EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Agriculture remains the key livelihood activity as over 70% of the population depends on agriculture for livelihood. In Cameroon, 11% of the population is facing acute food insecurity. This represents 3 million people (UNOCHA 2023). While food insecurity remains a major issue, the inability of farmers to afford basic needs due to poor revenue resulting from poor crop production is equally a disturbing aspect. Climate change is severely affecting agricultural ecological zones in Cameroon through unpredicted variations. Producer organizations do not know mitigation and adaptation strategies. There are high risks of increased food insecurity, reduced farmer incomes, and poverty in the future if actions are not taken to enforce sustainable agricultural approaches such as climate-smart agriculture. This paper recommends the reinforcement of farmers’ capacity through efficient, ecological, and environmentally friendly agricultural methods. Creating knowledge-sharing mechanisms, incorporating climate change knowledge in educational systems and extension services, promoting the use of solar-powered machines for agriculture, introducing greenhouse agriculture on a wider scale for market gardening of fruits and vegetables strengthening meteorological services, and strengthening communication systems between meteorological services and producer organizations.
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Author: Mr. Dinga Tambi
Research Fellow, Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI)
INTRODUCTION
Cameroon has a huge agricultural potential due to its agro-ecological diversity and the country’s large land resources. However, food production is still very low. It results in food insecurity, low farmer’s income, and poverty. Eleven percent (11%) of the population is facing acute food insecurity (Analyse Cadre Harmonisé March 2023). This represents 3 million people as compared to 2.9 million people according to March 2022 analysis. The Far North, North-West, and South-West regions are the most affected (UNOCH March 2023).[1] The problem of low food production in Cameroon originates from a multitude of interrelated factors affecting food production. Strongly interrelated, that seeking solutions to one factor in the chain will not lead to a sustainable increase in food production. These factors affecting food production in Cameroon cut across all stages of agricultural activities from Planning & and budgeting, Production process, Harvest, storage, value addition (Processing), Branding/marketing/sales, financial management, savings, and Investment. The main challenges expressed by producer groups include low financial means and difficulty in obtaining credit, absence of agricultural machinery, lack of training centers, lack of agricultural inputs, etc.
Producer organizations are quick to mention the above financial-related challenges which most often are secondary, while leaving out a key major determinant of sustainable food production.
Producer organizations are quick to mention the above financial related challenges which most often are secondary, while leaving out a key major determinant of sustainable food production. Agriculture is severely affected by Climate Change. However, considering that producer organizations in Cameroon have little or no knowledge on climate change and its impact on agriculture, they have little understanding on the fact that it is the origin to low crop productivity. It is equally a determinant for sustainable agriculture.
This article focuses on sustainable production approaches (Climate Smart Agriculture Approaches) as the basis to guarantee increased productivity and revenue for producer organizations over the long term. The findings in this article are based on 90% of primary data sources working with more than 200 agricultural producer organizations (Cooperatives and Common initiative groups) in the entire Far North region and Centre Region. Data in this article is equally strongly based on primary data collected in December 2023 in an assessment carried out with a team of development experts on key challenges affecting food production, food security, and producer organization. Income in the Far North region of Cameroon, among 300 producer organizations, 8 sub-divisional Delegates, and 4 Divisional Delegates in 5 divisions of the Far North Region (Mayo Tsanaga, Mayo Sava, Mayo Danay, Logone & Chari, and Diamaré). For the design of interventions related to an Emergency project on the fight against food insecurity (PULCCA).
MAIN PROBLEM
In every assessment carried out over the past three years (Assessment and Diagnosis on key challenges with producer organizations) 100% of producer organizations are quick to mention lack of finance as the key challenge they face and about 90% equally mention lack of farm inputs and machinery. Technical knowledge of production techniques, pests, and diseases also appears in the top five challenges as presented by producer organizations.
This is quite true, however, there are foundational challenges that are highly neglected. More than 90% of producer groups that took part in the December 2023 assessment on key challenges affecting food production in the Far North do not have little or no idea about the concepts of Climate Change and environmental protection. Though producer groups are quick to point out changes they have experienced in the past years such as droughts, floods, unpredictable seasonal changes, and increased pests and diseases, they do not know its origin and mitigation and adaptation strategies. They do not know the best agricultural approaches such as climate-smart agriculture for sustainable food production to guarantee food security and increased income. Prior to the agricultural season, there is no strategic planning of activities ahead of the agricultural season.
Financing producer groups with little or no knowledge of best and advanced agricultural approaches such as climate-smart agriculture, is seeking solutions to secondary-level challenges (finance) while neglecting primary problems which are determinants for sustainable food production and security. Farmers blame poor yields on lack of and inadequate farm inputs, late plowing, etc. all related to finance in one way or the other. Whereas climate change is the main problem. The majority of farmers in Cameroon depend on climate-sensitive agriculture.
CURRENT EFFORTS MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS (INGOS) AND PARASTATALS (SODECOTON) TO IMPROVE FARMER’S PRODUCTIVITY, INCOME AND COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY.
The government is making efforts through different projects and programs in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and equally the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industry. These Ministries work in collaboration with highly supportive partners such as the World Bank, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), World Food Programme, Japan International Cooperation Agency and several others.[2] Among several programs and projects are: the Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project (PAPA), Small Holders Agricultural Productivity Enhancement Programme in Sub-Saharan Africa for Cameroon (SAPEP), the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (PDC_VA), National Cereal Crops Development Support Project (PNADCC), National Project for Structuring and Supporting Producers and Agricultural Extension (PRO-SAPVA)[3].
These projects are most often focused on addressing second-phase issues of agricultural challenges that producer groups are quick to present such as financial and inputs-related challenges. Efforts made include:
- Subsidizing farm inputs such as fertilizers:
On 15 July 2022, the Board of Directors of the African Development Fund approved a loan of €62.99 million to Cameroon. The funding was to enable the country to increase production of major crops[4]. Small farmers benefited from access to agricultural inputs – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers and urea – with subsidies representing 30% of the market price. In 2023 subsidies continued for chemical farm inputs such as fertilizers to smallholder farmers across the country. Producer groups obtained fertilizers at 22,500 FCFA, instead of 35,000 FCFA average market price.
- Offering technical assistance to producer organizations through its delegations of agriculture:
Delegations of agriculture offer technical assistance to producer groups on cultivation, pest, and disease control.
- Support the acquisition or access to agricultural machines such as tractors for producer groups Through parastatals such as the Company for the Expansion and Modernization of Rice Farming of YAGOUA (SEMRY)
The World Food Program through its mandate in Cameroon supports in terms of support to smallholder farmers, capacity strengthening, addressing malnutrition, early recovery, and resilience
EFFECTS OF ACTIONS TAKEN TO SUPPORT CROP PRODUCTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Little investment is made to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gasses in the course of offering assistance to producer groups to increase production and income. There is inefficient use of farm inputs and machines for agriculture which has effects on climate change. The global production of fertilizers is responsible for around 1.4% of annual CO2 emissions, and fertilizer use is a major contributor of non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions.[5] Subsidizing chemical inputs such as chemical fertilizers my cause excess and inefficient use of the input which is has effects on the environment and output.
Onion producer groups in Logone Birni in the Logone and Chari Division of the Far North attest that excessive use of chemical fertilizers affects the quality of onions as they contain excess moisture and are highly perishable within a very short time leading to heavy losses. Industrial-scale crop-based agriculture requires the use of large, fossil-fuel-powered machinery, like tractors and combines, which release greenhouse gases. Similarly, transporting food from the farm also causes greenhouse gas emissions, especially if it is being exported to a country on the other side of the planet.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Reinforcing the capacity of farmers in efficient ecological and environmentally friendly agricultural methods. This includes the best and most efficient ways to use farm inputs, farm machines, and farming methods and techniques. For example, discourage the burning of farmlands and forests. optimizing fertilizer application and management.
- Creating knowledge sharing mechanisms including farmer field schools and peer-to-peer learning to spread the practices. Incorporating climate change knowledge in educational systems and extension services: Climate change and its effects on agriculture should be a topic of discussion at every level
- Promote the use of solar-powered machines for agriculture: Solar energy will help to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels, which in turn helps to slow down the rate of global warming.
- Introduce greenhouse agriculture on a wider scale for market gardening of fruits and vegetables while seeking methods to reduce the cost of its establishment by adapting the construction of a greenhouse using local materials
- Strengthen meteorological services and strengthen communication systems between meteorological services and producer organizations: This is to increase in place strong mitigation strategies on the effect of climate change on agriculture. Farmers will be warned before time on possible variations in the weather or extreme situations such as droughts and floods.
CONCLUSION
Actions to improve farmers’ productivity, improve farmer’s income, and combat food insecurity need to begin from foundational causes. Every line of action taken should incorporate and promote sustainable production approaches. Climate-smart agricultural approaches and strategic planning of agricultural activities are taken into consideration. Mitigation and adaptation to climate change should be the basis for seeking sustainable solutions as regards increasing food production, farmers’ income, and combating food insecurity.
Poor yields, insects, pests, and diseases, identified as some key challenges by some producer groups are strongly related to climate change. Understanding the effects of climate change on agricultural activities and strategically planning activities taking into adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change is a key determinant to success in increasing food production.
Low financial means of growers, difficulty gaining credit, Absence of agricultural machinery training centers, extension services lack of competence in mechanization, Absence of standards for machinery being sold, High cost of machines, agricultural equipment, and manufacturing raw materials are among the key list of challenges producer groups express. While this article focuses on climate-smart agriculture as a recommended approach for sustainable food production for increased income and to combat food insecurity, the subsequent articles will look at these other challenges and how they can be resolved at the same time taking into consideration the climate-smart agricultural approach.
REFERENCE LIST
- African Development Bank (2022) African Development Fund approves €63 million loan to boost food security: https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/cameroon-african-development
- Aryal J.P., Sapkota T.B., Krupnik T.J., Rahut D.B., Jat M.L., Stirling C.M. Factors affecting farmers’ use of organic and inorganic fertilizers in South Asia. Environ. Sci. Pollut. R. 2021; 28:51480–51496. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-13975-7. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
- Carbon Brief Clear On Climate. (July 2022) Food and Farming Q&A: What does the world’s reliance on fertilizers mean for climate change?
- Food and Agricultural Organisation (2023) Des appuis agropastoraux pour les populations vulnérables dans le Logone-et-Chari- https://www.fao.org/cameroun/actualites/detail-events/zh/c/1644545/
- Good Neighbors Cameroon (December 2023) Report on In-depth assessment on the challenges faced by Agricultural Producer Organizations assessment for the design of intervention for the Emergency food crises response Project-Far North region
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER 2023) Projects and Programmes https://www.minader.cm/index.php/nos-institutions/projets-et-programmes/
- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER 2023) Agriculture and Rural Development Institutions and Development Partners https://www.minader.cm/index.php/nos-institutions/partenaires-au-developpement/
- UNOCHA (2023) Food Insecurity Situation Report-Cameroon-12 December 2023
[1] OCHA Food Insecurity Situation Report-Cameroon-12 December 2023
[2] Institutions and Development Partners-Web site of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER https://www.minader.cm/index.php/nos-institutions/partenaires-au-developpement/
[3] Projects and Programmes – Web site of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER): https://www.minader.cm/index.php/nos-institutions/projets-et-programmes/
[4] Cameroon: African Development Fund approves €63 million loan to boost food security: https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/cameroon-african-development-fund-approves-eu63-million-loan-boost-food-security-53518
[5] Carbon Brief Clear On Climate. Food and Farming Q&A: What does the world’s reliance on fertilizers mean for climate change? 11 July 2022:
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