COVID-19 and food insecurity in Cameroon

Christopher Foka-Nkwenti; Yongsi H. Blaise Nguendo; Ambe Mpeh Noela; Madelle Nganou-Mouafo

doi:10.30574/gscarr.2020.5.2.0104

Authors

Christopher Foka-Nkwenti Department of Geography - University of Douala, Cameroon.
Yongsi H. Blaise Nguendo Institute for Population Studies (IFORD) - University of Yaoundé II, Cameroon.
Ambe Mpeh Noela Department of Geography - University of Douala, Cameroon.
Madelle Nganou-Mouafo Department of Geography - University of Douala, Cameroon.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30574/gscarr.2020.5.2.0104

Keywords:

Health Crisis, COVID-19, Food Insecurity, Epidemic, Prices, Cameroon

Abstract

Background: more than half of the world's population is currently facing health crisis. As a result, millions of businesses have had to shutdown either temporarily or permanently. With COVID-19 and its economic fallout, now spreading in the poorest regions of the world, many more people will become poor and food-insecure. Increased food insecurity may act as a multiplier for the epidemic due to its negative health effects and increased in national starvation. The impacts of COVID-19 are particularly strong for people in the lower tail of the food insecurity distribution. In the current context, the effects of food insecurity could be made worse as a result of the general rise of food stuff prices.

Objective: in this paper, we will investigate the interaction between COVID-19 and the drop in the food price leading to food insecurity in Cameroon.

Data collection: rapid phone survey across the national territory (Cameroon) confirm(s) the widespread impact of COVID-19 on household and food insecurity. Data collected in urban markets shows that main cities are highly affected by the covid-19 crises. Data retrieved was linked and processed in data editing software (Microsoft Office) for the production of results in text and tabular format.

Result: as the coronavirus crisis unfolds, disruptions in domestic food supply chains and loss of incomes and remittances are creating strong tensions and food insecurity in Cameroon. Despite stable food prices of certain goods, most cities are experiencing varying levels of food price inflation at the retail level, reflecting supply disruptions due to COVID-19. Rising food prices have a greater impact in low and middle income consumers since a larger share of their income is spent on food.

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