Evaluating Constraints to Animal Traction Development and Sustainability in the Upper Noun Valley, North West Region Cameroon

The principal aim of this study was to find out the reasons for the low adoption of animal traction in the Upper Noun Valley community. The general views were; to find out the level of animal traction adoption, to see its level of profitability, to examine its importance on agricultural sustainability and the overall constraints and benefits involved in animal traction. Combinations of multi-stage random and purposive sampling procedures were applied to obtain the needed information from oxen-farmers and institutions. A cross sectional data was collected and analysed from random sample of 90 oxen farmers within the Upper Noun Valley Community. Data were collected and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. The study revealed that small-scale farmers encountered several sustainability challenges from inappropriate implements, pasture difficulty, lack of training and repair centres, poor animal housing. Animal traction sustainability depends on its; affordability, flexibility, timeliness on farm and organic manure provision. In order to overcome the alarming food insecurity in Cameroon, both the government and stakeholders should regain consciousness on abandoned training centres, and minimum packages should be given to small-scale farmer as well as local blacksmiths and veterinary centres be provided at the Divisional level.

本研究的核心目标为探究上努恩河谷社区畜力牵引（animal traction）技术的低采用率成因。本次研究的具体内容包括：探明畜力牵引技术的采用水平、评估其盈利性、分析其对农业可持续性的重要意义，以及梳理畜力牵引应用涉及的各类制约因素与收益。本研究采用多阶段随机抽样与目的抽样相结合的方法，从养牛农户与相关机构中获取所需调研数据。针对上努恩河谷社区内的90名养牛农户开展随机抽样，收集并分析了横截面数据。研究借助社会科学统计软件包（Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS）与微软Excel（Microsoft Excel）完成数据收集与分析工作。研究结果显示，小规模农户面临多项可持续性发展难题：农机具适配性不佳、牧草获取困难、缺乏培训与维修服务中心、牲畜圈舍条件简陋。畜力牵引的可持续性取决于其成本可负担性、操作灵活性、农作作业时效性以及有机肥供应能力。为解决喀麦隆日益严峻的粮食不安全问题，政府与各利益相关方应重新重视已废弃的培训中心；应为小规模农户提供最低帮扶套餐，并在各分区设立当地铁匠铺与兽医服务中心。