Impact of Climate Change on Female Farmers in Cameroon
Climate change is an imminent threat to Cameroon’s development due the country’s dependence on natural resources and Cameroonians’ dependence on agriculture for livelihoods and subsistence. Under current climate conditions, about two million people (nine percent of Cameroon’s population) live in drought-affected areas, and about eight percent of the country’s GDP is vulnerable. This is especially true for Indigenous and autotochones women, responsible for 80% of family subsistence and a significant portion of domestic production. Climate change is equally increasing reliance on fertilizers, which can accelerate soil degradation, erosion and reduce farmers revenues over the long run. This is because the war in Ukraine has caused the prices of fertilizer to rise and Ukraine supplies 45% of Cameroon’s fertilizer (Guardian Post, 2023). This brief will look at the impact of climate change on female farmers and agro-entrepreneurs in Cameroon. Section I starts by looking at changes in climatic conditions across Cameroon, followed by the effects of climate change on women farmers in section II. Section III looks at current strategies to support women farmers in Cameroon. It concludes with policy recommendations to support women whose farms are at risk of climate change.
