ABSTRACT

This study is titled climate variability and urban food security in Bamenda III. This study intended to examine climate variability and urban food security, threats to urban food security and the adaption measures implemented to cope. This study adopted a descriptive survey where in the research made used of a structured 100 questionnaires to farmers and an interview to the stakeholders. From the analysis, it was observed that climate variability is a significant challenge to urban food security in Bamenda III, Cameroon.

The region’s farmers have adapted by adjusting the duration of stay in a particular location, adopting specific cropping systems, and using different methods and tools to cope with the impacts of climate variability on their farming activities. These adaptation strategies include the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers, crop rotation, intercropping, agroforestry, soil and water conservation, irrigation, drought-tolerant crops, among others.

However, there are several threats to urban food security in Bamenda III, including limited access to farm inputs, land degradation, pest and disease infestations, and lack of infrastructure. Addressing these threats will require a multi-faceted approach that includes the provision of affordable and high-quality farm inputs, the promotion of sustainable farming practices, the implementation of land-use policies that protect agricultural land, and the development of infrastructure to support the agricultural sector.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

This chapter covers the background of the study, the internship institution, and statement of the geographical problem, research objectives, research hypothesis, and significance of the study, the organization of the internship institution and definition of terms.

1.1 Background of the study

 Mean global temperatures have been increasing rapidly owing to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossils to meet the increasing energy demand, and the spread of intensive agriculture to meet the increasing food demand. This is often accompanied by deforestation. The effects of climate change on food security is being felt in the global markets, rural and urban areas where there’s an increase in market prices, a fall in purchasing power, human health is endangered, a lost in assets and livelihood opportunities, and there’s bound  to be disruptions in supply chains. Climate change will affect both food security and the livelihoods of those engaged in production systems and their value chains. Already, the number of people affected by hunger globally has been on the rise since 2014 despite food production doubling over the last 3 decades (FAO, 2020).  

 Africa is faced with serious local and transnational challenges such as youth unemployment, climate change threats, rapid population growth, undernourishment, domestic terrorism, drug trafficking, maritime piracy, protracted political crises and low-intensity short-lived wars, and conflict-induced famines. Consequently, those challenges stand in the way against Africa’s pursuit to achieve food security and eradicate hunger. High staple food prices, early depletion of household food stocks, and declining inces from reduced crop sales will limit food access for poor households. Until staple food supplies increase with new harvests, the number of households facing crisis  outcomes are expected to remain high amongst poor rural and urban households and the internally displaced persons, who are currently depended on market food (West Africa Cameroon, 2022).

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the need to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable agriculture to help reduce poverty (SDG1), improve nutrition and reduce hunger (SDG2), ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG12), and to help combat climate change and it’s impacts (SDG13) .Farmers and ranches adapt to climate change by changing their selection of crops and the timing of field operations. Pesticides are applied to control the increase of pest pressure, diversification of crop rotations, improving soil quality and implementing more efficient irrigation practices (UN Habitat, 2019). 

            In Cameroon, agriculture and food associated sectors provides employment opportunities to 75% of the adult working population mainly small scale peasant farmers  which constitutes 30% to the Gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for approximately half or total earnings from exports. The sustainability of the agricultural sector in Cameroon is essential (Abia et al., 2016) and sustaining food security (ZEF, FARA, IRAD; 2017).

Around 70% of the population in the North Western Region in particular and Cameroon in general depends on climate-depended agriculture as a primary source of livelihoods. Small-scale farmers are, in many cases, capable of developing highly complex farming systems that are well suited to the specific ecological setting and natural resources upon which they depend. Therefore, climate change is seen as a major factor exposing farmers to poor harvest risks and potential famine (Innocent et al., 2015). Moreover, the expected population growth is likely to exacerbate the negative effects of climate change on vulnerable populations (United Nations, 2022). These populations include smallholder farmers of Cameroon, who present high poverty rates compared to other regions of the country and must often deal with numerous external factors that put pressure on the natural resources that sustain their livelihoods, including government resettlement programmes and land laws. This calls for more urgent preventative efforts towards increasing the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmer to external chocks. The government of Cameroon, through the different ministries, has developed policies, programs and strategies with various activities that directly or indirectly address climate change. These include capacity building, research, climate change dialogue platforms and conferences (Ngum et al., 2019).

Bamenda III located in the North West region of Cameroon has witnessed a change in food production as a result of change in climate. Urban agriculture increases plant, animal and insect biodiversity and improves pollinator habitats that support fruit and vegetable production and soil quality (Clucas et al., 2018). Planting of tree crops and diverse plant species naturally filters water and air, provides shade, promotes carbon sequestration in soils and it also helps to moderate high temperatures (Santo et al., 2016). Despite these adaptation strategies smallholder farmers in Bamenda III in the Northwest Region of Cameroon particularly continue to suffer from the adverse effects of climate change.  Farmers have also witnessed a  significant reduction in agricultural productivity in recent years. As a result, this study seeks to explain the various ways in which climate variability affects urban food security.