Soil and Water Management in the Production Systems of Mafa (Mandara Mountains, North-Cameroon)

摘要

The terraces represent the physical structure the most spread in the area, the other physical structures are less represented and very localised in space. Moreover, this is a complementary between the physical structures and the biological or agronomic techniques. For exampld , a terrace plot can receive organic matter as well as it carries agroforestry species and different farming conservation techniques. On the other hand, the different techniques encountered are multifunctional : the terrace diminishes the soil loss reduces the runoff and increases the water infiltration; the mulching protects plants against predators, fights against erosion, evaporation and the runoff. All the techniques of soil and water conservation encountered utilise household man power. The head of household is at the centre of decision making concerning the techniques to use and the choice of site. There is a net division of family labour between the men and the women . In the past, the construction and rebuilding terraces were exclusively reserved to men. Today, it is the women who take care of terraces, rarely assisted by men. Up till recently, the farming system was almost entirely oriented towards family-level autonomous subsistence, supplying each household the wide variety of products needed for daily life. Recently, because of the need of cash and services, inciting increasing seasonal migration of mountaineers to work in town or agriculture elsewhere. The mountain farming system, however, needs many hands to remain viable.