Abstract

This Study titled “The Cattle Industry in Mbengwi Sub – Division, North West Region” is set out to investigate the conservation and management of the cattle industry in Mbengwi sub division. It attempts an appraisal of cattle grazing, laws governing the ownership and control of grazing land.

The study then examines the advantages of the cattle industry in Mbengwi and the problems encountered in the livestock and veterinary sector, and the way forward.  The researcher made use of primary and secondary data techniques. The primary data collection was undertaken by the researcher field work with the use of photograph, questionnaires and oral interviews. The secondary data were obtained through the review of related literature from journals and texts from Libraries, government ministries, municipal councils and the internet which were of absolute relevance.

The research findings revealed that Mbengwi sub division has huge potentials in cattle rearing. The farmer graziers problem is insignificant when compared to other areas, in Cameroon. Livestock products not only represent a source of highly quality food, but also constitute a source of income and employment for those involved in its activities directly and indirectly.

However, interviews with animal owners and middlemen at the Acha cattle market revealed that there is a serious theft of animals going on in Mbengwi sub – division by unemployed Fulani youths but it is under control.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The symbol of pastorialism in Momo Division and Mbengwi Central  Sub – Division are Mbororos and Fulani’s. However, the Mbororo and Fulani pastoralists were the last ethnic group to arrive in the North West region and Momo Division in particular during the early 19th century and were welcomed and settled by the British colonial masters.

heir way of life was 100% nomadic as there was enough land for grazing. The relationship between the cattle herders and their non – Mbororo crop farming neighbours during  the early 19th century to about the early 21st century was very cordial as the competition on the access and use of the natural resources was very minimal .

The crop farmers perception of the pastoralists was that they are “strangers” and therefore as outsiders, their rights to access and use of pastoral resources was limited and temporal since the crop farmers believed that the natural resources especially the land belongs to them as they arrived in the North West Region and Mbengwi sub – division before the Mbororo people. In fact the Mbororo people themselves accepted this perception held by the crop farmers as they describe them as “Bibbe Lesdi”  meaning “the children of the land”. Thus the Mbororo perceived their right to natural resources only in terms of exploitation while the crop famer knew that they own the natural resources.

Later on as the population started growing very fast which was encouraged by the government policy especially after the independence of Cameroon and the gradual changes in the life styles of the pastoralists when they started practicing semi  nomadic and total sedenterization, the incidence of conflicts between these two communities increased drastically.

The only mechanism available to resolve conflicts and regulate activities in the agro – pastoral livestock sector was the intervention of the relevant government services.  The government mechanism relied more on the administrative approach and to a lesser extent the legal framework and these did not resolve the conflicts sustainable but rather exacerbated the conflicts that sometime were and are still very fatal. In fact as a result of the different perceptions each community has about each other and the mechanism put in place to resolve the conflicts and regulate the sectors activities has made the crop farmers and the cattle herding communities to perceive each other a an “enemy”.

MBOSCUDA came in with a new perspective in terms of strategy and approach in resolving these chronic and fatal problems affecting the cattle grazing sector for decades. Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association (MBOSCUDA) ideas was discussed with its technical partner SNV (Netherlands Development Organization) which helped to develop the strategy and approach with MBOSCUDA. The strategy was to put the parties directly affected at the centre in resolving the conflicts and the approach had a social and Economic and Technical impact within the framework of the legal instrument governing the agro-pastoral livestock sub sector.

Statement Of The Problem

Cattle grazing which used to be an activity for the Fulani, Mbororo Islamic faithful is now becoming an activity for both Christians and Islamic faithful. Consequently, the Western Highlands with Mbengwi sub division inclusive is a natural gift for cattle grazing.

The past decade was marked by a boom in Human population in Africa in general and Cameroon in particular. Unfortunately this growth in the human population was not followed by an equal increase in food production. Agriculture which constituted the main food supplier has remained traditional without introduction of major techniques. The deficit in food sufficiency exceptionally in animal proteins, was becoming real.

Many attempts to improve the situation through the introduction of new methods in the livestock sector had been developed. State ranches were created in many regions of the country. They operated with a relative success until the appearance of the economic crisis. Since then their activities have experienced some constrains, hence the need for the study of the evolution of cattle grazing in Mbengwi sub Division and its impact.

Aims And Objectives

The general objective of this study is socio- economic with focus on the re-enforcement of the veterinary sub sector in Mbengwi.

It attempts an appraisal of cattle grazing based on laws governing the allocation of grazing land, as well as their Dynamics.

1. To examine the physical characteristics as well as problems encountered in cattle grazing such as rampant cattle theft.
2. To suggest solutions to enhance cattle grazing activities in the Mbengwi sub Division.
3. The study, therefore, will evaluate the contribution of Momo Division and Mbengwi sub-division to alleviate the unavailability of animal protein and promote their consumption in Cameroon.

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