FARMER-GRAZER CONFLICTS IN THE NORTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON: EVOLUTION AND CURRENT CONTEXT

1. FARMER-GRAZER CONFLICTS IN THE NORTH WEST REGION OF CAMEROON: EVOLUTION AND CURRENT CONTEXT Regional Conference on Farmer-Grazer Conflicts in the North West Region of Cameroon Bamenda, 27 September 2016 Shei William Kanjo Consultant

2. In this presentation: • The Population of the Region • Crop Production in the Region • Cattle Rearing in the Region • Evolution of Land Use Patterns • History of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts in the NWR • Causes/Triggers of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts • Drivers of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts • Effects of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts • Farmer-Grazer Conflicts Management Initiatives • Opportunities improvement

3. The Population of the Region • About 2 million inhabitants (4th after the Centre, Littoral and Far North Regions) • Surface: 17,300 Km2 (2nd smallest Region after the West Region with 13,892Km2) • Population density of about 115 inhabitants per Km2 (3rd after Littoral and West Regions) • Over 70% (over 300,000 farm families) depend on crop and livestock production for their livelihood

4. Crop Production in the Region • Mainly subsistent agriculture (subsistent farmers are main suppliers of foodstuff in local markets) • Main annual crops: maize, beans, rice, cocoyam, yam, cassava, solanum potato • Main perennial crops: Plantain, coffee, oil palm, cocoa, fruit trees • Coffee still an important cash crop; garden crops, oil palm, cocoa, rice, Irish potato, yam are gaining grounds as cash crops.

5. Cattle Rearing in the Region • Total herd size of over 700,000 cattle • Approximately 500,000 ha of grazing land • Essentially extensive rearing system with pastoralism representing about 95% • Semi-nomadic: Periodic movements between grazing areas and transhumance zones (Ndop Plain, Mbaw Plain, Ako, Misaje, Bum, Bafut, Bali, Fungom and Menchum Valley) • Transhumance include cattle from neighbourng regions (Adamawa and West) and Nigeria • Remarkable increase in the number of non-Mbororo cattle owners

6. Evolution of Land Use Patterns • Early 20th Century: Shifting cultivation and Nomadism (favoured by low population density) • Increased pressure on land due to growth in human and livestock population, and introduction of new crops/commercial agriculture • Changes in perception of land and land occupation practices

7. Evolution of Land Use Patterns (cont.) • Changes in perception of land and land use patterns: • Land now perceived as a scarce economic resource (by all categories of users) • Reduction in shifting cultivation • Cattle herders are more sedentary • Off-season gardening in mixed farming zones during transhumance • Increasing interest in grazing land rendered more fertile by cattle manure • Conversion of grazing land into other uses (e.g. tea plantations in Ndu and Ndawara) • Public project (reserves, council forests)

8. History of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts in the North West Region • The 1st Mbororo-Fulani cattle herders settled in the North West Region in the late 1910s • Many more followed, attracted by favourable conditions including: • Favourable ecological conditions • Hospitable and welcoming local population • Support from British colonial administration (which saw cattle rearing as a means of diversifying the economy of the region) • Relative availability of land (low population density)

9. History of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts in the North West Region (Cont.) • Increase in cattle population triggered conflicts • Main cause of early conflicts was recurrent crop damage (not really competition over resources) • Main drivers of conflict were the extensive cattle herding system and shifting cultivation • Response from crop farmers: occasional public protests and sometimes violence • Response from the administration: Grazing rules (e.g. Demarcation of grazing land from crop farming land, designation of mixed farming zones, institution of grazing permit…)

10. History of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts in the North West Region (Cont.) • As human and cattle population continued to increase, land became relatively more limited • Increased awareness of the economic value and scarce nature of land • Transformation of conflicts (competition over land, claims of access and ownership rights, issues of ethnic identity leading to group level conflicts…) • In some cases, serious social uprising leading to loss of lives and property

11. History of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts in the North West Region (Cont.) • Renowned cases in recent history • Aghem (Wum) in Menchum Division (1972: women marched naked in Wum; 1973 women marched from Wum to Bamenda;1981: violent protests with intervention of forces of law and order; 2003 women organized a sit-in strike) • Kedjom Keku (Big Babanki) in Mezam Division (protests in the 1980s and 1990s and a more serious uprising in 2003-2004) • Esau in Menchum Division (Tension between the Elba Ranch and the farming population)

12. Causes/Triggers of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts • Conflicting claims of land ownership or boundary differences • Encroachment into grazing land • Encroachment into farmland • Crop damage by stray animals • Blockage of cattle tracks and water points • Cruelty to animals (by farmers and other stakeholders) • Theft of crops (by herdsmen)

13. Drivers of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts • Perceptions and prejudices • Perception of land by farmers and grazers • Poor awareness and knowledge of the regulatory framework governing access to agro-pastoral resources • Inefficient implementation of existing regulations • Corruption • Weak security of tenure • Inter-village land disputes

14. Drivers of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts • Poor land use planning • Dualism of the land tenure system • Insecurity (in neighbouring Nigeria and other regions of Cameroon) • Land grabbing by large-scale investors • Production systems and practices (shifting cultivation and extensive grazing) • Retaliatory destruction of property by conflicting parties

15. Effects of Farmer-Grazer Conflicts • On human relations • Strained relationships which compromises peace in the communities • On persons and property • Maiming and even killing of persons • Forceful eviction and detention of persons • Destruction of crops, animals, other property • On production income and wealth • Low productivity (of crops and livestock) • Losses through destruction of property • Loss of time and money in litigation processes and payment of compensation • On the environment • Degradation of land and related resources

16. Farmer-Grazer Conflicts Management Initiatives • Implementation of decree No 78/263 of July 3, 1978 • Customary laws enforced by traditional authorities • Alternative conflict management (dialogue and negotiation) promoted mainly by CSOs: • INADES Formation • SNV • The Justice and Peace Commission of the Bamenda Archdiocese • MBOSCUDA • NOWEFOR

17. Opportunities for improvement • Existing policies (national and international) and regulatory frameworks • Goodwill of key stakeholders • Existing local initiatives • Emerging associations and networks working on related issues • Ongoing policy reforms • Research results • Availability of resources at local, national and international levels

18. THANKSFOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION