Green Deeds Vol. 09 Contest | How is climate change affecting you and your Community?

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Hello steemians

Hope we are all in good shape as usual. I will be sharing with us how climate change is affecting my community (Northwest Region of Cameroon). Like I outlined and explained the signs of climate change in my community some time ago which you can read here, the following points were highlighted;

1. seasonal changes
2. lack of rainfall
3. reduced water volume in aquifers
4. dead of plants and widespread of pathogens

The above aspects are affecting my community in many ways which I will explain below.

EXTREME HEAT
Bamenda is the chief city of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. The above signs have affected Bamenda and other places in Cameroon. The heat experienced is far higher than normal. I can remember when I was traveling from the West Region to Bamenda and the was too much heat in the bus until a baby couldn’t stop crying the whole time. We had to fan her with a book from time to time irrespective of the open windows.
Secondly, heat has affected plants in such a way that the farmers find it difficult to work.

HIGH LEVEL OF THIRSTINESS

photo by Muto Mulema source

Today the thirst for water in Bamenda is a call for concern. One can quickly realize this when the water supply has a fault, it’s only then that you will understand the quantity of water you take a day just to calm the dryness down

REDUCTION IN FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

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These days the local means of agriculture is facing difficulties. This is because normally the inhabitants of Bamenda will see it easy to cultivate around the house with no worries on supplying water to the gardens or farmlands. The rate at which irrigation is done at Santa and Akum where most of the vegetable supply in Bamenda comes from has increased far too much. This has led to an increase in prices for food stuffs all over Bamenda. Since the farmers spend more time and labor on cultivating these crops, they require higher prices to sell their crops. Even though farmers have learned over time to carry out irrigation, they still find it difficult to supply like before. Local farmers will carry water from nearby streams to water their plants in other To deal with the drought caused by climate change. Others will create channels through which water passes and enter their farmlands.
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DROP IN LOCAL ECONOMY
The Northwest Region as a whole is more into farming both animal husbandry and agriculture. Most at times there are local conflicts between agricultural farmers and cattle farmers over grazing and destroying crops by animals. Due to this conflict, it’s quite difficult to maintain the usual means of cultivation and raring as before. This has reduced cattle supply and food supply putting the economy in a bad state. Since the economy of the Northwest depends on produce from farmers, it is finding it very difficult to improve. Climate change has hampered the the plant production cycle due to gradual change in seasons. This particular aspect has affected mostly the cash crops such as palm trees and coffee. Normal peak seasons and off seasons of these crops no more maintain standards and this has resulted to an inadequate supply of their produce.

CONCLUSION
In general, one can conclude that the economy of Bamenda has been highly affected due to climate change that has changed the course of food supply for consumption and commercial purposes. Not leaving out the health effect that may come together with the increase in temperatures. Children might easily have high temperatures leading to fever due to high temperatures from the unusual climatic conditions.