Population growth and the drop in the returns from the major cash crop
(coffee) for small farmers are the main drivers that have influenced the
farming systems and mobility of farmers in the Western Highlands of
Cameroon. The main objective of the research that led to this book was
to determine the interactions between farming systems and human mobility
in this region of Cameroon. A comparative study was conducted through
household and field surveys in three villages and conceptualized based
on the systems approach. The different types of mobility were influenced
by household social factors, the quest for 'high valued' farm plots and
hired labour. Urban-rural migration contributed to occupation
diversification and social mobility. The sustainability factor was a
function of land use intensity, intensity of off-farm inputs, the
household adjustment factor and mobility of the household. The sacred
groves were rich in plant diversity of varied ecological and economic
importance. Nitrogen mining was common at all levels of the farming
system. These determinants and types of mobility claims are pertinent to
the research area; the sustainability results of the farming systems
reflect the reality on the ground; the nutrient flux evaluated at the
crop and farm levels constitute a valuable database for future research.