CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background to the Study

Various studies (Fabiyi et al. 2007, Onguonu 2010, FAO 2009 and Karki 2009) have shown that inclusive participation have historically used agriculture as one of the strategies to address poverty and improve livelihoods, and also to maintain the stability and sustainability of their families. Women and children especially in Africa have played a significant role in the sustainable development and economic development of their communities and countries. Kehler (2001) argues that rural populations have historically played a crucial role in agriculture as food producers. They constitute more than half of the agricultural labour. This is more evident in developing countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, etc (Manuh, 1998). Karki (2009) accepts that rural population alone are responsible for up to 50 percent of the world’s food production and they also contribute about 60 to 80 percent of the production in many developing countries. Fabiyi et al (2007), state that female farmers have played an important role in food production and food security. Women account for 70 percent of agricultural workers, 80 percent in food production and take up to 60 to 80 percent of marketing (Fabiyi et al, 2007).

The long term effects of land fragmentation problem we need to identify the root causes of land fragmentation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Four factors have been identified to contribute mainly to the trend of land fragmentation: inheritance; population growth; land markets; and historical/cultural perspectives (Demetriou, 2013). The key driver behind the declining arable farm sizes in Africa is the culture of inheritance. Most societies in Sub Saharan African are characterized by a culture of patrilineal succession and inheritance where properties including land is successively shared among heirs or only the sons in a family (Holden and Mace, 2003).

Historical analysis of agricultural total factor productivity in sub-Saharan Africa shows that Kenya was one of the few countries to record steady, if modest, long-term growth between 1961 and 2008 (Fuglie and Rada, 2013). However, there are concerns that productivity is declining: maize yields per hectare were lower in 2014 than in 1994 (World Bank, 2018). Between 1990/92 and 2014/16, Kenya was one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa to experience an overall decline in maize yields (Wiggins, 2018). This constant decline in agricultural productivity may be attributed to culture and traditional heritage of the people of kenya.

The Ministry of Information and Culture of Nigeria, (1988) combined culture, customs and traditions to mean totality of the way of life evolved by a people in their attempt to meet the challenges of living in their environment, which gives order and meaning to their social, political, economic, aesthetic and religious norms and modes of organization thus distinguishing a people from their neighbors. To Duro (2001), the word culture was an embodiment of the attitudes of a people to their traditional values which are essential for factors of development and progress. According to Udu (2002), human beings are influenced by their cultures and traditions in their daily activities not leaving out the cultivation farms and rearing of animals.

There is also link between agriculture productivity, culture and tradition and rural infrastructure, and farmers’ income are crucial given that agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, the largest source of employment and income generation for the majority of rural dwellers in developing countries, general (World Bank, 2014; Verter and Bečvářová, 2014).

Although there are enough natural resources (i.e arable land, good weather conditions, water supply etc.) at Bamenda III Nkwen, rural women and men are not all actively engaged in farming. Only a few women and men in the Bamenda III Nkwen are involved in the community farming projects. This community farming covers a very small area of land, in most cases not up to one hectare. The interest of the researcher in undertaking the present study was to explore the social-cultural barriers, e.g. land ownership, access to credit, education, culture change, etc that seems to impede the serious participation of women and men in agricultural activities in the study area. On the basis of the findings of the pilot study that the researcher carried out in the study area, it was concluded there were socio-cultural factors in the study area that could account for the small number of rural women and men in agricultural production. The above mentioned socio-cultural factors were chosen because of their perceived influence on the participation of women and men in agricultural development in the study area and also because they are fundamental and significant resources to agricultural development.

It is more evident in developing countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, not leaving out cameroon etc (Manuh, 1998 and Karki, 2009) accept that rural women alone are responsible for up to 50 percent of the world’s food production and they also contribute about 60 to 80 percent of the production in many developing countries. Fabiyi et al (2007), state that female farmers have played an important role in food production and food security. Women account for 70 percent of agricultural workers, 80 percent in food production and take up to 60 to 80 percent of marketing (Fabiyi et al, 2007). Therefore, this women need the required support in order to valorise this agricultural sector, this support is in most cases is hindered by our sociocultural and traditional norms in Cameroon and in Bamenda III Nkwen in particular.

1.2  Statement of the Problem

To understand the long term effects of traditions and customs problem we need to identify the root causes of customs and tradition in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Nkwen in Bamanda III particular. Four factors were been identified to contribute mainly customs and tradition effects: inheritance; non-working traditional days “Country Sunday”; and historical/cultural perspectives (Demetriou, 2013). The key driver behind the declining arable farm sizes and agricultural productivity in Africa is the culture of inheritance. Most societies in Sub Saharan African are characterized by a culture of patrilineal succession and inheritance where properties including farm lands are successively shared among heirs or only the sons in a family (Holden and Mace, 2003).

There is also the mass respect for traditional non-working days (country Sunday) in Bamenda III which is mostly inhabited by the Nkwen people. This day also reduces the agricultural working day for most of the population that mostly depend on agriculture for their livelihood. This tradition of the respect for this “county Sundays” is what has been from generation to generation, and this has impacted on agricultural productivity of the people.

Another historical and cultural problem influencing agricultural productivity is the aspect of men abandoning the agricultural sector to the hands of women and female children of the family. This too brings up a major problem to agricultural productivity, because it reduces the amount labour force employed by the agricultural sector which 80% of the Bamenda III population depend on for livelihood.

Although there are enough natural resources (i.e arable land, good weather conditions, water supply etc.) at Bamenda III Nkwen, rural women and men are not all actively engaged in farming. Only a few women and men in the Bamenda III Nkwen are involved in the community farming projects. This community farming covers a very small area of land, in most cases not up to one hectare. The interest of the researcher in undertaking the present study was to explore the social-cultural barriers, e.g. land ownership, access to credit, education, culture change, etc that seems to impede the serious participation of women and men in agricultural activities in the study area. On the basis of the findings of the pilot study that the researcher carried out in the study area, it was concluded there were socio-cultural factors in the study area that could account for the small number of rural women and men in agricultural production. The above mentioned socio-cultural factors were chosen because of their perceived influence on the participation of women and men in agricultural development in the study area and also because they are fundamental and significant resources to agricultural development.

In order for this study to meet its objective of look at the socio-economic effects of customs and traditions on agricultural productivity, the following research questions will be answered.

1.3  Research Questions

1.3.1 Main Research Question

What are the effects of customs and traditions on agricultural productivity in Bamenda III?

1.3.2 Specific Research Questions

To what extent has inheritance influenced agricultural productivity in Bamenda III?

How has the respect for traditional non-working day (country Sundays) affects agricultural productivity in Bamenda III?

To what extend do attitude of men towards agriculture affects agricultural productivity in Bamenda III?

1.4  Research Objectives

1.4.1 Main Objective

To examine the effects of customs and traditions on agricultural productivity in Bamenda III.

1.4.2 Specific Objectives

To investigate the effect of land tenure (fragmentation) on agricultural productivity in Bamenda III.

To analyze the extent to which respect for traditional non-working days affects agricultural productivity in Bamenda III.

To access the extent to which the attitude of men towards agriculture affects agricultural productivity in Bamenda III?