Analysis of maize farming systems in Cameroon and drivers of productivity

Analysis of maize farming systems in Cameroon and drivers of productivity | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Analysis of maize farming systems in Cameroon and drivers of productivity Shey Ndogmi Yoniwo, Francis Ogochukwu Okeke, Terence Epule Epule, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7963440/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Maize as a staple crop contributes significantly to ensuring food security and supporting the livelihoods of many smallholder farmers in Cameroon. However, its productivity is influenced by socioeconomic, agricultural, institutional and climatic factors. This study characterises maize farming systems across four agroecological zones (AEZs) (Bimodal, Highlands, Monomodal, and Sahelian) and evaluates the factors affecting maize yield. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, data was gathered from 303 maize-farming households and analysed using descriptive statistics, Welch-ANOVA and ANCOVA. Results revealed significant differences in the gender, level of education, household size, farming experience and annual income of farmers across AEZs. Similarly, access to institutional services varied significantly: Sahelian farmers had more access to extension (89.4%) and credit (44.7%), and Bimodal farmers, to market (93.1%). Farm sizes varied from 0.7 (Monomodal) to 2.1 hectares (Sahelian) and yields from 0.9 to 3.2 tonnes/hectares. Most farmers preferred local varieties with varying adoption rates of improved varieties across AEZs (10.6-47.7%). The growing season differed across AEZs but was longest in the Sahelian zone (21.2 weeks). Farmers in this zone do not practise intercropping while less than half of those in Monomodal zone use fertilisers (40.7%) and pesticides (38.4%). Maize is primarily stored in polypropylene bags especially in Bimodal (67.8%) and Sahelian (87.2%) zones, but traditional granaries are common in the Highlands (53.0%). ANCOVA (R² = 0.614) identified farm size (β = 2.372, p < 0.001), credit access (β = 2.598, p < 0.01), and economic status (β = 1.853, p < 0.05) as significant drivers of maize productivity, while household labour has a marginally significant negative effect (β = -0.180, p = 0.077). The marginal effect of Sahelian zone on productivity (β = -2.236, p = 0.078) points to the potential impact of harsh and arid climatic conditions on maize yield. These findings highlight the need for targeted measures that consider zone-specific challenges and opportunities to enhance maize yield in Cameroon and provides valuable insights to inform policies aimed to improve agricultural productivity and food security in similar context across Central Africa. Maize yield Farming systems Agroecological zones Cameroon Socioeconomic factors Food security Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7963440","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":535890414,"identity":"82a4b4f8-0dc1-412b-904a-dcc3dc5235e6","order_by":0,"name":"Shey Ndogmi 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However, its productivity is influenced by socioeconomic, agricultural, institutional and climatic factors. This study characterises maize farming systems across four agroecological zones (AEZs) (Bimodal, Highlands, Monomodal, and Sahelian) and evaluates the factors affecting maize yield. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, data was gathered from 303 maize-farming households and analysed using descriptive statistics, Welch-ANOVA and ANCOVA. Results revealed significant differences in the gender, level of education, household size, farming experience and annual income of farmers across AEZs. Similarly, access to institutional services varied significantly: Sahelian farmers had more access to extension (89.4%) and credit (44.7%), and Bimodal farmers, to market (93.1%). Farm sizes varied from 0.7 (Monomodal) to 2.1 hectares (Sahelian) and yields from 0.9 to 3.2 tonnes/hectares. Most farmers preferred local varieties with varying adoption rates of improved varieties across AEZs (10.6-47.7%). The growing season differed across AEZs but was longest in the Sahelian zone (21.2 weeks). Farmers in this zone do not practise intercropping while less than half of those in Monomodal zone use fertilisers (40.7%) and pesticides (38.4%). Maize is primarily stored in polypropylene bags especially in Bimodal (67.8%) and Sahelian (87.2%) zones, but traditional granaries are common in the Highlands (53.0%). ANCOVA (R² = 0.614) identified farm size (β = 2.372, p \u0026lt; 0.001), credit access (β = 2.598, p \u0026lt; 0.01), and economic status (β = 1.853, p \u0026lt; 0.05) as significant drivers of maize productivity, while household labour has a marginally significant negative effect (β = -0.180, p = 0.077). The marginal effect of Sahelian zone on productivity (β = -2.236, p = 0.078) points to the potential impact of harsh and arid climatic conditions on maize yield. 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