Socio-Economic Characteristics and Livelihood Outcomes: Empirical Evidence of Farmers Organisation in Tubah Sub Division, Cameroon.

Abstract

The lack of farmer contributions to agricultural production in Cameroon, as in most developing countries, has prompted farmers to seek different options to ensure household food security and maximize farm income. Therefore, in trying to find models for survival and the pursuit of growth, farmers draw their resources from all available places, through both formal and informal farming systems by doing so; they can no longer keep pace with agricultural production thus affecting their livelihood. This study specifically identified the socio-economic characteristics of farmer organizations and its effect on their livelihood. The data was elicited via survey questionnaire administered on the sample of 114 registered and 88 unregistered farmer organizations, which comprised of common initiative groups and cooperatives giving a total sample of 202. Using cluster-sampling approach, proximity villages were grouped into four clusters of villages and purposive sampling was used to selected members of the organisations to participate in the study. The objective of the study was achieved using ordinary least square regression estimation techniques. The result revealed that socio-economic characteristic of farmers has a negative significant effect on the livelihood of farmers’ organization due to inadequate capital, low level of education, inadequate farming experience, inadequate income, inadequate farm size and the type of technology used for farming. Based on the finding this study recommends that the government should organize training programs, seminars, subsidize farm inputs, grant agricultural loans to farmers, initiate, and support mechanized agriculture to boast the agricultural sector hence improve the livelihood of farmers organisations.