It is essential that local authorities, international organizations and the global community work together to prevent a major food crisis and strengthen people’s resilience to climate challenges.
Northern Cameroon, particularly the town of Pitoa, is facing a persistent drought that is jeopardizing the food security of local populations. The scarcity of rains, aggravated by climate change, has led to a decline in harvests, causing a rise in cereal prices on local markets. This situation is making life even more difficult for already vulnerable families.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also reported that the Far North region of Cameroon is subject to a semi-arid climate, amplified by increasingly frequent climate disruptions, with more serious effects on the vulnerability of rural populations, particularly small producers. Indeed, in the Sahelian part of Cameroon, drought, which has a major impact on the environment and food security, promotes a decline in agricultural production, the deterioration of livelihoods and limitations in household access to usual sources of income and food. In addition, irregular rainfall due to climate change has intensified struggles between ethnic groups for access to water and land.
It is essential that local authorities, international organizations and the global community work together to prevent a major food crisis and strengthen people’s resilience to climate challenges.
It should be noted that the northern region produces most of the cereals that supply the three northern regions of the country with exports to Nigeria, Chad and the CAR.