THE AGRO-PASTORAL CONFLICTS AND FORAGE SPECIES PRIZED BY CATTLE: CASE OF THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE MBAM AND DJEREM NATIONAL PARK (ADAMAOUA-CAMEROON)

In the outskirts of the northern periphery of Mbam and Djerem National Park, agro-pastoral conflicts have become very frequent in recent years. The resulting damage is so surprising that it leaves no one indifferent. Unfortunately, many writings analyze the causes of these agro-pastoral conflicts without, however, dwelling on the fodder resources which constitute not only the staple food of cattle but also one of the primary factors of these antagonisms. To overcome this knowledge gap, the authors adopted the survey method in order to identify, on the one hand, the attributes of agro-pastoral conflicts and the plant species consumed in all seasons by cattle on the northern periphery of the PNMD and, on the other hand, the relationship between these forage species with the frequency of agro-pastoral conflicts according to the protagonists and the seasons. Thus, from field observations and a questionnaire sent to 44 breeders and 103 farmers in four control villages, it results, after processing the data, that the high frequency of conflicts experienced by the farmers in the dry season (35.9 %) and especially by the breeders (70.5%) is due to the location of the forage species prized in this season at the bottom of the valleys where the herds are concentrated and compete. On the other hand, the low frequency of conflicts experienced during the rainy season especially by breeders, except in Mbitom, is more justified by the extension of fodder registers to woody leaves from the start of this season. Finally, the fodder fields of Brachiaria constitute a partial solution to the shortage of pastures even if it sometimes gives rise to new conflicts between herders.