Farmer's Adoption of Improved Cassava Varieties in the Humid Forest Agro-ecological Zone of Cameroon

Background: Development of high yielding and disease resistant cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties, coupled with the promotion of efficient processing technologies, is the principal intervention aimed at changing the cassava sector in Cameroon. National research and extension programs have been spearheading efforts to disseminate these varieties alongside improving farmer’s access to other technologies.

Methods: This paper investigated the rate of adoption of the disseminated cassava varieties and processing technologies on adopting households. Survey of 100 households was done in 5 villages (Mbankomo, Akono, Okola, Ngoumou and Nkoldoum) in the Center Region of Cameroon.

Results: The results showed that in all the study sites 40% of the farmers cultivate improved variety. They process cassava at home using small processing commercial processors. It is noted that the farmers prefer the improved variety          because of their high dry matter content and most common processed cassava products were found to be “Baton” and “Fufu”. Moreover, farmers that were able to obtain the improved variety appreciate this variety so much because of its yield and disease tolerant and most of all of because of their high dry matter content which the farmers appreciate a lot. The farmer’s adhesions in community organizations or cooperative organizations have a higher tendency of obtaining credits for their farms seeds and other technical support. Thus the introduction of new cassava varieties would be enhanced by farmers’ access to these facilities and services.

Conclusion: The size of the farm, the availability and the adoption of improved planting material play a critical role on cassava tuber production in Center Region of Cameroon.