Farmer’s union and the economic sustainability of cocoa farmers in Cameroon
Ambrose Kwankam, Njila (2013)
Ambrose Kwankam, Njila
Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu
2013
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201302062120
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201302062120
Tiivistelmä
This research on the activities and rule of cocoa farmers unions and organizations in Cameroon and the impact on cocoa farming, I will be looking at cocoa farmers unions in Cameroon and what they do to improve on the quality of cocoa farming while looking at how they have helped to make cocoa farming more economically profitable for farmers. The worry is that cocoa farmers in Cameroon take the activity as professional but are not able to produce on a mega scale and therefore cannot or find it very hard to make a living out of the trade (personal opinion confirmed by many farmers). The famers unions and cooperatives are there to assist farmers achieve success and high quality and quantity production. It is important to look at the difficulties that most cocoa farmers unions and organizations have, and the reasons why most of the organizations do not meet the expectations of farmers. This is very vital considering the importance of cocoa farming in Cameroon and the world at large, explaining why we have to avoid losing a vital sector that attracts only the aging population.
To respond to the needs of this thesis, I have made use of books and much online documentation related to interest groups and cooperative, to get a better understanding of the major concepts of farmer’s organizations. I did also develop a questionnaire with which I was able to present visible openings where difficulties and differences could be expressed. This processed gave me the possibility to sample over 80 opinions from different parties involved in cocoa farming and its unions. The exercise both from the questionnaire and from many reports and documentation led us to the conclusion that farmers unions are doing a job which on the part of most farmers is falls below the level of their satisfaction. Also based on the fact that it is very visible to see that most cocoa farmers are not economically happy, one can conclude that farmers unions have not been successful in adding value to cocoa production in one way or the other. It was then possible to outline what major problems that the farmers face and those that the farmer’s organizations also face.
At the end of the day, looking at the difficulties that are face here, i have been able to improvise some recommendations that can be looked into in order to change the situation. Practical solutions that will start from the state, changing the laws to the farmers themselves, changing their attitudes towards the participation in union activities, will be very important in changing the actual situation for the better in Cameroon cocoa production.
To respond to the needs of this thesis, I have made use of books and much online documentation related to interest groups and cooperative, to get a better understanding of the major concepts of farmer’s organizations. I did also develop a questionnaire with which I was able to present visible openings where difficulties and differences could be expressed. This processed gave me the possibility to sample over 80 opinions from different parties involved in cocoa farming and its unions. The exercise both from the questionnaire and from many reports and documentation led us to the conclusion that farmers unions are doing a job which on the part of most farmers is falls below the level of their satisfaction. Also based on the fact that it is very visible to see that most cocoa farmers are not economically happy, one can conclude that farmers unions have not been successful in adding value to cocoa production in one way or the other. It was then possible to outline what major problems that the farmers face and those that the farmer’s organizations also face.
At the end of the day, looking at the difficulties that are face here, i have been able to improvise some recommendations that can be looked into in order to change the situation. Practical solutions that will start from the state, changing the laws to the farmers themselves, changing their attitudes towards the participation in union activities, will be very important in changing the actual situation for the better in Cameroon cocoa production.