Climate change resilience in the Kar-Hay plain (Far North, Cameroon): What place for small-scale farming in local adaptation strategies?

This study is situated within a context marked by increasing climate vulnerabilities in the Kar-Hay plain (Far North, Cameroon). In this area, rural populations are developing various adaptation strategies that leverage the potential of the domestic micro-space. Among these strategies, small-scale farming plays a structuring role in regulating ecological risks and securing livelihoods. This study focuses on examining how this type of domestic agriculture contributes to strengthening household resilience to increasing climate pressures and its place within overall local adaptation strategies. The main objective is to assess the roles, functions, and potential of small-scale farming as a means of diversifying food supplies, providing refuge for cultivated biodiversity, and mitigating water stress. The results highlight three major contributions. First, small-scale farming constitutes a reservoir of cultivated biodiversity, promoting the preservation and experimentation of resistant varieties. Second, its location near dwellings makes it a secure productive space, allowing for short horticultural cycles and more efficient control of water and inputs. Finally, it contributes to regulating food shortages and stabilizing incomes, reducing households’ vulnerability to climate shocks.