Integrated indicators for performance assessment of traditional agroforestry systems in South West Cameroon

• Published in: Agroforestry systems Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 9 - 22
• Main Authors: Rodrigues, Geraldo Stachetti, de Barros, Inacio, Ehabe, Eugène Ejolle, Lang, Patrick Sama, Enjalric, Frank
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.09.2009; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Agricultural and farming systems; Agricultural economics; Agriculture; Agroforestry; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; crop yield; Crops; decision making; economic analysis; Economics; Environmental Sciences; extension agents; farm income; farm inputs; farm labor; Farm management; Farmers; Farming systems; Food production; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Humanities and Social Sciences; Life Sciences; Performance assessment; simulation models; Studies; Sustainability; sustainable agriculture; trees; tropics; Cameroon; Central Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Africa; Traditional agriculture; Sustainability assessment; Agroforestry systems (AFS); Integrated indicators; Performance evaluation; Traditional farming; Tropical zone; System sustainability; Indicator; Agroforestry; TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE; AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS; INTEGRATED INDICATORS; a-supprimer; SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT; INDICATEURS INTEGRES
• ISSN: 0167-4366; 1572-9680
• DOI: 10.1007/s10457-009-9237-7

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.