Intra-Urban Livestock Breeding in the Sahel Zone and the Living Environment of City Dwellers in Maroua, Far Nord, Cameroon

Abstract

Sahelian cities, in their overall designs, evolve over time, and are characterized by a complex urban livestock system which overturns certain components of the environment more quickly and has a negative impact on the human health of city dwellers. This study was conducted in the intra-urban environment of the city of Maroua. The objective is to contribute to understanding the impacts of intra-urban livestock farming on the biophysical environment and on the health of the population in order to propose solutions that will reduce its harmful effects. A survey of 211 households was conducted to acquire data on the practice of this activity. Through the survey sheets, the interview guide, the defecation monitoring sheets of cattle, goats and sheep, the breeding inventory sheets and observations, the study reveals that: this breeding is characterized by a poor condition but the breeding of cattle (13.3%), goats (35.1%) and sheep (22.3%) are represented in the study area. This activity is influenced by natural and human factors. The main livestock stakeholders are dominated by men (83.41%) and women (16.59%). Poor breeding practices lead to air pollution, soil degradation and water pollution through methane emissions (421,443.6 kg of CH4/year in cattle and 37,676.76 kg of CH4/year in sheep and goats) and carbon dioxide emissions (579484.94 Kg of CO2/year in cattle and 51805.54 Kg of CO2/year in sheep and goats). The activity harms human health and social ties between neighbors gradually deteriorate. Given these impacts, waste recovery techniques from this activity such as compost would be one of the preferred means for the protection, preservation and conservation of the biophysical environment and human health in this city. Sahelian cities, in their overall designs, evolve, and are characterized by a complex urban livestock system that overturns certain environmental components more quickly and negatively impacts the human health of city dwellers. This study was conducted in the intra-urban environment of the city of Maroua. The objective is to contribute to understanding the impacts of intra-urban livestock farming on the biophysical environment and the health of the population to propose solutions that will reduce its harmful effects. A survey of 211 households was conducted to acquire data on the practice of this activity. Through the survey sheets, the interview guide, the defecation monitoring sheets of cattle, goats, and sheep, the breeding inventory sheets, and observations, the study reveals that: this breeding is characterized by a poor condition but the breeding of cattle (13.3%), goats (35.1%) and sheep (22.3%) are represented in the study area. Natural and human factors influence this activity. The main livestock stakeholders are dominated by men (83.41%) and women (16.59%). Poor breeding practices lead to air pollution, soil degradation and water pollution through methane emissions (421,443.6 kg of CH4/year in cattle and 37,676.76 kg of CH4/year in sheep and goats) and carbon dioxide emissions (579484.94 Kg of CO2/year in cattle and 51805.54 Kg of CO2/year in sheep and goats). The activity harms human health and social ties between neighbors gradually deteriorate. Given these impacts, waste recovery techniques from this activity such as compost would be one of the preferred means for protecting, preserving, and conserving the biophysical environment and human health in this city.