GENERAL INTRODUCTION

• Background to the Study

The world’s environment is challenged with so many negative factors that has end up depleting and destroying the environment like pollution, bush fire and other natural disasters thus agroforestry practice upholds the protection and conservation of the environment. 

 Over the past two decades, several studies have been carried out analyzing the viability of agroforestry. The combat research has highlighted that agroforestry can reap substantial benefits both economically and environmentally producing more output and providing to more sustainably than forestry or agricultural monoculture (Amrit Singh, 2004).

There are innumerable examples of traditional land use practice involving combined production of trees and agricultural species on the same piece of land in many parts of the world. These are some examples of what is known as agroforestry. Trees were an integral part of this farming system. They were deliberately retained on farmlands to support agriculture. The ultimate objective of this practice was not tree production but food production.

     In tropical America many societies have simulated forest conditions to obtain the benefit effects of forest ecosystems  for example in central America it has been a traditional practice for a long time by farmers to plant an average of two dozen species of plants on plots not larger than one tenth of bananas or citrus, a shrub layer; coffee or cocoa annuals of different stature such as maize  and finally a spreading ground cover such as squash such  an intimate mixture of various plants each with a different structure.

           In Asia the Hanunoo of the Philippines practiced a complex and somehow sophisticated type of shifting cultivation in clearing the forest for agricultural use, they deliberately spared certain trees, which by the end of the rice growing season, provided a spatial canopy of new foliage to prevent excessive exposure of the soil to the soil. Trees were in indispensable parts of the hanunoo farming system and were either planted or reserved from the original forest to provide food, medicines, construction wood and cosmetics (conklin 1957). Similar farming systems have also been common in many other parts of the humid lowlands tropics of Asia. Agroforestry systems have already been adapted in many parts of the world not excluding Cameroon and in Mbengwi in particular, Looking at the case of Cameroon agroforestry, agriculture is the main stay of the Cameroon people. The fact that agriculture has always occupied a prominent position in Cameroon development plans shows the importance that the nation attaches to it.

           Agroforestry also known as agro sylvicultural is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland. these techniques aim to ensure small household increase their use of trees in agricultural landscape to improve food security, nutrition, income, health, shelter, social cohesion, energy resource and environmental sustainability, but lack of technology and knowledge of farming techniques to deal with challenges such as soil erosion, the Sahel environment drought and torrential rainfall threatens the livelihood of many. On 28 of November 1990, Cameroon formalized an agreement with the Peace Corps asking volunteers to provide qualified work force to contribute in building the capacities of the local community in natural resource management.

      Cameroon agroforestry and permanent farming system projects were introduced in the west region and in 1999; its services were extended to the northern region (CVUC-UCCV, 2014).

      Agroforestry has changed the livelihood of most Cameroonian farmers and Mbengwi in particular. Two decades after its introduction, more than 100,000 farmers that have embraced the scheme across the country and are reaping the benefits (Awazi, 2019, p. 76).

     The option of integrating agroforestry into the farming system around Mbengwi is the only way out for farmers to sustain their livelihood and has increased income to farmers.

1.2 PRESENTATION OF THE STUDY AREA

This Council area is situated some 20 km to the west of Bamenda town and at an altitude ranging from 900m to 2000m above sea level between longitude 10⁰ 00’ and 10⁰ 02’ East, and between latitude 60⁰ 00’ and 60 05’ North of the equator. It is bordered to the North by Lower Bafut and the Menchum valley, the East by Mankon and Bafut, South by Bali and Batibo, and West by Ngie and Njikwa. Mbengwi council area is made up of 29 villages with most of them located along the mile 20 Mbengwi Oshum road, going through Tudig, Njah Etu, Kai and Gwofan. This Municipality lies in the transitional zone between the forest and grassland regions of western Cameroon.

The main language spoken within the Mbengwi Council area is Meta. This is because all the villages of the municipality have one common ancestry.

• THE PHYSICAL BACKGROUND

Mbengwi like every other area in the world has different topology and morphology it equally has great weather and climatic variations which makes the area peculiar and districted from other areas in the region.

1. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF MBENGWI

In Mbengwi, the wet season is comfortable, humid, and overcast and the dry season is warm and mostly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 58°F to 81°F and is rarely below 54°F or above 86°F.Based on the 

, the best time of year to visit Mbengwi for warm-weather activities is from late November to late February.

2. Temperature

The warm season lasts for 2.5 months, from January 14 to March 30, with an average daily high temperature above 79°F. The hottest day of the year is February 18, with an average high of 81°F and low of 61°F. The cool season lasts for 3.3 months, from June 26 to October 3, with an average daily high temperature below 73°F. The coldest day of the year is January 1, with an average low of 58°F and high of 79°F. (Dillon, chalenges of Agroforestry practices in Sudan, 1973).

3. Clouds

In Mbengwi, the average percentage of the sky covered by clouds experiences significant seasonal variation over the course of the year. The clearer part of the year in Mbengwi begins around November 16 and lasts for 3.4 months, ending around February 27. On December 29, the clearest day of the year, the sky is clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 41% of the time, and overcast or mostly cloudy 59% of the time. The cloudier part of the year begins around February 27 and lasts for 8.6 months, ending around November 16. On August 26, the cloudiest day of the year, the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy 91% of the time, and clear, mostly clear, or partly cloudy 9% of the time.

4. Precipitation

        A wet day is one with at least 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid-equivalent precipitation. The chance of wet days in Mbengwi varies very significantly throughout the year. The wetter season lasts 7.5 months, from March 20 to November 5, with a greater than 47% chance of a given day being a wet day. The chance of a wet day peaks at 93% on September 16. The drier season lasts 4.5 months, from November 5 to March 20. The smallest chance of a wet day is 1% on December 30.wet days, we distinguish between those that experience rain alone, snow alone, or a mixture of the two. Based on this categorization, the most common form of precipitation throughout the year is rain alone, with a peak probability of 93% on September 16.

5. Rainfall

To show variation within the months and not just the monthly totals, we show the rainfall accumulated over a sliding 31-day period centered on each day of the year. Mbengwi experiences extreme seasonal variation in monthly rainfall. The rainy period of the year lasts for 9.8 months, from February 9 to December 3, with a sliding 31-day rainfall of at least 0.5 inches. The most rain falls during the 31 days centered on September 7, with an average total accumulation of 13.9 inches. The rainless period of the year lasts for 2.2 months, from December 3 to February 9. The least rain falls around December 30, with an average total accumulation of 0.1 inches. (Dillon, chalenges of Agroforestry practices in Sudan, 1973).

6. Sun

The length of the day in Mbengwi does not vary substantially over the course of the year, staying within 28 minutes of 12 hours throughout. In 2020, the shortest day is December 21, with 11 hours, 47 minutes of daylight; the longest day is June 20, with 12 hours, 28 minutes of daylight. The earliest sunrise is at 6:04 AM on May 23, and the latest sunrise is 33 minutes later at 6:37 AM on February 2. The earliest sunset is at 5:59 PM on November 10, and the latest sunset is 39 minutes later at 6:39 PM on July 15. (Dillon, chalenges of Agroforestry practices in Sudan, 1973)

7. Humidity

We base the humidity comfort level on the dew point, as it determines whether perspiration will evaporate from the skin, thereby cooling the body. Lower dew points feel drier and higher dew points feel more humid. Unlike temperature, which typically varies significantly between night and day, dew point tends to change more slowly, so while the temperature may drop at night, a muggy day is typically followed by a muggy night. Mbengwi experiences extreme seasonal variation in the perceived humidity. The muggier period of the year lasts for 8.4 months, from February 28 to November 10, during which time the comfort level is muggy, oppressive, or miserable at least 17% of the time. The muggiest day of the year is May 4, with muggy conditions 69% of the time. The least muggy day of the year is December 31, when muggy conditions are essentially unheard of. (Dillon, chalenges of Agroforestry practices in Sudan, 1973).

8. Wind

This section discusses the wide-area hourly average wind vector (speed and direction) at 10 meters above the ground. The wind experienced at any given location is highly dependent on local topography and other factors, and instantaneous wind speed and direction vary more widely than hourly averages.

The average hourly wind speed in Mbengwi experiences mild seasonal variation over the course of the year. The windier part of the year lasts for 2.2 months, from July 2 to September 9, with average wind speeds of more than 4.6 miles per hour. The windiest day of the year is August 3, with an average hourly wind speed of 6.0 miles per hour.

The calmer time of year lasts for 9.8 months, from September 9 to July 2. The calmest day of the year is May 10, with an average hourly wind speed of 3.2 miles per hour. The predominant average hourly wind direction in Mbengwi varies throughout the year.

The wind is most often from the north for 2.3 weeks, from February 7 to February 23, with a peak percentage of 35% on February 10. The wind is most often from the west for 7.5 months, from February 23 to October 9, with a peak percentage of 80% on July 29. The wind is most often from the east for 3.9 months, from October 9 to February 7, with a peak percentage of 59% on January 1. Topography

For the purposes of this report, the geographical coordinates of Mbengwi are 6.017latitude, 10.000 longitude, and 4,134 ft elevation. The topography within 2 miles of Mbengwi contains very significant variations in elevation, with a maximum elevation change of 1,581 feet and an average elevation above sea level of 4,124 feet. Within 10 miles contains very significant variations in elevation (3,973 feet). Within 50 miles also contains extreme variations in elevation (9,662 feet). The area within 2 miles of Mbengwi is covered by trees (47%), cropland (25%), and shrubs (21%), within 10 miles by trees (46%) and cropland (28%), and within 50 miles by trees (50%) and shrubs (21%).

Fig 1: location of Mbengwi

1.3 Statement of the Research Problem

  The practices of Agroforestry in Mbengwi like most area in Cameroon are as long as the population that lives there. It practices in most case are secondary activities with a chain of advantages ranging from socio economic and ecological dimensions. It displays many actors in this practice where varieties of agroforestry crops are planted with a lot livelihood depend on it. The complementary influence into household revenue cannot be undermined. In the study area, it is observe that, agroforestry has reaped substantial benefits both economically and environmentally, producing more output and proving to be more sustainable than some forestry or agricultural monocultures. These Agroforestry systems have long been adopted in many parts of Mbengwi Sub division. It is on this base that, this research hold is out to examine the contribution of this activity to the livelihood of the local population.

It further intent to, identify the various problems this locality of Mbengwi face in carrying out this farming system and the activity, which ecological contributions are thriving to uphold humans and environment concerns. Therefore, this research focus on how the population of Mbengwi has actually up held this agroforestry practices and how it has benefited them by improving on their livelihood.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Base on the problem statement above, the questions to answer in this research are;

1.4.1 MAIN RESEARCH QUESTION

1. What are the reasons that keep agroforestry system of farming function in Mbengwi?

1.4.2 SPECIFIC RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the kinds of agroforestry activities in Mbengwi sub division?
2. What are the socio-economic and environment implications to the population of mbengwi?
3. What are the challenges facing in this agroforestry practices?

1.4.3 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Base on the research topic above the following are the research objectives.

1.4.4 MAIN RESEARCH OBJECTIVE

1. To examine the contributions of agroforestry to livelihood of Mbengwi community.

1.4.5 SPECIFIC RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. To identify the kinds of agroforestry activities in Mbengwi sub division.

 2.To investigate the socio-Economic and environment implications to the population of Mbengwi.

3. To find the challenges faces by this system of agriculture in Mbengwi.