Formalising the informal: climate change and health: an analysis of the impact of climate change on smallholder farmers' food security in the department of Koung-khi in west Cameroon

Background
Global climate change significantly impairs developing nations since it jeopardises their progress
in development. Its effects have made agriculture a predominantly vulnerable sector, resulting in yield
reductions and food insecurity in sub-Saharan countries. This investigation shed light on the influence of
climate variability on household food security, focusing on the perspective of smallholder farmers. Climate
change affects smallholder farmers in Cameroon, but little literature exists on its effect on food security.
Therefore, this doctoral study investigates climate change’s impact on the country’s most used subsistence
crops (beans, maize, potatoes), specifically in the rural settings of the Koung-Khi department, located in
the western part of the country. It also scrutinises the current change in weather patterns and its effect on
the nutritional status of rural smallholder farmers, as well as adaptation strategies and challenges faced.
Methodology
The researcher applied concurrent mixed-method triangulation involving a quantitative approach
with 252 smallholder farmers and a qualitative approach with 34 participants in the focus group discussion
and 15 in key informant interviews. We collected and analysed climate data on precipitation and subsistence
crop yield from 2005 to 2022 to establish a broader appreciation of the association between climate change
and yield patterns. Additionally, we validated the findings through triangulation. Descriptive statistical
methods were used to analyse food crop production quantities and meteorological trends. Through an
econometric analysis, we estimated crop production depending on precipitation, rainy season length, and
surface cultivated area. Specifically, we used a Cobb-Douglas production function model, a widely used
economic model that measures the relationship between inputs and outputs in agricultural production. We
used the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) based estimator for this analysis.
Findings
Findings showed annual rainfall decreased with a reduction in several rainy days’ precipitation, soil
erosion, and storms, the climate events most frequently witnessed. Farmers’ experiences align with
observed trends in climate variables, highlighting important perception-based surveys as a complement to
climate research. A multilinear correlation with the Cobb-Douglas production function showed a
correlation between climatic and non-climatic factors, emphasising the detrimental impact of climate
change on staple food production, which worsens nutritional status.
Insights from group discussions and interviews underlined complaints about the decline in meal
frequency and the inferior quality of grains, which resulted in less flavourful food. Significant challenges
smallholder farmers face includes the high cost of farm inputs, such as unpredictable weather, limited
subsidy access, lack of market access, and low soil fertility. Adaptation efforts comprise growing shortlived
crops, intercropping, increasing irrigation, changing planting dates, and engaging in additional
income-generating activities.
Conclusion
This doctoral study underscores the profound impact of climate change on food security among
smallholder subsistence farmers in the Koung-Khi department of Cameroon. The findings reveal a
significant decline in annual rainfall and an increase in extreme weather events, which detrimentally affect
staple crop yields, exacerbating food insecurity and nutritional deficits. These findings are crucial, as they
highlight the urgent need for action to mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture. The research
highlights the correlation between climate variability and reduced agricultural productivity through
quantitative and qualitative methodologies. It also emphasises the importance of perception-based surveys
in complementing empirical climate data. The challenges farmers face, including high input costs and
unpredictable weather patterns, compound the struggle for food security.
Nevertheless, the adaptation strategies identified, such as growing short-lived crops, intercropping,
and increasing irrigation, offer pathways to resilience. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding
of smallholder farmers’ vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities, informing policy interventions to enhance
agricultural sustainability and food security in the face of climate change. Improving rural infrastructure
through roads, storage facilities, and markets is fundamental to reducing food waste and enhancing access.
These measures can strengthen food security in rural Africa and ensure sustainable food for future
generations.