Horticulture, livelihoods and pesticides in Africa : Evidence from south-West Cameroun

Abstract

This paper documents change in agro-chemical input use in horticulture using repeat surveys in 1995 and 2004 of about 300 households around Muea, Cameroon. Agro-chemical input use increased from about one agro-chemical input in 1995, to two or more agro-chemical inputs in 2004. Total expenditures for agro-chemical inputs in Muea, as well as the number of farmers using them, doubled between 1995 and 2004. The average number of agro chemical inputs used among farmers doubled between 1995 and 2004. The use of some chemicals increased from four to five times as it is the case for salt, pesticides and herbicides. (Résumé d'auteur