Cameroon Launches Northern Farming Season Amid Food Security Concerns

Cameroon will officially launch the 2026 farming season in the country’s northern regions on June 18, as authorities seek to boost agricultural production in an area facing persistent food security challenges.

In a statement issued on June 15, Agriculture Minister Gabriel Mbairobe announced that the launch ceremony will take place in Poli, a district in the North Region. Together with the Adamawa and Far North regions, the area forms Cameroon’s northern belt.

While agriculture remains important nationwide, it carries particular significance in the north, which includes some of the country’s poorest regions and faces higher levels of food insecurity than the rest of Cameroon. According to government officials, food insecurity in the region has been exacerbated by the influx of refugees fleeing Boko Haram violence in neighboring Nigeria, as well as armed conflicts in Chad and the Central African Republic. Harsh climatic conditions have also contributed to recurring agricultural production deficits.

Food Security Remains a Major Challenge

International organizations continue to identify the Far North as one of the country’s most vulnerable areas.

“We decided to concentrate our support capacity on the Far North region. We closed our offices in Bamenda and Buea at the end of March to focus on the Far North because food security assessments show that the largest share of food-insecure populations lives there, despite the significant needs that also exist in the North-West and South-West regions,” said Gianluca Ferrera, the World Food Program’s representative in Cameroon.

The decision reflects growing concern about food availability and agricultural resilience in northern Cameroon, where population pressures and climate-related challenges continue to affect rural livelihoods.

Focus on Increasing Cereal Production

Against this backdrop, the launch of the 2026 farming season is expected to emphasize higher agricultural output, particularly cereal production.

Cereals are the most widely consumed food products in northern Cameroon, but meeting local demand remains a major challenge.

Authorities hope that improved production levels will help strengthen food security, support rural incomes, and reduce the region’s dependence on external supplies. The farming season launch forms part of broader government efforts to support agricultural development and improve resilience in one of Cameroon’s most vulnerable regions.

Brice R. Mbodiam