Implications of Agricultural Policies on Farmers Economic Welfare in Benue Division, Cameroon

Charlotte Nanyongo W.,1 Egwu Mary-Juiliet Bime,2 & Mbu Daiel Tambi2
1Department of Agribusiness Technology, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon.
2Department of Agribusiness Technology, University of Bamenda, Bambili, Cameroon.
DOI – http://doi.org/10.37502/IJSMR.2023.61008

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of government agricultural policies on farmers’ economic welfare in Benue division, Cameroon. Data was collected from 399 respondents using a self-administered questionnaire through a cluster sampling technique of 12 sub divisions in Benue division. Result was estimated using structural equation modelling technique using SmartPLS4.0. The result of the model shows that, government agricultural financial policy has a positive effect on farmers’ economic welfare in Benue division with a coefficient of 21.3% and it is more of agricultural climate and extension service delivery policies phenomenon. Considering that there is a growing governmental engagement in improving economic welfare, empirically, this study has closed the gap in the literature in varying issues between government agricultural policies and farmers’ economic welfare in Cameroon. The finding suggest that the decision makers should re-enforce agricultural climate and extension service delivery policies. It is a wise step to increasing economic wellbeing in Cameroon especially for the rural masses.

Keywords: Government, Agricultural Policies, Farmers, Economic Welfare, Benue Division, Cameroon

References

  • Amabo E (2019). The National Agricultural Extension and Agricultural Research (PNVRA) through outreach activities conducted by Extension Agents Zone (AVZ) provide technical guidance and sometimes financial             Retrieved      from: www.cameroontribune.cm:https://www.cameroon
  • Amungwa FA. (2018). Appriasal of innovations in agricultural extension and Advisory services in Cameroon. J Adv plant Science Vol 1(12), 1-9 ; 12.
  • Banda, P. C. (2020). Agriculture: The Backbone of the African Economy. Retrieved 06 05, 2021, from diplomatist.com: https://diplomatist.com/2020/03/05/agriculture-the-backboneof-theafricaneconomy/African%20economies.
  • Bekun, F and Akadiri, S (2019). Poverty and Agriculture in Southern Africa revisited: A panel causality perspective. SAGE Open.
  • Climate data. (2021). North climate. Retrieved from en.climate-data.org: https://en.climatedata.org/africa/cameroon/north-1401/
  • Corral, S., Díaz, A. S., Monagas, M. D. C., & García, E. C. (2017). Agricultural policies and their impact on poverty reduction in developing countries: Lessons learned from three water basins in Cape Verde. Sustainability, 9(10), 1841.
  • Dawson et al. (2016). Green Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications of Imposed Innovation for the Wellbeing of Rural. World Development Vol. 78, pp. 204–218.
  • Development Initiatives. (2019). poverty trend: global and national. UK: Development in initiatives.
  • Egwu, P. N. (2016). Impact of Agricultural Financing on Agricultural Output, Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, Vol.6, No.2, p.36-42.
  • (2021). Underpinning Investments in African Agriculture and trade-related Capacities for improved Market Access: A Continental Vision. Retrieved from www.fao.org: http://www.fao.org/3/y6831e/y6831e-02.htm
  • FAO (2017). Productivity and Efficiency and Measurement in Agriculture: Literature Review and Gaps Analysis. Publication prepared in the framework of the Global Strategy to improve Agricultural and Rural Statistic.
  • Gassner, S., Mah, F and Pan, D (2019). Poverty eradication and food security through agriculture in Africa: Rethinking objectives and entry points. Outlook on Agriculture, Vol. 48(4) 309–315.
  • Iruo, F. A., Onyeneke, R. U., Eze, C. C., Uwadoka, C., & Igberi, C. O. (2018). Economics of smallholder fish farming to poverty alleviation in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Turkish journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences, 19(4), 313-329.
  • Jayne A (2019). Are medium-scale farms driving agricultural transformation in sub-saharan Africa? Michigan: Wiley.
  • Kristin, J. (2018). “Methodology for Measuring Distortions to Agricultural Incentives,” Agricultural Distortions Working Paper 02, World Bank, Washington DC, revised January 2018
  • Laszlo, A. and Krippner, S. (2018). Systems Theories:Their Origins, Foundations, and Development. In e. (. J.S. Jordan, Systems Theories and A Priori Aspects of Perception, (pp. Chapt. 3, pp. 47-74.). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science.
  • Looga, J., Jürgenson, E., Sikk, K., Matveev, E., & Maasikamäe, S. (2018). Land fragmentation and other determinants of agricultural farm productivity: The case of Estonia. Land use policy, 79, 285-292.
  • Manla, I. (2019). Cameroon and the Fight Against Climate Change. Retrieved 06 06, 2021, from impakter.com: https://impakter.com/cameroon-climate-change/
  • Mellor, J. W., & Malik, S. J. (2017). The impact of growth in small commercial farm productivity on rural poverty reduction. World Development, 91, 1-10.
  • Quiroga, S., Suárez, C., Fernández-Haddad, Z., & Philippidis, G. (2017). Levelling the playing field for European Union agriculture: Does the Common Agricultural Policy impact homogeneously on farm productivity and efficiency? Land use policy, 68, 179-188.
  • Ogbeide, O.A. & Ele, I. (2015). Smallholder Farmers and Mobile Phone Technology in Sub-Sahara Agriculture, Mayfair Journal of Information and Technology Management in Agriculture1(1), 1-19.
  • Ogundipe, A., Ogunniyi, A., Oduntan, E., & Olagunju, K. (2016). Agricultural productivity, poverty reduction and inclusive growth in Africa: Linkages and pathways. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics and Sociology, 1(18), 1–15
  • Oberle, S. (2017). Systems Theory, Research, and Applications in Agriculture: A Triple Threat. Retrieved 06 13, 2021, from linkedin.com: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/systems-theoryresearch-applications-agriculture-triple-steve-oberle
  • Oluwatoyin D (2019). Agriculture and social protection for poverty reduction in ECOWAS. Cogent Arts & Humanities, Volume 6, Issue 1.
  • Rusliyadi, M., Jamil, A. B. H. M., Othman, M., Maseleno, A., & Kumalasari, R. T. (2018). Agricultural extension policy, agricultural growth and poverty reduction in Indonesia. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(4), 5539-5550.
  • Rusliyadi, M., Jamil, A. B. H. M., Othman, M., Maseleno, A., & Kumalasari, R. T. (2018). Agricultural extension policy, agricultural growth and poverty reduction in Indonesia. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(4), 5539-5550.
  • UCCC (2014). North Region. Retrieved 06 13, 2021, from www.cvuc-uccc.com: http://www.cvucuccc.com/national/index.php/en/administrative-map/region-du-nord-2
  • Udofia, L. and Essang, N. (2015). Agricultural Expenditure and Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria. European Journal of Business and Management, Vol.7, No.21, P.30-44.
  • UNDP (2016). From the MDGs to Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations Development Programme.
  • World Bank (2021). Cameroon overview. Retrieved 06 07, 2021, from Worldbank.org: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/cameroon/overview
  • Yamamori T (2019). The Smithian Ontology of “relative poverty”: Revisiting the debate between Amartya Sen and Peter Townsend. Journal of Economic Methodology, 26(1), 70-80.
  • Zhu, X., & Chen, Z. (2016). Agricultural policy and poverty reduction: data from rural China. The Anthropologist, 25(1-2), 76-85.