CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Background To The Study

Agriculture today is the backbone to many African communities. The idea of the cultivation of crops and the rearing of animals was first propounded by Prof. Paul Harrison,  a Ghanaian agric scholar in the greening of Africa during the colonial times.

In some African countries today; like Ghana, Zimbabwe and Uganda, half of the population is involved in both subsistence farming and the Green revolution was launched in these countries. This idea was introduced and spread during the colonial times to safeguard against famine.

In Cameroon, agriculture was introduced by the Portuguese  around the 16th century. But I Njah – Etu, Agriculture became noticed around the 1960s when some group of people migrated and settled in the area for trade purposes they moved along with seedlings of different types of crops and species of domestic animals which they settled and spread in the area.

It should be noted that prior to the introduction of agriculture in this area, the people were involved in intensive blacksmith weaving of basket which was mostly carried out by women and hunting by the men.

But in recent times, it has remained the source of livelihood to the inhabitants of this area.

Agriculture played an important role as a source of income and employment to many in this area, and the Metta community as a whole. In 2003, Njah – Etu ranked the second highest producer of palm oil, yams and cocoyam in the Momo central – agriculture show. Agriculture has replaced other activities in some areas of Cameroon and a typical example is Njah-etu where it has employed a large number of the population and it was observed that those employed were mostly women.

Given the importance of agriculture to the economy of Cameroon at large, and to Njah – Etu in particular there is need to study the evolution of agricultural production and marketing.

Statement of the Problem

Agriculture in Cameroon and Njah-Etu in particular has foster development because of its importance to the economy. It is because of this that agriculture since the earliest times is examined.

Although this activity was a very lucrative one in the area, the yields have been very low considering the population involved in the sector. This intriguing worries neglected in the literature, obliged the researcher to investigate the evolution of agriculture and its distribution over time and space.

Objectives of the study

The prime objective of this study is to examine the role agriculture played in the socio-economic development of Njah – Etu from the 1980s to 2005 and also to examine how agriculture has influenced life in the Njah – Etu community.

The prime objectives are as follows

1. To examine agriculture activities in Njah – Etu and their evolution over years
2. To examines the different types of agricultural activities carried out in Njah – Etu
3. The changes brought in Njah – Etu bys agricultural activities and community development
4. To examine how it has helped both farmers and consumers and the community as a whole in the socio-economic and cultural aspects of life.
5. To examine the different types of crops cultivated and production capacity
6. To evaluate its impacts as a major activity carried out in the area.

Check Out: Agriculture Project Topics with Materials