Variations in Rainfall and Food Insecurity in the Sahel Region: The Case of the Far North Region of Cameroon, 1985–2009

Teke Takwa
Chobike Safiatou, Université de Yaoundé I
Teke Phelisia Atuh
Unda Ngwende, Université de Yaoundé I

This study examines the relationship between variations in rainfall in the Far North Region of Cameroon and food insecurity. This region's agriculture depends essentially on rainfall which is scarce,irregular and unreliable. This study uses statistics on food production and rainfall. The relationship between rainfall variables and food needs produced reveals that:-At a 5% significant level, a milliliter increase in annual rainfall leads to a 0.01% reduction in food insecurity, an average increase of one millimeter of daily rainfall after 15 millimeters leads to a 2.05% reduction in food insecurity and a unit’s increase in the length of the dry season leads to an increase of 0.63% in the risk of food insecurity. The use of fertilizers, large farming areas and irrigation reduce household risks of food insecurity but during periods of insufficient rainfall and droughts many households that produce sufficient face food insecurity. Keywords: food insecurity, rainfall variations, Sahel, droughts

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 Presented in Session 3. Population, Development, & the Environment; Data & Methods; Applied Demography