CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1           Background of the Study

Cameroon is described as Africa in miniature because of its diversity in climate and culture. More than 70% of its population is employed in the agricultural sector; cultivating coffee, cotton, cocoa, rice, potatoes, and beans. Most of the production is exported in its raw form. Rice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food in Cameroon cooked in diverse ways; fufu, rice pap, jollof rice, fried rice among others. Rice plays a critical role in fighting food insecurity, as it is consumed in the whole country and it is one of the foods that is distributed to refugees, internally displaced people, or disadvantaged homes to boost their livelihood in Cameroon and the world at large.

Food security is a situation where people have social, physical, economic and stable access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food that meets their food preference for dietary needs, a healthy and active life (FAO, 2013). Stability, accessibility, availability and use are the four dimensions of food security. However, owing to the recent developments, Peng & Berry (2018) cited sustainability as the fifth dimension of food security. Sub Saharan Africa is facing food insecurity even though it is regarded as “the bread basket”. This can be attributed to the great gap between the recorded yields and the potential of its land resources (Guilpart et al., 2017). Additionally, the gap is due to low adoption of advanced technologies by farmers. Although, low-tech agro-economical approaches with lower yields per unit land may be better positioned to create socioeconomic conditions under which advanced high technology adoption becomes an economical safe choice (Adenle et al., 2019). Low technology, or simple strategies implemented by some farmers to have improved yields can easily set pace for other farmers to follow, while creating an enabling ground for advanced technology implementation. To achieve sustainable agriculture and food security in the future, it is necessary to increase water productivity (Pirmoradian et al., 2020). There is an increasing demand for rice, which has seen an expansion of rice-growing areas compared to other crops in Africa (Materu et al., 2018).

1.2         Problem Statement

Food production depends on the availability and productivity of land and water. However, unsustainable land and water use threaten most developing countries. There is a need to produce more to feed the growing population, and in a cost-effective manner. The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) reported 135 million people in 55 countries and territories needed food, livelihood, and nutrition assistance, as a result of economic shocks, conflict, weather extremes, or a combination of the three drivers (FAO, 2020a; Security & Network, 2020). Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic has created a kind of economic chaos that affects people’s economic and material access to food (Growth & Slowing, 2020). This has resulted in farmers having less income, but with the current food crisis around the globe, still there is more demand for food production. Food production relies on water for plant growth; however, water resources are under immense stress from pollution, deforestation, and environmental degradation. This situation requires more efficient use of water to meet food demands. There is a disparity in rainfall frequency and intensity, and farmers have engaged in irrigation to reduce the effects of decreasing water availability per head, whose impact is felt more in the developing countries (Patel, 2015) such as Cameroon. Farmers have different practices, such that on the same type of soil, different yields are produced which leads to different incomes to farmers.

In Cameroon, farmers who cultivate the same crop in different farmlands of the same area have different yields. These farmers face the same livelihood and economic responsibilities with agriculture being the highest sector to employ Cameroonians and many households depending on this source of income. In 1975, Cameroon was producing 80% of its nationally consumed rice, however, by 2007, the country was importing close to 90% of the rice consumed (World News, 2021). Cameroon is at a high risk of deteriorating food security because of the high prices (FAO, 2008). Any problem in the food production and consumption pathway which is food insecurity needs attention as farmers having low yields in good potential areas pose food insecurity (Peng & Berry, 2018). Thus, this study aimed at developing means to bridge this gap by assessing the risks and opportunities in rice production in Cameroon.

1.2.1       Main Objective

The main objective of this study was to assess the impact of rice production in Ndop plains.

1.2.2       Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of this study were to:

1. Assess the potential of rice production in Ndop plains (Highland zone), Cameroon.
2. Assess rice water requirements and the gross biomass water productivity for a period of 10-years at Ndop Plains.

• Establish the impact of rice production in Ndop plains).

1.3         Research Questions

1. What is the potential of rice production in Ndop plains, Cameroon?
2. What are the rice water requirements and gross biomass water productivity in the past 10 years in the Ndop Plains (Highland zone)?

• Which are the impact of rce production in Ndop plains