The rural reform that has been taking place in Cameroon since 1992 has introduced new operating methods in community agricultural infrastructure and local forest management. There has been a proliferation of rural organizations, grouped under the "groupes d'initiative commune" (GICs), new cooperatives and forest management councils. This article describes community organization in Cameroon's rural areas and offers an initial evaluation of the institutional and organizational changes that marked the 1990's. The authors analyze the constraints associated with this model in terms of functionality, efficient coverage of geographical space and appropriateness to rural development issues. They also show that these forms of community organization provide important opportunities for agronomic research, agricultural development and the local management of forest resources.
Publication year
2003
Authors
Language
French
Keywords
rural communities, forest management, agricultural development, rural development, institutions, socioeconomic organization
Geographic
Cameroon
