Farmers’ Perceptions of the Impact of Rice Cultivation on the Environment in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone

Rice is a staple food in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon, but its production is associated with significant environmental challenges. This study assessed farmers’ perceptions of these impacts and the key agricultural practices contributing to degradation. Data were collected between August 31 and October 7, 2023, in the Yagoua and Lagdo rice basins, using interviews with 589 rice farmers. Results indicate a strong preference for sandy-clay soil (79.28% ± 2.50) and reveal predominant practices including mechanical plowing (54.99% ± 29.14), indirect seeding (94.84% ± 2.04), and heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers (83.59% ± 0.31) and pesticides (76.10% ± 0.18). Farmers widely perceive these methods and the expansion of rice fields (89.74% ± 2.21) as driving environmental decline, notably soil degradation (95.26% ± 0.77), deforestation (94.41% ± 0.77), and biodiversity loss (94.13% ± 0.36). This degradation is directly linked to declining soil fertility (71.15% ± 5.05) and reduced rice productivity (72.57% ± 7.32), which farmers identify as a major contributor to food insecurity (98.16% ± 0.70). The study concludes that current rice cultivation practices in the region are unsustainable, creating a critical conflict between food security and environmental integrity. There is an urgent need for integrated approaches that promote sustainable land management, reduce chemical inputs, and mitigate the adverse environmental effects of rice farming.