively, import surges occurred and are occurring for vegetable oils in Cameroon. There were relatively low levels of these commodities imports into Cameroon until 1999-2004 at which time the import of vegetable oils increased by 366.3 %. Palm oil accounted for 55 % of vegetable oils imports. Domestic and exogenous factors contributed to the commodity import surge in Cameroon. A potentially negative correlation between the movements in import volumes and movement in domestic price, per unit import value, domestic production, and profits, key injury indicators were noted. Factors other than imports contributed to the injuries. Cameroon’s policy responses to the surges and injuries were its main trade policy instrument, the tariff, creation of ad hoc committee to determine the level of production shortages and quotas to be imported and instituted reference price.Impact, vegetable oils, import surge, International Relations/Trade,

SOME RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG THE BEEF CATTLE FARMERS OF THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE OF CAMEROON: EFFECT ON TECHNOLOGY DISSEMINATION

The North West Province of Cameroon is one of the four provinces that account for 90 % of Cameroon's estimated 6 million cattle heads. The cattle production in the area involves the rural poor population who are associated with a reluctance to take risks, presumably because risk taking would jeopardize their subsistence. That being the case, it becomes imperative to know what risk management methods they use. The overall objective of this study was to identify and examine the risk management practiced by the beef cattle farmers in the North West Province of Cameroon so as to determine their effects on technology dissemination. The beef cattle farmers were selected for the survey on the basis of their involvement in beef cattle farming. The researchers visited the selected farmers at their homesteads / farmsteads to collect the required information using a structured questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics while qualitative ones were analyzed using percentages and frequency counts. Eighty one percent of the respondents followed a mixed agro pastoral strategy in which cattle production was combined with crop farming. More than 90 % of the respondents had secondary economic activities other than crop farming. This is a major means of spreading risk across economic sectors and geographical space, and securing alternative sources of income. Sixty five percent of the respondents go on transhumance during the dry season for search of water and pasture for their animals. The cattle farmers relied on the use of their traditional cattle species that are more drought and disease resistant. Cattle and small ruminants were kept by more than 60 % of the respondents, subdivided into herds for risk avoidance, proper management and hand deticking.Livestock Production/Industries, Risk and Uncertainty,

Profitability of agricultural research: the case of genetic improvement of cattle for milk production in Cameroon

Data from production and financial records from the Wakwa Centre for Animal and Veterinary Research were used to find out whether or not genetic improvement for dairy production is a profitable investment. The herd projection computer program was used to herd-project the performance of 100 Holstein x Gudali crossbred and 100 Gudali heifers over a 10-year period. Despite the high mortality rate of the crosses, their overall improvement over the local Gudali led to a benefit-cost ratio of 4.21. This suggests that genetic improvement of local cattle through crossbreeding for dairy production can be a profitable venture. Crossbred dairy farming is therefore recommended for the dairy industry in Cameroon.Keywords: Cattle, genetic improvement, milk production, profitability, Cameroo

EXTENT AND IMPACT OF FOOD IMPORT SURGES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: THE CASE OF POULTRY MEAT IN CAMEROON

The trade liberalization has resulted in massive food imports into Cameroon and this is affecting the livelihoods of the farmers, industries, traders, and service providers of the imported foods. Cameroon was selected by FAO as one of the 12 country case studies on the impact of food import surges in developing countries with the overall objective of studying and analyzing the impact of the most prevalent and frequent surge commodities (poultry meat, rice, and vegetable oils) on stakeholders. The methods and analytical approach used for this study are those for WTO Safeguards investigation as outlined in the FAO working document, "Extent and impact of food import surges in developing countries: An analytical approach and research methodology for country case studies". Information for the study was obtained from both secondary sources and from primary sources (stakeholders' survey). Quantitatively and qualitatively, import surges occurred and are occurring for poultry meat in Cameroon. There were relatively low levels of this commodity imports into Cameroon until 1999-2004 at which time the import of poultry meat increased by 286.7%. Domestic and exogenous factors contributed to the commodity import surge in Cameroon. A potentially negative correlation between the movements in import volumes and movement in domestic price, per unit import value, domestic production, and profits, key injury indicators were noted. Factors other than imports contributed to the injuries. Cameroon's policy responses to the surges and injuries were its main trade policy instrument, the tariff, partial ban on imports of poultry meat, and instituted reference price

Extent and Impact of Vegetable Oils Import Surges in Cameroon

The trade liberalization has resulted in massive food imports into Cameroon and this is affecting the livelihoods of the farmers, industries, traders, and service providers of the imported foods. Cameroon was selected by FAO as one of the 12 country case studies on the impact of food import surges in developing countries with the overall objective of studying and analyzing the impact of the most prevalent and frequent surge commodities (poultry meat, rice, and vegetable oils) on stakeholders. The methods and analytical approach used for this study are those for WTO Safeguards investigation as outlined in the FAO working document, “Extent and impact of food import surges in developing countries: An analytical approach and research methodology for country case studies”. Information for the study was obtained from both secondary sources and from primary sources (stakeholders’ survey). Quantitatively and qualitatively, import surges occurred and are occurring for vegetable oils in Cameroon. There were relatively low levels of these commodities imports into Cameroon until 1999-2004 at which time the import of vegetable oils increased by 366.3 %. Palm oil accounted for 55 % of vegetable oils imports. Domestic and exogenous factors contributed to the commodity import surge in Cameroon. A potentially negative correlation between the movements in import volumes and movement in domestic price, per unit import value, domestic production, and profits, key injury indicators were noted. Factors other than imports contributed to the injuries. Cameroon’s policy responses to the surges and injuries were its main trade policy instrument, the tariff, creation of ad hoc committee to determine the level of production shortages and quotas to be imported and instituted reference price

EXTENT AND IMPACT OF FOOD IMPORT SURGES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: THE CASE OF POULTRY MEAT IN CAMEROON

The trade liberalization has resulted in massive food imports into Cameroon and this is affecting the livelihoods of the farmers, industries, traders, and service providers of the imported foods. Cameroon was selected by FAO as one of the 12 country case studies on the impact of food import surges in developing countries with the overall objective of studying and analyzing the impact of the most prevalent and frequent surge commodities (poultry meat, rice, and vegetable oils) on stakeholders. The methods and analytical approach used for this study are those for WTO Safeguards investigation as outlined in the FAO working document, "Extent and impact of food import surges in developing countries: An analytical approach and research methodology for country case studies". Information for the study was obtained from both secondary sources and from primary sources (stakeholders' survey). Quantitatively and qualitatively, import surges occurred and are occurring for poultry meat in Cameroon. There were relatively low levels of this commodity imports into Cameroon until 1999-2004 at which time the import of poultry meat increased by 286.7%. Domestic and exogenous factors contributed to the commodity import surge in Cameroon. A potentially negative correlation between the movements in import volumes and movement in domestic price, per unit import value, domestic production, and profits, key injury indicators were noted. Factors other than imports contributed to the injuries. Cameroon's policy responses to the surges and injuries were its main trade policy instrument, the tariff, partial ban on imports of poultry meat, and instituted reference price.International Relations/Trade, Livestock Production/Industries,

Bilateral Minithoracotomy for Mitral Valve Repair and Coronary Bypass Grafting

Background Combined mitral valve and coronary artery surgery is usually accomplished via a median sternotomy and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Case Description We report on a 67-year-old patient with mitral valve regurgitation and concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). The mitral valve was repaired using the loops and ring technique, and the left anterior descending artery was revascularized using the left internal mammary artery through a bilateral minithoracotomy approach. The postoperative course was uneventful. Conclusion Patients with mitral valve pathologies and concomitant CAD can be successfully operated via a bilateral minithoracotomy approach

SOME RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG THE BEEF CATTLE FARMERS OF THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE OF CAMEROON: EFFECT ON TECHNOLOGY DISSEMINATION

The North West Province of Cameroon is one of the four provinces that account for 90 % of Cameroon's estimated 6 million cattle heads. The cattle production in the area involves the rural poor population who are associated with a reluctance to take risks, presumably because risk taking would jeopardize their subsistence. That being the case, it becomes imperative to know what risk management methods they use. The overall objective of this study was to identify and examine the risk management practiced by the beef cattle farmers in the North West Province of Cameroon so as to determine their effects on technology dissemination. The beef cattle farmers were selected for the survey on the basis of their involvement in beef cattle farming. The researchers visited the selected farmers at their homesteads / farmsteads to collect the required information using a structured questionnaire. Quantitative data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics while qualitative ones were analyzed using percentages and frequency counts. Eighty one percent of the respondents followed a mixed agro pastoral strategy in which cattle production was combined with crop farming. More than 90 % of the respondents had secondary economic activities other than crop farming. This is a major means of spreading risk across economic sectors and geographical space, and securing alternative sources of income. Sixty five percent of the respondents go on transhumance during the dry season for search of water and pasture for their animals. The cattle farmers relied on the use of their traditional cattle species that are more drought and disease resistant. Cattle and small ruminants were kept by more than 60 % of the respondents, subdivided into herds for risk avoidance, proper management and hand deticking