Integrated indicators for performance assessment of traditional agroforestry systems in South West Cameroon |
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Authors: | Geraldo Stachetti Rodrigues Inacio de Barros Eugène Ejolle Ehabe Patrick Sama Lang Frank Enjalric |
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Affiliation: | 1.Embrapa Labex Europe,Montpellier,France;2.Unité Propre de Recherche Performance des systèmes de culture de plantes pérennes—CIRAD-PerSyst,Montpellier,France;3.INRA,Unité de Recherche Agropédoclimatique da la Zone Cara?be,Petit-Bourg (Guadeloupe),France;4.Latex Programme, Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD),Ekona Regional Research Centre,Buea,Cameroon;5.CARBAP (Centre Africain de Recherche sur la Banane et le Plantain),Douala,Cameroon;6.Unité Mixte de Recherche Système,CIRAD Cultures Pérennes,Montpellier,France |
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Abstract: | Farming Systems developed in Humid Tropical Zones are frequently characterized by a combination of perennial and annual plants, intermixed in complex tree-crop associations. The productive functioning, the agronomic and economic performances, and the sustainability of these crop associations remain poorly understood. To improve the management capacity of these complex agroforestry systems, adequate indicators must be developed and integrated in assessment systems. These may then be used to aid farmers, assisted by their extension agents, in making decisions regarding management practices. The present study focused on the agroforestry systems developed by 38 farmers in the South West Region of Cameroon, which were surveyed for a large set of variables, aiming at formulating a Traditional Agroforestry Performance Indicators System (TAPIS). Analyses of the relationships among indicators in TAPIS allowed an improved understanding of agro-ecological and agro-economic performances in the studied plots, revealed tradeoffs regarding plant stand, income generation, food production, input demands and work requirements; and may contribute to the sustainability assessment of agroforestry systems. |
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Keywords: | Agroforestry systems (AFS) Sustainability assessment Integrated indicators Traditional agriculture |
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