Urbanization and food security in Buea: an appraisal of household food security situation and resilience in Bolifamba-Buea Cameroon

Abstract

Cameroon, just like many other Sub-Saharan African countries, is faced with the challenges of rapid urbanization. In the face of these challenges is ensuring food security for many poor urban households. Using Bolifamba as a case study in the Buea Municipality, the aim of this work was to examine the techniques and methods used by urban dwellers in a rapidly urbanizing Buea in ensuring food security. The research gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of the actions, processes, and relationships that interplay in the urban household food environment and result in various food security outcomes by administering standardized questionnaire to household that have made above ten years in the area and carrying out six in-depth household interviews. The results indicated that food security situation in Bolifamba-Buea is complex and diverse. The majority of surveyed households indicated that they had what to eat but often not the kind of food they wanted and they could hardly maintain a steady supply of adequate food for all household members.

Keywords: Urbanization, Food security, Household resilience and Household food security