mep Laurent - Bologne:mep.DB 29/05/09 17:53 Page 1 Horticulture and city supply in Africa: evidence from South-West Cameroon RBAN growth in the West African coastal growth poles provides economies Laurent Parrot of scale and the urbanization process leads to agricultural transformation, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche especially in terms of agricultural intensification. In this context, horticulture is Agronomique pour le Développement particularly well suited for an urban environment and for city supplies. (CIRAD), 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Horticulture benefits from intensification techniques on small areas of Tel.: (334) 67-61-75-02 — fax: (334)-67-61-56-88 land and it provides good revenues for small scale farming systems. E-mail address: [email protected] NIGER NDJAMENA 0 200 km A Maroua I R E G I N Garoua MethodMuea was surveyed in August 1995 and again in June 2004 using Muea market and the main trade independent surveys. The surveys included a complete census of Ngaoundéré routes in Cameroon households (all houses and households were recorded for a random Oku Banso Bamenda Bali NdopFoumban Mamfe Mbouda CENTRAL selection), a household survey (300) and a market survey. Due to their Dschang Foumbot AFRICAN Bafoussam REPUBLIC nature and scope, the household and market surveys provided Muea Douala YAOUNDE Limbe complementary and cross-checked information. MALABO Edea EQUAT. GABON CONGO GUINEA Livestock & Food supplies Food supply Food & Manufacture supplies Main areas of demand Manufacture & Textile supplies Main trade flows Main paved roads The study of market flows among local food markets can be a good indicator of nationwide trade flows. Here, the study of local trade flows for the market of Muea reveals the trading patterns between the hinterland and the coastal ResultsHousehold incomes increased by 14%, with a large shift from farm to nonfarm provinces of the countries. income. Within agriculture, activity shifted from staple crops to horticulture, both for sale and in home consumption. Results also revealed a 40% fall in market turnover and a substitution effect between farm and non-farm incomes. City supply and periurban trade has gained in importance: exports to Douala increased from 22% to 63% of the market’s turnover. Horticultural crops are still marginal to the total household incomes, but their share is rising. Only a small fraction of farmers specialize in only horticultural crop production, most of them practice share- cropping with staple crops. 3 500 3 000 2 500 Urban incomes 2 000 Cash crops 1 500 Staple crops Horticultural crops textile Thousand euros 1 000 5 000 Manufactured goods 4 500 500 Fisheries Total 1995-2004 annual 4 000 Livestock 0 household incomes in Muea 3 500 Horticulture 1995 2004 Despite the fall of the local food market turnover, 3 000 Staple Crops the households living the town of Muea managed at real 1995 prices 2 500 Market turnover in Muea to increase their incomes. This result reveals better access of households to other markets 2 000 between 1995 and 2004, as well as the rise of nonfarm incomes. Thousand euros 1 500 at real 1995 prices 1 000 500 Northwest Province Northwest Province Bali Bamenda Bali Bamenda 0 Southwest Province Southwest Province Nigeria Foumban Nigeria Foumban 1995 2004 Mamfe Mbouda Mamfe Mbouda The fall of the market turnover reveals the rise of nonfarm incomes Foumbot Foumbot in the portfolio of activities among farmers. This result also reveals Dschang Bafoussam Dschang Bafoussam the increasing competition among the various food markets To Mamfe To Mamfe in the South-West Province of Cameroon. and Nigeria and Nigeria West Province West Province a C (> 100 Trade flows and share of Are km) Area B (100 km) the town of Douala Mundemba (1995 only) Mundemba (1995 only) in Muea market turnover between 1995 Loum Loum Kumba Kumba and 2004 (in %) A a Littoral Province Littoral Province re A 31% 40% PerspectivesIn fact, urban growth affects not only major towns but also Trade in Trade in 1995 2004 At Douala Douala lantic Ocean At lanticlaanti Ocean most parts of the hinterlands with rural households. Improved n c 22% Oc 63% To Edea ea To Edea and Yaoundé n and Yaoundé roads have proved to be efficient in increasing regional trade. Fisheries Paved roads Center Center However, declining land availability impacts on agricultural Manufactured goods China (+ rice) Province Benin (textile) Province Food crops practices. Horticultural production is still marginal in Cameroon Livestock Textile 0 30 km South Province South Province but it is gaining in importance. More attention should be Douala has become the main trading partner for the local food market of Muea. Douala now represents about 63% of all exports of the Muea food market devoted to the monitoring of the intensification process in agriculture, especially for horticulture. ALMY, S.W., BESONG, M., 1990. The farming systems of HAVARD M. (ed.). 2008. Agricultures et développement South-West Province. National Cereals Research and urbain en Afrique subsaharienne. Gouvernance et Extension Project, IITA/IRA/USAID, Testing Liaison Unit, approvisionnement des villes. Paris : L’ Harmattan, 264 p. ,, May 2009 - Photos © Laurent Parrot Ekona, Cameroon. PARROT L. (ED.), NJOYA A. (ED.), TEMPLE L. (ED.), ASSOGBA- GOCKOWSKI, J., NDOUMBE M., 2004. The adoption of intensive monocrop horticulture in southern Cameroon. KOMLAN F. (ed.), Kahane R. (ed.), Ba Diao M. (ed.), Havard Martine Duportal Agricultural Economics 30:195-202. M. (ed.). 2008. Agricultures et développement urbain en Afrique subsaharienne. Environnement et enjeux sanitaires. PARROT, L., DONGMO, C. T., NDOUMBÉ, M. N., POUBOM, C., Paris : L’ Harmattan, 203 p. 2008. Horticulture, livelihoods and urban transition in Centre Africa: evidence from South-West Cameroon. Agricultural de coopération UNITED NATIONS (2006). World Urbanization Prospects - internationale Economics, 39(2): 245-256. The 2005 Revision. United Nations Population Division, en recherche agronomique Further reading PARROT L. (ED.), NJOYA A. (ED.), TEMPLE L. (ED.), ASSOGBA- Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York, pour le développement Design and production: CIRAD, KOMLAN F. (ED.), KAHANE R. (ED.), BA DIAO M. (ED.), 210 pages..