“Together A Safer Food-Secure Future Is Possible”

Based on current climate predictions and information, what are some specific climate risks in Cameroon and how can these predictions affect the country? 
Drawing on multiple studies carried out by the National Observatory on Climate Change (NOCC), we identify four major climate risks currently affecting Cameroon including recurrent heat stress, frequent droughts and dry spells in the Soudano-Sahelian region; increasing rainfall variability with more seasonal instability in the South and Coastal region; increase rainfall intensity and frequency of extreme weather events in the Southern Regions of Cameroon; and  sea-level rise associated with coastal flooding. Temperatures are projected to increase by about 1,5-2,5°C by mid-21st century, with more hot days and warm nights to be registered in almost all agro-ecological zones. What makes these projections a particular concern for Cameroon is the country’s strong dependence on climate-sensitive sectors and its diverse agro-ecology. As for food access, when production drops in agricultural basins, farm incomes decline while food prices tend to rise, particularly in landlocked or conflict-affected areas where market access is already difficult. Floods and road washouts disrupt supply chains, making it harder to move food from surplus regions like parts of the Logone basin and Mundemba area to deficit regions and urban centres like Yaounde and Buea.

What can local farmers do to increase yields without a negative impact on the ecosystem?
Local farmers are front-line actors in adopting and scaling local adaptation solutions. Several practical measures already enable them to increase or stabilize yields while protecting soils, water and biodiversity. By adjusting farming calendars using climate information, improve soil health and water management by implementing conservation agriculture practices such as minimum tillage, permanent soil cover and crop rotations, along with mulching, contour bunds, grass strips and stone lines which help reduce runoff, limit erosion, enhance infiltration and maintain soil organic matter. In dry areas like the Sudano–Sahelian zone, water-harvesting techniques (zaï pits, half-moons, small reservoirs) concentrate moisture around plants, improving yields while safeguarding ecosystems. Also, adopting integrated nutrient and pest management, combining organic manure with targeted mineral fertilizer, using legumes in rotations, and practicing integrated pest management reduces reliance on excessive chemical inputs, which can degrade soils and water bodies.

&nbs...