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Urban Expansion and the Dynamics of Farmers’ Livelihoods: Evidence from Bamenda, Cameroon

Author

Listed:
  • Akhere Solange Gwan

    (Department of Geography and Planning, The University of Bamenda, Bambili 00237, Cameroon)

  • Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi

    (Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Technische Universität Dresden, 01737 Tharandt, Germany
    Department of Geography, The University of Bamenda, Bambili 00237, Cameroon)

Abstract

There is growing interest in the need to understand the link between urban expansion and farmers’ livelihoods in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Cameroon. This paper undertakes a qualitative investigation of the effects of urban expansion on farmers’ livelihoods in Bamenda, a primate city in Cameroon. Taking into consideration two key areas—the Mankon–Bafut axis and the Nkwen Bambui axis—this study analyzes the trends and effects of urban expansion on farmers’ livelihoods with a view to identifying ways of making the process more beneficial to the farmers. Maps were used to determine the trend of urban expansion between 2000 and 2015. Twelve farmers drawn from the target sites were interviewed, while three focus group discussions were conducted. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze perceptions of the effects and coping strategies of farmers to urban expansion. Using the livelihoods approach, farmers’ livelihoods repertoires and portfolios were analyzed for the periods before and after urban expansion. Between 2000 and 2015, the surface area for farmlands in Bamenda II and Bamenda III reduced from 3540 ha to 2100 ha and 2943 ha to 1389 ha, respectively. This was followed by a corresponding increase in the surface area for settlements from 2100 ha to 3540 ha in Bamenda II and from 1389 ha to 2943 ha in Bamenda III. The expansion process has affected farmers’ income, farm sizes and farming types, natural capital, and their standards of living. Most of the farmers have employed coping measures to include the diversification of income opportunities, social networking, and agricultural intensification. Future efforts could target land use regulations to stem the uncontrolled rate of settlement expansion, intensive farming to increase productivity and processing to improve the value chain in a bid to increase income levels and provide long-term food self-sufficiency. This paper suggests further quantitative investigations to ground the current assertion.

Suggested Citation

  • Akhere Solange Gwan & Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi, 2020. "Urban Expansion and the Dynamics of Farmers’ Livelihoods: Evidence from Bamenda, Cameroon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:14:p:5788-:d:386444
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Qingyao Huang & Yihua Liu, 2021. "The Coupling between Urban Expansion and Population Growth: An Analysis of Urban Agglomerations in China (2005–2020)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Bao Meng & Xuxi Wang & Zhifeng Zhang & Pei Huang, 2022. "Spatio-Temporal Pattern and Driving Force Evolution of Cultivated Land Occupied by Urban Expansion in the Chengdu Metropolitan Area," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Yihao Chen & Shuai Zhang & Qingqing Ye & Weiqiang Chen & Yingchao Li & Enxiang Cai & Xuesong Kong & Long Guo & Jiwei Li, 2024. "Research on the Spatiotemporal Coupling Characteristics between Urban Population and Land in China Based on the Improved Coupling Model of Polar Coordinates," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, July.
    4. Chukwudi Charles Olumba & Cynthia Nneka Olumba & Jonathan Okechukwu Alimba, 2021. "Constraints to urban agriculture in southeast Nigeria," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Abebe Mengaw Wubie & Walter T. de Vries & Berhanu Kefale Alemie, 2020. "A Socio-Spatial Analysis of Land Use Dynamics and Process of Land Intervention in the Peri-Urban Areas of Bahir Dar City," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-27, November.
    6. Kometa Raoul Ndikebeng & Cletus Fru Forba & Suiven John Paul Tume & Banseka JaneFrances Yenlajai & Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi, 2023. "Land Cover Dynamics and Implications on Water Resources in Bamenda III Sub-Division, North West Region, Cameroon," International Journal of Global Sustainability, Macrothink Institute, vol. 7(1), pages 1-37, December.

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