Adaptation to Climate Variability by Maize Farmers in Mezam Division in the North West Region of Cameroon
Ngwa Kester Azibo *
Natural Resource and Environmental Management (NaREM), Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
Nkwatoh Athanasius Fuashi
Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
Balgah Roland Azibo
College of Technology, The University of Bamenda, Bambili, P.O. Box 39, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Climate variability remains an issue of global concern. The unprecedented hike in global temperature in the last decades have increased drought and flood events, with significant agricultural impacts especially on farmers whose livelihoods depend largely on rain-fed agriculture. Despite maize contribution to livelihoods especially in developing countries, the growing research on climate variability effects on crop yields has not sufficiently identified and quantified strategies that promote its production.
Aim: This study identifies maize farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate variability in Mezam Division, in the North West region of Cameroon. Specifically, the study, (1) Identifies farm strategies adopted by maize farmers to climate variability, and (2) quantifies the contribution of adopted strategies on maize yields.
Study Design: The study adopted a quantitative cross sectional design
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in Mezam Division, North West Region of Cameroon, between March and May 2025.
Methodology: Data was collected using face-to-face interviews from 370 randomly selected maize farmers from 12 maize growing communities in four sub divisions in Mezam Division, using a pre-tested structured questionnaire.
Results: Results on adaptation strategies revealed that cultivating early maturing varieties, use of integrated pest management, and increased chemical fertilizer application were the most significant strategies adopted by farmers (P = .000). Binary Logistic Regression revealed that irrigation practices (B = 0.721, P = .07), crop rotation (B = 0.637, P = .06) and agroforestry practices (B = 0.447, P = .07) were the key strategies promoting maize yields under climate variability conditions.
Conclusion: Farmers in the study area are successfully adopting strategies which are increasing maize yields under climate variability. Climate variability strategies promoted by relevant actors in the region should include endogenous successful strategies to reduce the effects of climate variability on crops like maize. Identifying gender differentiate strategies will boost policy interventions towards climate variability adaptation.
Keywords: Farm adaptation, climate variability, maize farmers, Mezam Division