By Zera Nambu
The separatist-imposed lockdown in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon has brought Bamenda’s economy to a standstill, with food prices surging to alarming levels in the North West regional capital.
Perishables like tomatoes and vegetables, staples in many households, have seen a significant price hike, making it challenging for residents to afford decent meals.
A basket of tomatoes, previously sold for 5,000 to 6,000 CFA francs, now costs 10,000 CFA francs, a huge increase.
Traders have attributed this drastic price rise to the lockdown, which has disrupted supply chains and led to a shortage of fresh produce in the market.
Farmers in Santa, Ndop and Babanki, major suppliers of tomatoes to Bamenda, are struggling to get their produce to the market after the lockdown caused a halt in most transportation activities.
The lack of market access and high demand have resulted in a significant portion of crops going bad, further increasing the shortage.
Farmers who manage to supply to the market are selling at exorbitant prices, harvesting their crops on Friday evenings and transporting them to town on Saturday mornings, when lockdowns are briefly lifted, with a very high transportation fee.
Cost of Price Hikes on Population
The rising food prices have taken a negative toll on Bamenda’s residents, with many struggling to make ends meet.
Linda Njong, a mother of two, laments that 15,000 CFA francs can no longer cover her household’s weekly food expenses.
Families with larger numbers are particularly hard hit, forced to spend nearly 30,000 CFA francs weekly on food, which may not be sufficient.
The Future Outlook
As lockdowns continue, residents fear for their future, with economic hardship and uncertainty becoming unbearable.
Food prices skyrocketed in Cameroon after the government reduced fuel subsidies and drove up the cost of petrol to nearly 900 CFA francs per liter.
The lockdowns in the Anglophone Regions, imposed by separatists to target school resumption and upcoming presidential elections, have made matters worse.
The situation demands urgent attention from authorities to address the root causes of the crisis and provide relief to those affected.
