The Interactions of Human Mobility and Farming Systems on Biodiversity and Soil Quality in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Determinants and Impacts of Human Mobility Dynamics in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

33 Determinants and Impacts of Human Mobility Dynamics in the Western Highlands of Cameroon C.M. Tankou1* , H.H. de Iongh2 , G. Persoon3 , M. de Bruijn4 , and G.R. de Snoo2 Submitted to International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research 1 Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 222. Dschang, Cameroon 2 Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands 3 Department of Anthropology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9518, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands 4 African Studies Centre, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands * Corresponding author. cmtankou@yahoo.com; tel: (237) 77 66 03 04; fax: (237) 33 45 15 66 2 34 2 Determinancts and Impacts of Human Mobility Dynamics Abstract This article analyses human mobility among the inhabitants of Cameroon’s most populous region, the Western Highlands of Cameroon. In order to capture the impact of various determinants on human mobility, a comparative study was conducted through household and field surveys in three villages in the region,the study based on the systems approach. The drop in coffee prices coupled with demographic pressure was a major determinant of mobility and land-use changes in the area. Rural-to-urban migration was significantly controlled by a combination of socio-economic determinants while commuting to other rural areas for farming was triggered by the quest for microclimates suitable for the production of vegetable cash crops. Intensive land-use and a high dependence on off-farm chemical inputs had replaced the traditional long fallow system. This was found to be a threat to the sustainability of the farming system due to vulnerability to pests and erosion. On the other hand, occupational diversification triggered by urban-to-rural migration has had a far reaching effect, improving farming in rural areas and the standard of living. Keywords Western Highlands of Cameroon, mobility framework, determinants, impacts. 2.1 Introduction Mobility in the rural areas has increased to a spectacular degree in most African countries because rural areas are in general no longer isolated or self-sufficient (Mabogunje, 1970; Potts, 2006). Rural-urban migration is a major contributor to urbanization in many developing countries (Tawanchai et al., 2008) and an inevitable part of economic development (Kessides, 2005) driven by various determinants. The determinants so far identified that govern out-migration , include socio-politico-economic and ecological factors (Carr, 2004). Urban centres attract a significant proportion of the rural population and the wages earned there, are often remitted by migrants to their rural homelands transforming croplands and other infrastructures (Lambin et al., 2001). Cameroon is an agricultural economy and the rural sector, which accounts for 30% of GDP, plays a leading role in the national economy (African Development Bank Group, 2008). Rural-rural as well as urban-rural types of mobility are radically changing the natural resources, socio-economic, demographic and development profile of the Western Highlands of Cameroon (WHC), with far reaching implications for its agricultural-based asset. However, very little empirical data exists for this region which is the major food-basket of the country. Originally, the area had a significant forest cover, but due to human 35 2.1 Introduction mobility and farming activities, it is now dominated by different types of humid savannah vegetation (Dongmo, 1984) that reduce the production potential of the area. A lot of effort is thus required to shape the livelihood of the WHC. The socio-economic concerns on the impacts of demographic pressure have been addressed to some extent (Dongmo, 1984; Scott, 1980; Sunderlin et al., 2000). Human movements in the rural areas of this region, motivated by the urge for better-quality cropland coupled with the modification of cultivation techniques in the rural environment, are of late development and require some research attention. Though rural-rural migration involves huge numbers of people (Achanfuo -Yeboah, 1993), and the migrants are the key in population-environment relationships (Carr & Bilsborrow, 2001), the subject is widely neglected and greatly under-researched. Case studies further suggest that Africa and Asia remain at an earlier stage of migration, in which rural-rural migration dominates , whereas urban-urban migration is dominant in Latin America (Bilsborrow & Carr, 2001). From an ecological perspective, rural-rural migration is of eminent importance because of its increasing impact on the rural landscape. Less effort has also been made to research urban-rural migration, despite studies highlighting the continuing links...