Beschreibung
This study challenges the notion of `backward African
peasants’, who depend on outside intervention in order to
innovate their farming systems. Two case studies from Manyu
Division, Cameroon illustrate the complex relationship
between smallholder farmers and the macro-economic
environment from a historical perspective. This reveals that
the smallholders in Manyu Division are constantly adapting
to ecological, economic and socio-institutional constraints.
The current rational adaption seems to be a withdrawal from
the international economy, after drastic changes in the
macro-economic environment (Structural Adjustment Programme)
have intensified the direct link between the farmers and the
global economy. The weakening of the state who functioned as
a shock absorber in previous years (Marketing Board, fixed
price system) has fully revealed the marginality of the
farmers in Manyu Division as opposed to other areas in
Cameroon. Foreign organisations that stepped in to fill this
gap have so far not been successful in achieving their goal.
This is often caused by clashing interests, especially in
conservation (Korup park) and conversion to Organic
Agriculture.
