National meteorological center says recent hailstone, floods signal dark days for famers

The National Meteorological Center at the Ministry of Transport has said urgent action needs to be taken to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on farmers produce across the country.

In a press conference in Yaounde yesterday, the body attributed the recent floods and hailstones recorded in some parts of the country to climate change, and called on citizens to join government fight the challenges.

“Generally, extreme weather conditions are not very favourable to agriculture. Anything in excess destroys. You don’t expect crops to thrive when there are floods or hailstones,” Yombom Balthaza Awenti, head of the National Meteorological Centre told reporters.

Talking about recent hailstones recorded in Bapou, a locality in the West region, he said “Many people misconstrued the hail for snow. It took the texture of snow but it was not snow. Also, it took a very short time to melt.”

As concerns the recent floods also witnessed in the economic capital, Douala, the official said it was necessary for the city council to develop a better drainage plan for the town. Residents too, he urged, should ensure they dispose their waste adequately to avoid blocking drainages.