AFRICA/CAMEROON - Food insecurity in the north of the Country

Maroua (Agenzia Fides) - It becomes increasingly difficult to find food in northern Cameroon especially due to the insecurity caused by Boko Haram which has seriously damaged agriculture and cross-border trade. Aid agencies and local authorities have launched a warning about the risk of a serious food crisis for 180,000 people in the region. The malnutrition rate among children under 5 years of age continues to worsen.
Over 70% of farmers have abandoned their fields since last year and many others did not sow in time. There are also Nigerian refugees who have occupied over 200 hectares of land originally used for agriculture. Last year cereals, such as sorghum, millet, beans and rice, decreased by over 50%. In 2014 only 132,000 tonnes of grain, compared to the average annual need of 770 thousand was produced.
In some areas food prices have increased significantly. Even during peaceful times, the northern region of Cameroon has always been precarious due to lack of water. 25 to 30% of the land is arid. There is hardly any rain during the year and temperatures often exceed 45 degrees Celsius, making the work of farmers very difficult in the hot sun. Several international and government aid agencies are trying to bring supplies, but insecurity makes reaching the most vulnerable difficult and dangerous. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 20/05/2015)