Structural Barriers and Motivational Drivers in the Adoption of Edible Mushroom Cultivation in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract

This study investigated the structural barriers and motivational drivers in the adoption of edible mushroom cultivation in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The study involved 105 beneficiaries of the National Mushroom Project, comprising 24 active, 48 aspiring, and 33 inactive growers. Data were analysed using percentages, mean scores, MANOVA and ANOVA, with a statistical significance threshold set at . Results revealed that active growers were strongly entrepreneurial, focused on business creation (  = 4.54), aspiring growers were primarily driven by health benefits (  = 4.21), and inactive growers were the most motivated by local success examples (  = 3.48). There was a significant overall difference in motivational profiles between groups (Pillai’s trace = 0.982 for extrinsic, 0.666 for intrinsic). Local success (F = 20.95) and ease of learning (F = 19.91) were identified as key discriminants. Perceived structural barriers were: technical failure (95.2%), marketing challenges (75.2%), and lack of profitability (50.5%). Fostering a resilient mushroom sector in Yaoundé requires an integrated strategy that simultaneously addresses these acute structural constraints and tailors support to the distinct motivational profiles and stage-specific needs of different grower categories.