Abstract

Food security is a critical issue in Buea municipality, as it is in many other parts of the world. The municipality is located in the south west region of Cameroon and is a home to a diverse population of people who rely on agriculture and other forms of livelihoods for their food and income.

However, the area is facing several challenges that threaten food security. It was an investigatory and exploratory study that adopted the mixed research design using the qualitative and the quantitative techniques.

The man sources of primary data were questionnaires, interview guides, direct filed observations and interrogations. The review of published articles, magazines and online libraries were the main sources of secondary data. Information was collected from 50 persons who were selected through the simple random sampling techniques.

Results analyzed through the inferential and the descriptive statistical techniques on the qualitative and quantitative data revealed that the Bueamunicipality on the population income and livelihood has resulted to many challenges. The emerging issue of food security in Buea municipality has become a major concern for policymakers, researchers and other stakeholders.

The issue is complex and multifaceted, and it requires a comprehensive approach to address it effectively. This approach involve a range of interventions, including improving agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable land use practices, enhancing access to markets and strengthening social safety nets.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Food insecurity simply refers to the lack of regular safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development to attain a healthy and active lifestyle (FAO 2005)or the lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life (Feeding America ,2019)..Some countries are considered world hungriest and highly food insecure mostly countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Between 2018-2022,a toxic cocktail of conflict , climate change and the CONVID-19 pandemic has already left millions of people exposed to food price shock and vulnerable to further crisis.(WHO 2006).

For instance the conflict in Ukraine with its ripple effect on global supplies and of prices for Food, Fertilizer, and fuel is turning a crises into a catastrophe. As we face the third food crisis in 15years,it is clear that our food system in their current form is inadequate to the task of sustainability ending poverty and hunger.

This is especially true in countries that face the highest rates of undernourishment, child wasting, stunting, and child mortality due to malnutrition. According to the Global Hunger Index ranking are some world’s hungriest countries which will be examined below;

Sierra Leone, in 2000, the country was in the final year of a decade -long civil war. it was the second country that year with first been Angola. While peace was declared in January 2002, the lingering effect of conflict is felt in the food system and most importantly families most vulnerable to food shortage and high inflation.

Sierra Leon was at the epicenter of the 2014-2016 West African Ebola Virus Epidemic ,one year later ,it had the highest maternal mortality rate in the world .The CONVID-19 pandemic was another hit to the country’s economy, shrinking growth to -2% in 2020(WHO 2019).

Furthermore, Haiti in 2022 45% of the population faces acute food according to WFP (2010), this place is among the top five highest food insecurity country in the world. Currently the number of Haitians projected to fall into the IPC 4 ,the category of hunger one step removed from famine is 1.3 million.

As recently as the 1980’s the country was largely self sufficient in terms of food. Today an ongoing humanitarian crises in Haiti , combined with commodity shortages, climate change and even conflict has led to a drastic food insecurity in this part of the world(WFP2007)  some other countries are Kenya ,Niger, Pakistan , Columbia. This food insecurity involves reduced quality , variety and access to your diet and can disrupt eaten patterns with reduced food intake(Feeding America 2018).

Certain group are at higher risk of experiencing food insecurity , including house hold with children, unmarried people , women and men in the community. Young adults between the ages of 18-34 experience economic and educational transition that may create a greater risk of food insecurity. This take us to see how hunger and food are related; when someone is severely food insecure they run out of food and go for days without eating which means they are experiencing hunger.

Sevier food insecurity is one extreme of the scale but even moderate one is worrisome. For their access to food is uncertain. In Cameroon despite the abundance of natural resources people still sacrifice other basic necessities just to be able to eat. And this is mostly what is cheaper and ready for consumption, and most not been nutritious Food.

Which cause many form of malnutrition, like dense energy, highly saturated fat, sugar and salt are easier to buy than fresh food and vegetables? In Buea Children facing malnutrition are more exposed to chronic diseases like Quachioko , gastric, shortage of blood. This reasons are the  main factors both physical and human responsible for the food insecurity in the Buea municipality; Unemployment, pest and insect attacks, climate change, natural disasters (flood and Erosion).Each of the key aspect of food security can be analysed in the context of the urban environment as the population grows due to factors of urban migration .

The most visible effect of urban expansion in Buea is discernible in the peri-urban areas, especially in the areas of Bolifamba, Muea , Bokwai, small soppo, tole, Bomaka, and Sandpit which have witnessed rapid growth. Food security incorporate a measure of resilience to future disruption or unavailability of critical food supply due to various risk factors, some of which are uncontrollable and rapid Urbanization, poor farn to market roads,loss of land for residential purposes, traditional farming techniques and changing food habit which characterize Buea (Jonathan et Al 2011).

The world population is becoming increasingly urbanised. In 1950,30% of the world population lived in urban areas by 2002,that figure has increased to 47% in sub Saharan Africa , about 34% of the world population currently live in urban areas;by 2020,it is predicted that nearly half(46.2%)of the population will be urban (UN Habitat,2011) with a 5% per annum growth rate. it is expected to that over 300million new resident will be added to urban areas in the sub continent between 2000 and 2030(kessides 2005). Such a high growth raises questions about urban household food security.

Cameroon has witnessed a rapid and uncontrolled urban growth , especially at the Peri -urban . Between 1976 and 2006, the Urbanization rate grew between 28.5% and 65.4 %(Balgah 2007). With a constant raise in food prices and no corresponding increase in income ,urban dwellers are obliged to record high house hold dependency ratio (MINIPAT,2009).In response , households in Buea have developed residence techniques to cope with the rising food prices ,loss of farms and low income to survive within the semi and semi -urban Buea.

The situation is more challenging among the poor purchasing power has consistently been eroded by falling real wages , inflation and the rising cost of living despite attempts by the government to increase minimum wage (Brohilda 2012).

Urban dwellers and households are generally net food buyers who rely on house hold budget on food , and have little access to other safety net like agriculture or land to ensure food access at all times (NIS,2016).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Food insecurity has become a scourge greatly affecting the developing countries. Developmental efforts are being tampered with simply because these countries cannot provide food security to the general population.

These multifaceted nature of achieving Food security has resulted in most developed countries failing to deal with the issue of climate change, GMO’S and Biofuel have increased the vulnerability of these countries to achieve food security. Therefore, no clear frame works on the nature and extends of how these complex factors have affected the developing countries in achieving food security. The resulting effect of these factors have resulted in food insecurity in most developing countries particularly the sub-Saharan Africa.

The expansion of urban agglomeration, outbreak of natural disasters, Crop diseases, climate change and increasing prices of goods and services in developing countries brings about challenges for assuring household food security among urban dwellers. The Cameroon national institute of statistics (NIS)in it’s 2007 report reveals that in the South West Region 38.7% of income is spent on feeding house hold, as such there is need to address issues of food security in Urban areas.

Food security is challenging by rapid growing and unplanned residential areas with serious ecological consequences, especially loss of farms lands which is needed to feed the ever-growing urban population. Food insecurity has become a scourge greatly affecting the developing countries.

Developmental effort are been tampered with simply because this countries cannot provide the adequate food needed by the general public. The multi-faceted nature of achieving food security has resulted in most developing countries failing to deal with these issues. Furthermore, the emerging issues of climate change, GMOs and bio-fuel have increased the vulnerability of these countries to fight against food insecurity. Particularly in the sub Saharan Africa.

1.3 Research Question:

1.3.1 Main Research Question

What are the emerging issues of food security in the Buea municipality?

1.3.2 Specific Questions

1. What are the factors responsible for food insecurity in the Buea municipality?
2. What can be done by the government, NGOs and the Local population to fight against the issue?

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