Climate change is high on the science and policy agenda of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), requiring context-specific adaptation. Studies on endogenous cultural institutions (ECIs) in climate adaptation are fragmented, impeding policy orientation. This suggests the need for complementary evidence on ECIs to inform adaptation practice. Through a sample of 158 households in rural Cameroon, we contribute to bridge this gap, by: (1) exploring socio-political factors shaping peasant farmers' compliance with agro-based ECIs, and (2) estimating the effect of ECI compliance on farmers' adaptation practices. Our estimation revealed the following: While political factors do not sufficiently explain compliance, state influence, mirrored through the application of formal rules negatively affects ECI compliance. Traditional rain forecast significantly explains climate adaptation; however, the pouring of libation does not. The age of peasant farmers also positively affects compliance with ECIs. We conclude that compliance with ECIs manifest in climate adaptation in varying proportions.
Kimengsi, JN; Silberberger, M
How Endogenous Cultural Institutions May (Not) Shape Farmers' Climate Adaptation Practices: Learning from Rural Cameroon
Society & Natural Resources