Aims: The study investigates how local people perceive climate change/variability, its impacts and
coping mechanisms in the Bamenda highlands of north western Cameroon.
Study Design: A household-based descriptive cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The Bamenda highlands of North West western Cameroon for the
farming season 2012–2013 between June 2009 and July 2010.
Methodology: A “bottom-up” approach, which seeks to gain insights from the farmers themselves
based on a farm household survey was employed. Meteorological data for the region was
compared with local views gathered through focus group discussions and interviews in 12 villages
selected from four of the seven divisions that make up the region. Household interviews explored
the local significance of seasonality, climate variability, and climate change.
Results: Rainfall is characterized by significant interannual variability, with the last ten years
characterized by undefined periods of dryness and wetness. Reduced rainfall and water supply,
upward shifting of certain plant species and increased incidence of diseases on crops are major
issues commonly raised by respondents. Changing the planting dates 130 (15.8%), traditional
moisture holding practices, 200(22.2%) and the adoption of mixed cropping, 172 (19.1%) are some
of the local coping mechanisms currently adopted by farmers. Lack of knowledge concerning
appropriate adaptations (37±18.5), and lack of information about climate change (29±14.5) were
among the barriers to adaptation. On the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, famers
“with” and “without” barrier to climate change adaptation strategies differed significantly on most of
the independent variables (p<.001).
Conclusion: The study highlights the need for adaptation to current land, forest and water
management practices to maintain livelihoods in the face of changes many people are not
expecting.