- Rising Food Insecurity
- Humanitarian Appeal
- Long-Term Solutions
DOUALA – The food insecurity situation in Cameroon has reached a critical stage, with more than three million people currently facing acute hunger, according to authorities. This figure represents an increase from 2.8 million in 2022. The alarming trend has been attributed to various factors, including declining agricultural yields, climate change, and internal conflicts leading to significant population displacements.
Miriam Shang, who fled from Bamenda to Douala following the death of her husband, narrated the hardships she and her children face due to food scarcity. Miriam’s husband was tragically killed for not contributing to the armed struggle by separatists fighting for independence in the English-speaking North West and South West regions. She pleaded for assistance from well-wishers to alleviate their suffering.
The protracted conflict, which began in 2016 over perceived marginalization, has resulted in thousands of casualties and forced over 700,000 people to flee their homes, as reported by the United Nations. Miriam and her two toddlers are among the displaced individuals living in dire conditions in Douala, frequently enduring days without food. They represent a portion of the three million people, approximately 11% of the population, currently affected by food insecurity, as disclosed by the government in early May.
Cameroon’s food insecurity crisis has been exacerbated by various factors. In addition to the ongoing secessionist conflict and the persistent insurgency fueled by Boko Haram in the north, the country is grappling with dwindling agricultural yields. Experts attribute this problem to the absence of structural reforms, the destruction of farmland by pests and animals, recurrent droughts, and erratic weather patterns leading to floods.
Agro-economist Kennedy Tumenta emphasizes the need for urgent policy adjustments to mitigate the escalating food insecurity. He suggests implementing climate-smart agriculture practices, including modern conservation methods, early-warning systems, and weather-related information, to address the impact of climate change.
The cost of farm inputs, particularly fertilizers, has also surged due to the conflict in Ukraine and a government decision to increase fuel prices in February. As a result, transportation costs have risen, making it more expensive to transport food from farms to markets. Inflation has further affected customers’ purchasing power, leading to reduced consumption of even basic food staples.
To address the growing anger and hunger among Cameroonians, the government has introduced measures on both short and long-term fronts. In the short term, an appeal for $400 million has been launched by the government and partner organizations to support an emergency humanitarian response plan for 2023. This plan aims to assist the most vulnerable individuals, including those at risk of severe hunger and potential famine.
In the long term, the government is preparing large sections of farmland and offering incentives to attract investors for large-scale agricultural projects. One such project focuses on the cultivation of rice, maize, soybeans, and oil palms in the country’s central plains, covering an area of over 400,000 hectares. Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe highlights the project’s aim to boost production and productivity, fostering the emergence of medium-to-large scale agricultural hubs.
These initiatives are expected to enhance food self-sufficiency in the long run and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.
