There are fears inCameroon that a combination of problems may lead to slumps in maize productionthat will bring on the sub-region's worst food crisis yet. Experts say maize is the most important cerealcrop in sub-Saharan Africa, which is home to 25 percent of the world's poorest people. Amid rising food costs, many are turning to maizebecause it's considered the mostaffordable staple.
Almost everyCameroonian is familiar with fufu corn, a form of couscous obtained from cornflour. It's cooked by steaming and served with various types of meat andvegetable sauce.
The country has an estimated population of 18million. Experts say over 65 percent ofthem rely on maize. And amidskyrocketing food prices, more and more Cameroonians are consuming maize.
The cereal is also used in the production of animalfeed and to make beer and other fermented drinks. It is the main source of income for more thanthree million small-scale farmers.
But there are widespread fears that maize productionthis year could plunge to an all-time low. The worries gripping farmers and consumers are basedon findings issued by the NGO the Citizens' Association for the Defense ofCollective Interests, ACDIC.
The report warns that Cameroon will face its worstfood crisis this year unless maize production is stepped up by 120,000 tons. Itsays Cameroonians will face a rise in the cost of food and other goods, with astrong probability of more hunger-related unrest. Over the past year, the price of maize at localmarkets has doubled to about half a US dollar per kilogram.
ACDIC president Bernard Njonga says several factorsare to blame for the projected maize production decline and eventual pricehikes. He says farmers can no longermeet production costs which are extremely high. He says in a year, the cost offertilizer has leapfrogged to 25.000 FCFA [about 50 US dollars]; a kilogram ofmaize seeds now sells at more than one dollar while pesticides and modernequipment are simply beyond the reach of farmers. He says the solution is for thegovernment to urgently provide subsidies to farmers before the planting seasonbegins.
And that's not all. The citizens' association sayscorruption has compounded the problem. It has been alleged that officials atthe Ministry of Agriculture diverted more than one-and-a-half million dollarsin subsidies for maize production last year. They allegedly signed the moneyover to fictitious farmers' groups. Officials at the ministry have denied thecharge as investigations continue.
Another problem facing farmers is unpredictablerains. Ngwa Martin is a school teacherand a farmer. Martin says, "The planting season normally starts in Cameroonafter the first rains, that is, from March 15. But farmers [were] mislead by earlyrains [into thinking] it was the start of the planting season. [The seeds thatwere planted early decayed]."
In February last year, thousands of hungryCameroonians poured out into the streets in protests triggered in part byrising food prices. The government said 40 people were killed, but human rightswatchdogs put the death toll at more than a hundred.
The government reacted by announcing an emergencythree-year plan to double agricultural production. It included the creation offarmers' banks to provide loans at cheap rates, subsidies for fertilizer andmodern equipment, free seed banks, training and the allocation of land to themost competent farmers. It committed 1.7 million dollars to the program.
Now, over a year later, farmers say the pledges havenot been fulfilled. In fact, many say the whole purpose was to calm tempers anddivert attention from a plan by President Paul Biya. The president has been inpower since 1982 and wants to amend the constitution to abolish term limits sohe can hold office for life.
But officials at the Ministry of Agriculturemaintain the plan is being fine-tuned and will be enacted in the months ahead.
In the meantime, maize growers are planning to trimproduction. Poultry farms are shutting down because they cannot afford feed,and the brewers are looking elsewhere for maize supplies.