Diversity and adoption constraints of agroforestry practices in the Sudanese Zone, north region of Cameroon

In the Sudanese region of northern Cameroon, development projects have promoted various agroforestry and forestry practices, including improved fallow, live fences, planting of anti- erosion grass strips, orchards, and woodlots. However, the adoption of these practices has been limited, and the tree density on cultivated land is gradually decreasing. To propose new directions for agroforestry, the study analyzed prevailing agroforestry practices and farmers' perceptions of the constraints to tree management on agricultural land. The study was conducted in five villages in the old agrarian area south of Garoua, where natural vegetation is scarce and highly degraded. These villages include Mafa-Kilda, Laïnde Massa, and Bame, on the one hand, and Gouna and Bawan, on the other, which are located in a zone close to the Benoue National Park. Three socio-professional groups were identified: male farmers, female farmers, and sedentary pastoralists. In each village, focus group discussions were held with each group, followed by individual interviews with 194 household heads (87 male farmers, 73 female farmers, and 34 sedentary pastoralists). The demographic characteristics of the respondents, land tenure status of the fields, agroforestry practices implemented, and constraints to the adoption of these practices were identified. Cultivation in agroforestry parklands and farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR) of trees were practiced by 98% and 62% of all respondents, respectively, with no significant differences between zones. On the other hand, planting trees along field boundaries, in orchards, and in live fences was practiced by 35%, 28%, and 22% of all respondents, respectively. There was low adoption of tree fallows (7%) and woodlots (10%) despite project support. Planting of anti- erosion grass strips and live fences was more common in the old agricultural zone (22% and 24%, respectively) than near the protected area (5% and 11%, respectively). Tree planting was more common among male farmers (24%) than female farmers (15%) and sedentary pastoralists (11%), due to better access to land and project support. The main constraints to the adoption of agroforestry practices in both areas were: animal damage (reported by 95% of respondents), lack of access to land (89%), bushfires (87%), tree cutting and pruning by livestock farmers, and unknown reasons (81%). In addition, 95% of respondents in the old agricultural zone perceived taxes on the pruning of native trees as a significant constraint, while only 28% of respondents in the area near the protected area mentioned this. The availability of seedlings, cited by only 5% of respondents, did not appear to be a constraint, as projects often provided seedlings. The FMNR of young trees and shrubs in fields is well-known and, to some extent, practiced by the vast majority of farmers and sedentary pastoralists in the North Cameroon region. Nevertheless, it deserves to be promoted to increase tree density on agricultural land by recognizing farmers' tree management practices and by removing constraints to its adoption, in particular, unrestricted grazing, difficult access to land, and penalties for farmers who prune native trees in their fields. Finally, land restoration projects should take greater account of women and pastoralists in their support.