Differentiated Adaptation Dynamics to Climate Change in the Cameroonian Sahel: Local Perceptions and Agricultural Resilience in a Context of Multidimensional Vulnerability

This study examines perceptions of climate change and the adaptation strategies adopted by small-scale producers in the sudano-sahelian region of Cameroon. The survey was conducted in five villages distributed along a North-South ecological gradient: Pintchoumba, Bamé, Bang (North Region), and Gadas and Douroum (Far North Region). A sample of 250 producers comprising 30 agro-pastoralists, 10 livestock farmers, and 10 crop farmers per village was interviewed using a structured questionnaire based on a three-level Likert scale. The data, processed using R and Excel, primarily represent individuals aged 36 to 45, with women accounting for 22% to 30% of respondents. Findings indicate that 60% of participants perceive climate change through rainfall variability, rising temperatures, vegetation loss, and increased incidence of crop diseases. Perceptions and vulnerability levels vary by geographic location, gender, and livelihood. The northernmost villages, particularly Douroum and Gadas, appear to be the most affected, especially among livestock farmers. Reported adaptation strategies include crop diversification, adoption of short-cycle seeds, transhumance, and food storage. The study recommends context-specific responses: promotion of organic farming in the South, irrigation and farmer innovation hubs in central zones, and microcredit schemes, pastoral corridors, and assisted natural regeneration in the arid North. Emphasis is placed on integrating local knowledge, empowering women, and fostering inclusive governance.