CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCION

1.1 Background of Study     

Climate variability is one of the most pressing challenges that humanity faces today, as it is having a multitude of immediate and long-term impacts on agriculture in the world. According to inter-Governmental Panel on Climate variability (IPCV, 2007), Climate variability is the way aspects of climate (such as temperature and precipitation) differ from an average. Climate variability occurs due to natural and sometimes periodic changes in the circulation of the air and ocean, volcanic eruptions, and other factors. These include flooding, drought, sea level rise in estuaries, drying up of rivers, poor water quality in surface and ground water system precipitation and water vapor patterns distortions and snow and ice-mal distribution. These effects when compounded together have devastating impacts on ecosystems and communities, ranging from economic and social impacts to health and food insecurity, all of which threaten the continued existence of many areas in the world (Garnett, 2012). Noteworthy is that the effects of climate change are mostly noticed on water resources (GulbenkianThink Tank on Water and the Future of Humanity, GTTWFH, 2013). Thus, a considerable change has occurred in the water cycle due to integrated influence of climate variability and human activities, such changes ultimately alter water resource distribution and environmental evolution of soil and water (Berrang-Ford2015).

Several studies show that climate variability should be given utmost research and policy consideration in every fact of our society. This is because rural communities of the developing world, especially are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and variability. Vulnerability varies according to individual countries, geographical positioning and the capacity to mitigate or adapt to the changes. However, coping, adapting and building resilience capacities of African countries towards the impacts of climate variability on water resources requires a holistic approach. This involves system thinking and risk management strategies solutions pivot on taking urgent action to utilize science technology and innovation, policies relevant to water audit and management and engagement of private, civil and international sectors if a major crisis is to be averted (Borelli et al, 2015). Mitigation and adaptation are also the two main pillars of the international climate regime. A number of studies have asserted climate change as one of the top devastating threats that has constrained global communities (Fischer et al 2002, Hansjurgens and Antes 2008, IPCC, 2014). Great impacts of climate change associated with natural disasters such as severe floods, prolonged droughts, landslides, ice melting, storms and hurricanes usually lead to a massive loss of human life, agricultural and livestock production losses, soil degradation, and definitely affect people’s livelihood negatively (Rwanyirizi and Rugema, 2013). According to IPCC (2001), global warming and precipitation patterns have gradually affected crop productivity and finally resulted in food insecurity of the ever-increasing population across the globe. Unfortunately, annual global mean temperature keeps increasing due to high emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere (World Bank, 2010a). In this case, climate change and agriculture seem to be interrelated in such a way that climate change has direct effects on agriculture through changes in temperature and precipitation while agriculture also affects climate through emissions of Greenhouse gases (GHGs) (Rosegrant et al., 2008). It is argued that the emissions from agriculture account for up to 30% of the global total (Garnett, 2012).

In developing countries where the majority of people reside in rural areas, the impacts of climate change on their livelihood are likely to be high because of high dependency, directly or indirectly, on rain-fed agriculture (Nyanga et al., 2011). Studies reveal that agriculture is one of the most vulnerable and sensitive activity to the effects of climate change (Nelson et al., 2009). The effects of agriculture are, particularly severe on rural farmers of the developing world who depend solely on agriculture for their livelihood and wellbeing. (Cooper et al., 2013; USAID, 2014). However, these smallholder farmers lack adaptive capacities to the effects of climate change and this results in decreasing farming yields. Despite the necessity of improving the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers, adaptation strategies remain incomplete (UNFCCC, 2007). This is because comprehensive studies and information on impacts climate change on crop yield are few and even lacking due to inadequacy financial resources more specifically in developing countries (UNFCCC, 2007). Thus, most of developing countries often need international financial assistance in order to be able to tackle climate change impacts.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), is among the most vulnerable regions to climate change chocks and hazards. Like other developing world, SSA is characterized by high population growth, high dependence of the region’s population and economies on rain-fed agriculture. This makes SSA to be more confronted with the adverse impacts of climate change which result in food crises for human and livestock (Chuku and Okoye, 2009). The facts and figures reported by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA, 2014) noted that agriculture sector has a noticeable role in economic development of SSA countries. On average, it accounts for 34% (ranging between 10% and 70%) of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and about 65% of total population is engaged in agriculture. Reliance on natural resources for subsistence in SSA leads to land degradation, desertification and further food insecurity. This is attributed to the limited adaptive capacity to climate change impacts. A research done by (AGRA, 2014) argued that the severity of climate change impacts on agriculture is mostly caused by poor infrastructure (small scale irrigation), low use of modern agricultural technologies, inability to adapt due to poverty and weak institutions.

Based on some projections such as the climate reality project, changes in temperature, rainfall and severe weather events are expected to reduce crop yield in many regions of the developing world, particularly sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia (Kay et al, 2015). The impact of climate variability on agriculture tend to be more severe for countries with higher initial temperatures, areas with marginal or already degraded lands and lower levels of development with little adaptation capacity (Watts et al, 2015). Climate variability is a global issue that does not respect national borders. It is an issue that has reached national level and it requires international cooperation to help Developed countries move toward a low carbon economy.

Agriculture is one of the sectors most affected by ongoing climate variability as compared to other activities. The wide range of literature on this subject demonstrates that damages caused by climate variability can be relevant to both crops and livestock activities. Climate variability will have a significant effect on the rural landscape and the equilibrium of agrarian and forest ecosystems (Bruijnzeel, 2015). In fact, climate variability can affect different agricultural dimensions, causing losses in productivity, profitability and employment. Food security is clearly threatened by climate variability (Sanchez, 2016). Despite these challenges faced by Cameroon as a nation concerning climate variability and its effects on agriculture, the same challenges are being faced by Bambili.

1.2 Internship Institution

      I carried one-month internship at the Regional Delegation of Transport North West, from 03/08/2021 to 03/09/2021. The Transport sector is of great importance to the economy as it generates income which adds to the Gross National Product (GNP). The Transport sector is controlled by the Ministry of Transport in Cameroon and it is divided into Regional and Sub Divisional levels. The Regional Delegation of Transport is placed under the authority of the Regional Delegate who controls and coordinates the activities of the Ministry of Transport at the Regional level. Meanwhile the Divisional Delegate of transport is in charge of the activities of the Ministry of at Divisional level. Each delegation consists of the following as the case may be: Road Transport Document Bureau, Road Safety Bureau, Statistic Bureau, Meteorological Station, Maritime, Lake or River District and the General Affairs Service.

     The Regional Delegation of Transport North West is located at Up-station Bamendawe is headed by the Regional Delegate of Transport. This Delegation operates from Monday to Friday 8 am to 3:30 pm. The Delegation is centered of Land Transport but also controls the activities of the Bamenda-Bafut Airport. It functions under three services: Regional Chief of Service Road Transport, Regional Chief of Service Meteorology and General Affairs Service

Crop this figure to avoid shifts in the rectangles

Figure 1.1: The organigram of the Regional Delegation of Transport

1.3.1 The objectives of the Regional Delegation of Transport

• The safe lives through accident prevention and mitigation of the consequences of road accidents. For example, road safety activities such as sensitization and fines meted out to defaulters.
• To raise revenue for the economy through the provision of documents to those engaged in transport business
• To provides employment to citizens through the issuance of certificates such as drives license which is precondition of getting a job in the driving domain
• To promote tourism which later boast the country’s revenue, areas where airports, railways, terminal or water port attracts tourist

1.3.2 The Activities of the Delegation

The meteorological service is in charge of collecting weather information such as temperature, rainfall, sun shine, cloud cover and humidity, from the various rainfall post in the sub divisions and send to the Meteorology service in the Center Region. This information is use by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to come up with the global weather and climate statistic.

• The Regional Delegation of Transport controls the document necessary to open a Travel Agency or Driving School.
• It also produces driving/driver licenses, transporters licenses, road worthiness certificate and chats of public road transport.
• The ministry of transport also sets exam for driving school students, and this exam is marked at the regional level)

1. C) Statement of the problem or planning problems of the institution. As an intern at the Regional Delegation of Transport North West, I faced some challenges which were as a result of poor planning.

1.4 Study Area

Bambili is located in Tubah Sub-Division North West region of Cameroon. Tubah sub-division is approximately 15km from the regional capital (Bamenda) of the northwest. It consists of six villages; Bambili, Bambui, Kedjom-keku, Kedjom-ketingoh, Sabga and Fungi. It is located between latitude 4°50’ – 5°20’N and longitude 10°35’ – 11°59’E. Bambili is a semi-urban area which hosts one of the State’s universities (figure 1).