Abstract

Maize production, a strategic food crop for food security and rural incomes in Cameroon, is increasingly threatened by climate change. The main objective is to assess the extent to which farmers’ adaptive behaviors contribute to strengthening the resilience of family farms in the Banyo subdivision of the Adamawa region. The methodological approach combined a literature review with a field survey conducted among 234 maize producers. Data analysis revealed that more than 80% of farmers adjust their cropping calendar, delaying or advancing sowing dates to cope with prolonged droughts at the beginning of the agricultural season. Around 97% adopt improved seeds and implement practices such as field irrigation, crop diversification, intercropping, agricultural intensification, and the use of organic fertilizers to compensate for declining soil fertility and to optimize yields. The adoption of off-season cropping further illustrates a willingness to innovate and secure production despite climatic uncertainties. These agricultural practices highlight both a strong capacity for local adaptation and the persistence of significant vulnerabilities. While farmers are mobilizing a diverse repertoire of climate-smart practices, their effectiveness remains constrained by technical, economic, and institutional barriers. The study underscores the urgent need for strengthened agricultural extension services, improved access to timely climate information, and wider dissemination of appropriate technologies tailored to local contexts. Beyond its empirical findings, this research contributes to enriching scientific debates on agricultural adaptation in Central Africa. It also provides concrete insights for guiding public policies towards sustainable resilience strategies that build on farmer behavior, local innovations, and knowledge systems.

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