A random forest-based analysis of cassava mosaic disease-related factors affecting the on-farm livelihoods of cassava farmers

This study aimed to identify key CMD-related factors affecting Cameroon cassava farmers’ incomes originating from both the sale of cassava cuttings (V215) and the sale of cassava roots (V216). To achieve this, nine CMD-related variables were used to independently train two Random Forest models. These models were later employed for regression-based prediction of both financial targets V215 and V216. The Random Forest (RF)-based mean absolute percentage error for targets V215 and V216 were 0.19 and 1.25 respectively. The RF-based mean Gaussian deviance for targets V215 and V216 were 0.07 and 0.51 respectively. Based on RF feature importance scores (RFFI), the top 3 factors affecting income originating from the sale of cassava cuttings were found to be: late appearance of symptoms as a difficulty associated with regular field monitoring (RFFI of 0.2594), removal of infected plants as a method of controlling frequent occurrence of viral diseases in respondents’ cassava fields (RFFI of 0.1633) and lack of healthy planting material due to frequent occurrence of viral diseases in respondents’ cassava fields (RFFI of 0.1495). Also, the top 3 factors affecting income originating from the sale of cassava roots were found to be: the replacement of infected plants with healthy cuttings as a method of controlling the frequent occurrence of viral diseases in respondents’ cassava fields (RFFI of 0.1974), decrease in yield due to frequent occurrence of viral diseases in respondents’ cassava fields (RFFI of 0.1530) and poor plant growth due to frequent occurrence of viral diseases in respondents’ cassava fields (RFFI of 0.1388)

Linking local people's perception of wildlife and conservation to livelihood and poaching alleviation : a case study of the Dja biosphere reserve, Cameroon

This Paper examines how people's livelihoods and perceptions of wildlife are related to self-reported poaching (here defined as commercial bushmeat hunting) in 25 villages at the northern buffer zone of the Dja Biosphere Reserve, East Cameroon. Using a six-point Likert scale questionnaire among 263 households interviewed form March to June 2017, the following hypothesis were tested: (1) Households with positive perceptions of wildlife are less involved in poaching; (2) Positive perceptions of wildlife are linked to sustainable livelihood improvement of households; and (3) Sustainable livelihood improvement of households leads to poaching alleviation. The study area has been the site since 2010 for a community-centered conservation Program that aims to improve local peoples livelihoods (through the creation of income sources based on cocoa-based agroforestry and Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) Valorization) and their perceptions of wildlife (mainly through awareness raising and wildlife education) and therefore divert them from poaching. The main findings of the study indicates that positive perceptions of wildlife are linked to lower levels of poaching. Similarly, positive perception of wildlife was positively related to Livelihood improvement of the respondents. However, livelihood improvement alone did not predict poaching alleviation though we reported a significant difference in poaching frequencies of cocoa and non-cocoa producers with the firsts less involved in poaching. The findings of this study recommend more holistic approaches of biodiversity conservation that integrate simultaneously perception and livelihood improvement

A gender analysis on the participation and choice of improved and local haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by farmers in Cameroon

Men and women farmer participation and choice of variety could guide breeding and drive the adoption of different haricot bean varieties. Thus, understanding how gender influences participation and choice of bean cultivation and marketing is fundamental. The study sought to analyse how socio-cultural norms determine women and men, participation and choice of variety for cultivation and sale in Cameroon’s West region. A mixed-method was used in collecting data from men and women farmers in six subdivisions in the West region of Cameroon in 2019. Result reveals that women provide most of the labour on haricot bean production than men, who are more involved in selling to national and regional markets. Participation and role were driven by socio-cultural norms of what is expected of men and women in a society where women provide food and men income for household upkeep. Women preferred varieties that were less labour intensive and food taste for household consumption while men went for labour intensive as long as they were market-oriented and high yielding. Thus, breeders should develop varieties that are mostly preferred by women, which meet the market and household demand

Gender analysis of farmers’ perception of improved haricot bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties in the West Region of Cameroon

The introduction of improved varieties of haricot bean has been viewed as a strategy to increase haricot bean production. Thus, recognising the perception of men and women of these varieties can contribute to increase production. The study sought to analyse farmers’ perception of improved haricot bean varieties in the West region of Cameroon. A mixed-method was used in collecting data from six sub-divisions in the West region to evaluate men and women farmers’ perception of improved varieties of haricot bean in 2019. Result reveals that farmer’s desirable attributes of improved haricot bean varieties qualities were related to the fact that it was high yielding, highly tasteful, had good grain quality and size, diseases and drought-tolerant as well as accepted in the market. On the other hand, farmers did, not like varieties that are difficult to harvest, susceptible to excess rains, late-maturing and have low market demands. Thus, varieties which are not resistant to biotic and abiotic stress with low market demand should undergo a product replacement strategy to meet the desired attributes of men and women farmers

Distribution, habitat use and human disturbance of gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) in the Ebo forest, Littoral Region, Cameroon

peer reviewedGreat apes are threatened by many factors including habitat loss, forest degradation and disease. Despite the improved understanding of the distribution of gorillas in Cameroon, there is a lack of fine-scale knowledge about their habitat use. We used the Kernel Density Estimate method combined with grid cell counting to assess gorilla distribution, habitat use and human disturbance on one of the least studied gorilla populations in Cameroon. Proportions of different habitat types in the landscape were quantified using classification and regression tree approach applied to Landsat-8 and digital elevation model data. We found that the distribution of gorillas was restricted to the central band of the site (~22 km2). Although the area was dominated by mature forest, the goodness-of-fit test showed that gorillas used grassland areas more frequently. Intensive human activities were noted across the gorilla range, with used cartridge shells being the most evidence hunting sign. Our results can be used to guide conservation and sustainable development stakeholder decisions in the area. With increasing anthropogenic threats throughout the landscape, we recommend the implementation of noninvasive research activities focusing on threat monitoring, nesting and dietary ecology, and the promotion of community-led conservation initiatives to reduce pressure on the gorilla habitat