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Farmland Fragmentation, crop diversification and incomes in Cameroon, a Congo Basin country

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  • Ndip, Francis Ebai
  • Molua, Ernest L.
  • Mvodo, Meyo-Elise Stephanie
  • Nkendah, Robert
  • Djomo Choumbou, Raoul Fani
  • Tabetando, Rayner
  • Akem, Nina Fabinin

Abstract

Land fragmentation and crop diversification are salient issues in sub-Saharan agriculture. Smallholder farmers in the Congo basin countries are challenged to provide diverse household food needs though they are constrained by a plethora of factors such as inadequate access to improved technologies, absence of markets, and climate change. Diversification is employed as a plausible strategy to simultaneously attain farm objectives, while insuring against exogenous challenges. This study explores the relationship between land fragmentation and crop diversification, using survey data from Cameroon. The Poisson regression model is employed to assess the relationship between fragmentation and crop diversification. The results indicate that fragmentation positively affects crop diversification and farmers with more fragmented lands are more likely to diversify than those with fewer fragmented lands. These results highlight some of the benefits associated with careful land fragmentation by farm families, and provide information to consider when planning agricultural land consolidation in the region.

Suggested Citation

  • Ndip, Francis Ebai & Molua, Ernest L. & Mvodo, Meyo-Elise Stephanie & Nkendah, Robert & Djomo Choumbou, Raoul Fani & Tabetando, Rayner & Akem, Nina Fabinin, 2023. "Farmland Fragmentation, crop diversification and incomes in Cameroon, a Congo Basin country," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:130:y:2023:i:c:s0264837723001291
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2023.106663
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Farmland Fragmentation; Crop diversification; Gender relations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q1 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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