SOCIOECONOMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL DETERMINERS OF DURABLE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN THE FOOD-PRODUCING AGRICULTURE OF CAMEROON

The challenges posed by food security for populations in sub-Saharan Africa and the fact that extensive production systems are reaching their limits in food-producing agriculture imply accelerating technological innovation toward ecological intensification of agricultural production systems. A review of research on plantain banana in Cameroon since 1988 revealed how institutional innovation enabled hybridization of different forms of research (fundamental, systems, and action research) and reinforced the organizational innovation required for technical change. Evaluation of impacts underlined the complementarity between an increase in productivity and in income in rural areas, the production of human and social capital and the protection of forest resources.innovation, food crops, Cameroon, sustainable development, plantain, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Partenariat en sélection participative sur bananiers plantains : l'expérience du Centre africain de recherches sur bananiers et plantains au Cameroun

International audiencePartnership management in the participatory selection of bananas and plantains: CARBAP experience in Cameroon. The first hybrids resulting from the genetic improvement of bananas and plantains are recent, i.e. obtained less than 10 years ago in most cases. Four of these hybrids--two of which are plantains (CRBP 39, FHIA 21), one a cooking banana (BITA 3) and one a desert banana (FHIA 17) with good productivity and showing a good level of resistance to black leaf streak disease--were involved in two recent participatory selection experiments at CARBAP. The first was for CRBP 39 and the second was carried out as part of the TARGET project and concerned CRBP 39, FHIA 21, BITA 3 and FHIA 17. The present paper is based on interactions between partners, principally during the participatory hybrid evaluation phases. These phases required substantial partner involvement since banana and plantain improvement can only be conducted under controlled conditions. Improvement in cooperation approaches were transferred from one experiment to another, with the major concern being the inter-partner dialogue between researchers, extension agents and farmers. Some difficulties linked with communication problems were also pointed out.Partenariat en sélection participative sur bananiers et plantains : l'expérience du Centre africain de recherches sur bananiers et plantains au Cameroun. Les premiers hybrides issus des travaux d'amélioration génétique des bananiers et plantains datent de moins de 10 ans pour la plupart. Quatre de ces hybrides dont deux de type plantain (CRBP39, FHIA 21), un de type banane à cuire (BITA 3) et un de type banane dessert (FHIA 17) ont une productivité élevée et une bonne résistance à la cercosporiose noire. Ces quatre hybrides viennent de faire l'objet de deux expériences d'évaluation participative conduites par le CARBAP, dont celle réalisée par le projet TARGET a été complète. Cette communication présente les interactions entre partenaires, principalement lors de l'évaluation. L'évaluation requiert, en effet, une implication forte des partenaires car l'amélioration des bananiers est essentiellement réalisée en station de recherche. Notre communication relève aussi les améliorations apportées d'une expérience à l'autre aux dispositifs de concertation entre partenaires chercheurs, encadreurs et paysans. Quelques difficultés problèmes de communication sont également soulevées

La production de plantain dans la zone périurbaine de Yaoundé

International audienceProduction of plantain in the peri urban areas of Yaoundé : constraints assessment, impact on the area of supply and operating strategy. Plantain demand in Cameroon is increasing with population growth in urban areas. Because of extension of phytosanitary constrainsts in peri-urban agriculture, production zones that supply the nation's capital (Yaoundé) are shifting away from the town. A consequence of this situation is an increase of costs of transport and instability of the supply of plantain. This can be visualized through price analysis. However, the production belt around Yaoundé still an area that can be well exploited to maintain plantain production closer to the market, so as to ensure a regular supply of urban markets. To reinforce actor capacities to manage and control the main constraints identified, the agronomic research (i.e. CARBAP, IRAD) undertook the transfer and validation, within the framework of FRBC-péri urbain project, of a certain number of techniques and innovations to producers, extension workers and NGO representatives working in the peri urban zone. The techniques involved are: a horticultural technique of mass and fast multiplication of banana healthy plantlets, techniques of agronomic diagnosis, IPM techniques on banana practices. Expectations on the on going adoption of this package of techniques are (i) an important contribution to the renewal of a * Contact auteur : [email protected] Agricultures et développement urbain 140 en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre close linkage between production and consumption zones, and (ii) a regular and secure food supply of the nation's capital (Yaoundé).La demande de plantain en relation avec la croissance de la population urbaine ne cesse d'augmenter au Cameroun. Or du fait de l'intensification des contraintes phytosanitaires dans l'agriculture périurbaine, les zones de production qui approvisionnent la ville de Yaoundé tendent à s'éloigner. Il s'ensuit des coûts de transport de plus en plus élevés et une instabilité de l'approvisionnement dont rend compte l'analyse des prix disponibles. Pourtant, la ceinture immédiate de Yaoundé demeure une zone qui devrait permettre, si elle est bien exploitée, de rapprocher " la zone de production " de plantain du marché et d'assurer un approvisionnement plus régulier des marchés urbains de Yaoundé. Dans le souci de renforcer les capacités des acteurs à faire face aux principales contraintes relevées, la recherche agronomique (CARBAP, IRAD) a entrepris dans le cadre du FRBCpériurbain la validation et le transfert d'un certain nombre de techniques et innovations au bénéfice des producteurs, des responsables de vulgarisation et de certaines ONG intervenant dans la zone périurbaine : technique de multiplication horticole rapide de matériel végétal sain, techniques de diagnostic agronomique, de lutte intégrée, de pratiques. L'adoption en cours de ces techniques devrait contribuer à recréer une proximité spatiale entre les zones de production et de consommation et sécuriser la régularité des approvisionnements alimentaires de la ville de Yaoundé

SOCIOECONOMIC AND INSTITUTIONAL DETERMINERS OF DURABLE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN THE FOOD-PRODUCING AGRICULTURE OF CAMEROON

The challenges posed by food security for populations in sub-Saharan Africa and the fact that extensive production systems are reaching their limits in food-producing agriculture imply accelerating technological innovation toward ecological intensification of agricultural production systems. A review of research on plantain banana in Cameroon since 1988 revealed how institutional innovation enabled hybridization of different forms of research (fundamental, systems, and action research) and reinforced the organizational innovation required for technical change. Evaluation of impacts underlined the complementarity between an increase in productivity and in income in rural areas, the production of human and social capital and the protection of forest resources

Contribution méthodologique pour la validation en milieu réel de nouvelles variétés de plantains

National audienceDiffusion of new varieties resulting from programs of genetic improvement (hybrid or introductions) sometimes encounters difficulties. To limit this problem, a methodological approach aiming at facilitating the adoption of these varieties by the growers was developed in Cameroon on a plantain-type hybrid. Materials and methods. The approach successively sought to identify on a hierarchical basis, by investigation, the criteria of varietal preferences privileged by the producers; to test, by tests in real conditions, in what ways a new variety answered these criteria; and to evaluate the agronomic performances of the hybrid and a pilot variety according to the diversity of the environments. Results. The results underlined the potential of the approach presented to include/understand the determinants of the adoption of a new variety by the growers. They provide useful information for the piloting of future programs of genetic improvement. They reveal methodological difficulties in the realization of interdisciplinary tests in real conditions, which will have to be taken into account for the improvement of future protocols. Conclusion. The conditions of a new variety adoption vary according to localizations, taking into account the pedoclimatic variables, and according to the growers, taking into account the socio-economic constraints. The varietal offer must thus be diversified to answer the diversity of the requests. The approach taken would gain by being supplemented by investigations of other plantain growers. Our experiment must be regarded as a first contribution to a broader approach. Methodological contribution for the validation of new plantain varieties in real conditions Introduction. Diffusion of new varieties resulting from programs of genetic improvement (hybrid or introductions) sometimes encounters difficulties. To limit this problem, a methodological approach aiming at facilitating the adoption of these varieties by the growers was developed in Cameroon on a plantain-type hybrid. Materials and methods. The approach successively sought to identify on a hierarchical basis, by investigation, the criteria of varietal preferences privileged by the producers; to test, by tests in real conditions, in what ways a new variety answered these criteria; and to evaluate the agronomic performances of the hybrid and a pilot variety according to the diversity of the environments. Results. The results underlined the potential of the approach presented to include/understand the determinants of the adoption of a new variety by the growers. They provide useful information for the piloting of future programs of genetic improvement. They reveal methodological difficulties in the realization of interdisciplinary tests in real conditions, which will have to be taken into account for the improvement of future protocols. Conclusion. The conditions of a new variety adoption vary according to localizations, taking into account the pedoclimatic variables, and according to the growers, taking into account the socio-economic constraints. The varietal offer must thus be diversified to answer the diversity of the requests. The approach taken would gain by being supplemented by investigations of other plantain growers. Our experiment must be regarded as a first contribution to a broader approach.La diffusion de nouvelles variétés issues de programmes d'amélioration génétique (hybrides ou introductions) rencontre parfois des difficultés. Pour limiter ce problème, une démarche méthodologique visant à faciliter l'adoption de ces variétés par les planteurs a été mise au point au Cameroun sur un hybride de type plantain. Matériel et méthodes. La démarche entreprise a cherché successivement à hiérarchiser, par enquête, les critères de préférences variétales privilégiés par les producteurs ; à tester, par des essais en conditions réelles, en quoi une nouvelle variété répondait à ces critères ; à évaluer les performances agronomiques de l'hybride et d'une variété témoin en fonction de la diversité des milieux. Résultats. Les résultats ont souligné l'intérêt de l'approche présentée pour comprendre les déterminants d'adoption d'une nouvelle variété par les planteurs. Ils fournissent des informations utiles pour le pilotage de futurs programmes d'amélioration génétique. Ils révèlent des difficultés méthodologiques dans la réalisation d'essais interdisciplinaires en conditions réelles, qui devront être pris en compte pour l'amélioration des protocoles futurs. Conclusion. Les conditions d'adoption d'une nouvelle variété varient selon les localisations, compte tenu des variables pédoclimatiques, et selon les planteurs, compte tenu des contraintes socio-économiques. L'offre variétale doit donc être diversifiée pour répondre à la diversité des demandes. La démarche effectuée gagnerait à être complétée par des enquêtes auprès d'autres opérateurs de la filière. Notre expérimentation doit être considérée comme une première contribution à une démarche plus large

Les déterminants de l'innovation et leur impact sur les systèmes de production du plantain au Cameroun

International audienceCurrent statistics question the capacity of food-crop production to meet the challenges of food security in Central Africa. However, for local food crops like plantain, the potential for improving productivity is very high. In response to this challenge, after identification of the most serious constraints, an interdisciplinary team used participatory research and action-research tools to try and speed up the adoption of technical innovation by farmers. The project began in 1990 in South-West Province and subsequently expanded to include 100 plantain producers and 60 extension technicians in the Central and Southern Provinces of Cameroon. The approach used produced satisfactory results as far as the adoption and dissemination of methods of multiplication and cleaning of planting material were concerned but there was resistance to new cropping practices involving intercrops and crop rotation. The project resulted in major technical changes in plantain production systems in Cameroon that not only increased productivity and food security but also reduced deforestation showing that sustainable intensification is possible in sub-Saharan Africa

Socioeconomic and institutional determiners of durable technological innovations in food-producing agriculture of Cameroun

The challenges posed by food security for populations in subSaharan Africa and the fact that extensive production systems are reaching their limits in foodproducing agriculture imply accelerating technological innovation toward ecological intensification of agricultural production systems. A review of research on plantain banana in Cameroon since 1988 revealed how institutional innovation enabled hybridization of different forms of research (fundamental, systems, and action research) and reinforced the organizational innovation required for technical change. Evaluation of impacts underlined the complementarity between an increase in productivity and in income in rural areas, the production of human and social capital and the protection of forest resources

Gouvernance systémique de l'innovation en agriculture pour la sécurisation alimentaire des pays en développement

Session 3d : Renovaçao das politicas publicas, a sua implementaçao em varios niveis de decisaoL’évolution du concept de sécurité alimentaire souligne la "multidimentionalité" des enjeux alimentaires (quantité, qualité, nutrition, identité..) et la dimension procédurale de la sécurisation alimentaire pour renforcer les capacités d’innovation des populations face à l’insécurité alimentaire. Dans un contexte de globalisation du modèle agro-industriel au niveau de l’aval (distribution) et de l’amont (agrochimie) le renforcement de ces capacités est interrogé dans les Pays Moins Avancés (PMA). En mobilisant une revue de la littérature sur les Systèmes d’Innovation (SI) dans le secteur agricole et agro-alimentaire, nous analysons comment ce concept reconfigure les trajectoires d’innovation pour la sécurité alimentaire des PMA

Gouvernance systémique de l’innovation en agriculture pour la sécurité alimentaire en Afrique et dans les Caraïbes

Gouvernance systémique de l’innovation en agriculture pour la sécurité alimentaire en Afrique et dans les Caraïbes. 1. Conference of African research on agriculture, food and nutrition. AGRAR 201