This document summarizes a PhD dissertation on the sustainability of urban and peri-urban vegetable farms in Cameroon under increasing urbanization. The study will examine how urbanization influences the sustainability of these farms in the Yaounde Metropolitan area through socioeconomic surveys and spatial analysis techniques. It is expected that the results will quantify the impacts of urbanization on farm sustainability and identify the effects of geographical, management, and farming system factors. Several papers have been submitted for publication and more are in progress to communicate the findings.

1. Urbanisation and Agriculture: the sustainability of
urban and peri-urban vegetable farms in humid
tropic region of Cameroon
By
AWAH MANGA Lucien Armel, PhD student
Advisor
Pr. ESSOMBE EDIMO NYA BONABEBE Jean-Roger
Co-advisor
Dr.Ir. BIDOGEZA Jean-Claude
Academic Period
2014-2017

2. Background and problem statement
Urban and peri-urban vegetable production is increasingly recognized for its
importance…
However, urban expansion in most countries seems to be a threat for its continuity…
Urban pressures on vegetable farming will be more acute in SSA…
Urban proximity provides:
direct marketing possibilities, easy access to large markets, low costs of transportation
and high price of the products.
Population density leads to:
severe soil erosion, soil fertility decrease, reduction of fallow period, conflicts between
farmers and non-farmers, increase in land prices and agricultural land conversion.

3. Research question
How does urbanisation influence the
sustainability of urban and peri-urban vegetable
farms in Cameroon?

4. Methodology
 Yaoundé Metropolitan area is
the area of study.
 Primary data collected through
a socioeconomic survey and
secondary data relating
to spatial and demographic characteristics
are needed.
 Spatial econometric estimation techniques
will be implemented:
ij ij ij ij ij
HP X W Z
    
    
𝑁𝐼𝑖𝑗 = 𝛼𝑋𝑖𝑗 + 𝜕𝑊𝑖𝑗 + 𝛽𝑍𝑖𝑗
𝑂𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 (𝑌𝑖𝑗 ) = 𝛼𝑋𝑖𝑗 + 𝜕𝑊𝑖𝑗 + 𝛽𝑍𝑖𝑗
𝐴𝐴𝑇𝑖𝑗 = 𝛼𝑋𝑖𝑗 + 𝜕𝑊𝑖𝑗 + 𝛽𝑍𝑖𝑗

5. Expected Results
1. Conceptual and theoretical findings
a)
b) Contribution to the theoretical link between Agglomeration Economies and
Agriculture
2. Empirical findings
a) The magnitude of the influence of urbanisation on the sustainability of urban and
peri-urban vegetable farms
a) The effects of geographical charateristics, management measures and farming
systems on the sustainability of urban and peri-urban vegetable farms.

6. Achievements
Papers submitted
Awah Manga, L. ; Bidogeza, JC ; Afari – Sefa, V ; Essombe, E. (2016).
Economic, ecological, social and land tenure sustainability of peri-urban vegetable
production in the context of rapid urbanisation of Sub-Saharan Africa. Submitted Land Use
Policy
L.A. Awah Manga, J-R. Essombe Edimo Nya Bonabebe; J-C.,Bidogeza; V.Afari-Sefa
(2016). Agglomeration economies and agriculture: the influence of urbanization on peri-
urban Agriculture. Submitted to World Development Perspectives
Papers in progress
• The economic viability of urban and peri-urban vegetable farms under pressure of rapid
urbanisation in Cameroon
• Urbanisation and soil management practices in urban and peri-urban vegetable farms in
Cameroon
• Conflicts between vegetable farmers and non-farmers in urban and peri-urban densely
populated areas in Cameroon
• Urbanisation and farmland retention: an analysis through the planning horizon in urban
and peri-urban vegetable farming in Cameroon

7. Thank you, for your kind
attention…
I would like to thank Humidtropics that has partially supported
the study through The World Vegetable Center