Assessment of Smallholder Farmers’ Knowledge, Adoption and Barriers to Agroecological Practices in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Abstract

Smallholder agriculture remains the backbone of rural livelihoods and food security in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. However, increasing climate variability, declining soil fertility, land degradation, and rising production costs continue to threaten agricultural productivity and household resilience. Agroecological practices have emerged as sustainable alternatives capable of improving soil health, conserving biodiversity, enhancing climate resilience, and reducing dependence on external agricultural inputs. Despite these recognized benefits, the adoption of agroecological practices by smallholder farmers remains uneven, largely due to socioeconomic, institutional, and technical constraints. This study assessed farmers' knowledge, adoption, perceived benefits, and barriers to the implementation of agroecological practices in the West Region of Cameroon. A cross-sectional survey involving 200 smallholder farmers was conducted using structured questionnaires administered through digital data collection platforms. Descriptive statistical analyses were employed to evaluate farmers' awareness, adoption rates, perceived benefits, and major constraints affecting implementation. The results revealed that approximately 72% of respondents were familiar with at least one agroecological practice. Mixed cropping (78%), organic soil fertilization (65%), and water conservation techniques (55%) were the most widely adopted practices. Farmers identified improved soil fertility (74%), enhanced resilience to climate variability (68%), improved soil moisture retention (64%), and reduced dependence on synthetic fertilizers (58%) as the principal benefits of agroecological farming. However, inadequate technical knowledge (68%), limited access to organic inputs (54%), financial constraints (47%), labour shortages (39%), and insufficient agricultural extension services (41%) significantly constrained wider adoption. The findings demonstrate that although agroecological practices are increasingly recognized by farming communities, substantial institutional and technical barriers continue to limit their large-scale adoption. Strengthening farmer training programmes, improving extension services, facilitating access to organic inputs, promoting farmer-to-farmer learning networks, and integrating renewable energy technologies such as biogas slurry into nutrient management systems could significantly accelerate the transition towards sustainable agricultural production in Cameroon. The study provides valuable evidence to guide policymakers, development partners, and agricultural extension agencies in designing interventions that promote resilient, climate-smart, and environmentally sustainable farming systems.