Abstract

The purpose for this study was to investigate factors influencing maize production among small scale farmer in Buea. The study was guided by the following objectives: to investigate how costs of production influence maize production of small scale farmers, to establish how demographic characteristics influence maize production of small scale farmers, to determine how extension services influence maize production of small scale farmers and to examine how accessibility to credit influence maize production of small scale farmers in Buea. The study used the descriptive survey design which was used to obtain information. The estimated sample size of the population was 100.

A questionnaire with closed-ended questions was prepared and distributed to the respondents in all the study areas. The questionnaires were then collected after one week. All the questionnaires were filled and were used for analysis. Data was analyzed using descriptive method

Also only a very small percentage of farmers have access to credit. Farmers should be encouraged to form groups in order to access credit services, market their produce and acquire farm inputs collectively. The government should make credit and or loans easily accessible and affordable to small scale farmers.

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

1.1 Introduction

Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, in agricultural economy both as food for human beings, feed for animals and other industrial raw materials. Maize is also an important staple food in developing countries, in particular in Latin America and Africa, and a basic ingredient for local drinks and food products. It is also an outstanding feed for livestock, high in energy, low in fiber and easily digestible. As a source of starch, it is a major ingredient in industrialized food products.

The global world production of maize exceeds 780 million tons per year, compared with almost 500 million tons of wheat and just less than 400 million tons of rice. Furthermore, according to FAO, the USA is by far the biggest producer (over 330 million tons in 2007; 42% of the world production), occupying double the area of any other crop planted in the country. It should however be noted that a major part of this is used for fodder and production. In the world ranking the USA is followed by China (152 million tons), Brazil (52 million tons), Mexico (23 million tons) and Argentina (21 million tons). The corresponding area planted has over the past 40 years increased by more than 40%. Both the global production and the area harvested show a steady increase since the 1960s.

In 2020, maze production for the world was 1,162 million tons. Maize production of the world increased from 313 million tons in 1971 to 1,162 million tons in 2020 growing at an average annual rate of 3.07%, this maize quantity of maize have been cultivated on a total surface area of 197 million hectares of land world wide of which 32% of is produced by low and middle income countries.

Furthermore, in the global perspective maize production is connected to technology. According Huang and Rozelle (1996) on Technological change they stated that increase in the production of maize and other cereal crops in China during the last several decades has been recognized as one of the most remarkable success stories in science and technology and agricultural policy reform. Development of technology, including hybrid technology; increased water availability through government-funded projects; and the supply and use of inorganic fertilizer and other farm chemicals are important factors contributing to maize production growth.

Maize (Zea mays), also called corn, is believed to have originated in central Mexico 7000 years ago from a wild grass, and Native Americans transformed maize into a better source of food. The center of origin for maize is in   Mesoamerica, but the crop has now spread over more than 100 countries. No crop has received more intense genetic and cytogenetic attention than maize, and this explains the large variations in yields, from more than 12 tons/ha in commercial farming to less than 1 ton/ha in traditional low-input family farms in developing countries.

Maize contains approximately 72% starch, 10% protein, and 4% fat, supplying an energy density of 365 Kcal/100 g and is grown throughout the world, with the United States, China, and Brazil being the top three maize-producing countries in the world, producing approximately 563 of the 717 million metric tons/year. Asia contributes about one-third of the world’s total maize production with Chin at the helm both in terms of yields and harvested area.

In Southeast Asia, the total harvested area with maize is currently about 8.6 million hectares (FAOSTAT,2020) with the largest areas in Indonesia (41%), the Philippines (29%), Thailand (13%) and Vietnam (12%). Maize can be processed into a variety of food and industrial products, including starch, sweeteners, oil, beverages, glue, industrial alcohol, and fuel ethanol.

In the last 10 years, the use of maize for fuel production significantly increased, accounting for approximately 40% of the maize production in the United States. As the ethanol industry absorbs a larger share of the maize crop, higher prices for maize will intensify demand competition and could affect maize prices for animal and human consumption. Low production costs, along with the high consumption of maize flour and cornmeal, especially where micronutrient deficiencies are common public health problems, make this food staple an ideal food vehicle for fortification. However, Maize production in the USA, and in other developed countries in Europe, South America and Australia, is highly mechanized and based on commercial production methods using selected hybrids and agrochemical. This explains why they have greater yields.

In Africa, the rapidly growing population is exerting a lot of pressure on agriculture resources and maize yields is including. In Africa, maize production is very important because it is Africa’s second most cultivated crop on the continent. Additionally, maize is peculiar because in Africa because it is cultivated by smallholder peasant farmers who do not have adequate access to capital to invest in modern yield improvement methods or adaptations. Maize production in Africa was around 75 million tons in 2018, representing 7.5% of world production. Maize occupies approximately 24% of farmland in Africa and the average yield stagnates at around 2 tons/hectare/year.

Maize currently covers 25m ha of land in Sub-Saharan Africa, largely in smallholder systems that produced 38m tons in 2005-2008, primarily for food. From 2005 to 2008, maize represented an average of 27% of cereal production and 8% of the value of all primary crop production. The potential for expanding maize production in Sub-Saharan Africa is hug. Even after excluding protected forest areas, an estimated 88m ha of land that is not yet planted to maize is suited to the crop. Worldwide, this amount is equivalent to four times the area now planted to maize and over half of the additional land area that is suitable for maize (Deininger & Byerlee, 2011). By far the largest proportion of this area is found in Sudan. Other areas with considerable potential for expansion are Eastern and Southern Africa, including Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Madagascar and Tanzania.

In addition, in African perspective maize cultivation in Nigeria had suffered various problems including; rural-urban migration, low yield, pest and diseases, climate change, poor shortage facilities, shortage of key inputs and shortage of irrigation water. Nigeria has experience shortages in maize production in the past. Prices of maize and other product derived from maize boosts up during low production seasons and falls drastically when there is a surplus production, however, due to inadequate marketing facilities in the control, farmers lose some of the product. Since farmers do not know future of maize production and prices while deciding to cultivate this and other crops. There is need to forecast cultivation area, yield and production of maize in Nigeria. (Akande, 1994).

In the past decade, maize cultivation has become more of a cash crop like coffee and cocoa, bringing non negligible income to farmers. Maize does not only occupy an important place in the different functions of agricultural production in Cameroon, it is also the most consumed cereal in the country, more than rice and wheat. Annual demand in human consumption was estimated at 870 000 tons Consumer Survey (2008).

Having a short production cycle, maize permits farmers to have quick access to market and maximize their income, the income from the sale of maize during the off season higher than during the maize season. The most cultivated cereal in Cameroon, maize is consumed regularly by about 12 million people, that is two thirds of the general population of Cameroon. The price of maize doubled in 2008, reaching about 230 FRS per kg. Maize equally constitutes 70% of poultry feed. The demand for maize to feed poultry has increased by 40%.

Maize is the main staple in the diet of Cameroonians. In 2021, maize production was 2200 thousand tons. Every year, Cameroon exports 500,000 tons of corn, representing 23% of the national production to CEMAC countries, according to study recently published by the enterprise upgrading office BMN on the strategic positioning of the cereal processing and by-products sector. Although it exports a significant portion of its corn to neighboring countries, the county resorts to massive imports to meet its deficit.

1.2. Statement of the Problem 

Maize is the staple food for most Cameroonian households and grown in all the farming communities. Due to diminishing farm sizes in areas such as Muea, Mile 14, and Bolifamba, crop productivity and the efficiency of farming systems are of great concern. Cameroon has witnessed an increase in its population over the last couple of years and a high urban growth, especially at the fringes.

This is a problem because due to an increase in population, there is a relative reduction in the amount of farm lands that farmers can cultivate on. Between 1976 and 2006, the urbanization rate grew between 28.5% and 65.4%. Furthermore, due to the fact that most farms are inaccessible, it has influenced the amount of maize that the farmers in Buea can cultivate. Increasing per capita for production, productivity and raising rural incomes are key challenges facing small-scale farmers in Buea.  This situation undermines the ability of many smallholder farmers to produce enough food for household subsistence.

1.3 Research Questions

1. To what extent does the cost of production influence maize production among small-scale farmers in Buea?
2. To what extent do demographic factors affect maize production?
3. How do extension services influence maize production?
4. How much has the transport network influenced maize production among small-scale farmers in Buea?

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