The use of technology by women gari producers in Bamunkumbit village, Northwest Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Cassava is one of the main starchy staple foods in Cameroon with 80% of rural and urban
households consuming it and its other derivatives daily. The increase in demand for this tuber and
its proceeds has led to increased prices because of high demand and consequently leading to an
increase in production exceeding the previous traditional subsistence systems. Women rely mostly
on traditional techniques to produce one of its by-products known as gari. This study focuses on
the adoption of Agricultural Technology Transfer by women gari producers in Bamunkumbit
North West Region of Cameroon and the efficiency of the adoption of the new technology. The
factors identified as having direct impact on women producers towards adoption of appropriate
technology are educational level, marital status, and access to funding for production. Data was
collected with the use of questionnaire, and focus group discussion (FGD) guides. Results indicate
that most rural women are eager to adopt improved technology but are hindered by their level of
education and the absence of farm to market roads which is a general problem affecting the
country. It is equally obvious from the results that no modern technology could be adopted except
through the valorization of the existing technological approaches.