Climate Change as It Impacts A Sub-Saharan Staple: A Case Study of Bamenda, Cameroon’s Colocasia Esculenta

Abstract: In this paper, I demystify the causality of Bamenda’s prominent weather elements, especially in conformity with her annual solar-zenith times, a function of sheer latitudinal location. Then I investigate the sensitivity of climate (change) impacts there on colocasia yields, and annual colocasia planting times (growing degree days), in the event to clear the fog of confusion enshrouding the minds of researchers regarding the disappearance of the plant. Research on the afore-cited growing plight has uncovered data that is skewed toward drastic weather trends, an effect of global climate change, as its main cause; it is answerable for the slothful but assured diminution of this once perennial crop. This paper, thus, as is my design, actively challenges Bamenda’s climate as pertains to this event, strongly critiquing any material that bespeaks or even hints otherwise. In order to corroborate the aforementioned hypothesis, a somewhat extensive comparative analytic study was carried out around the Mankon, Mendankwe, and Nkwen environs, but with special emphasis on the Mankon area, as it is the embodiment of Bamenda’s both peasant and beau-monde societies. Data was collected on sunshine, temperature and precipitation. Also, colocasia yields were simulated pertaining to management conditions of both (i) before what is now considered, at least nationally, as effective climate change in action, and (ii) in present (‘climate change’) times. Distortions, as were ascertained, in carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen proportions in the soil, make it a recalcitrant carbon store for colocasia esculenta. Also, an until now concealed fact of the plant’s greater dependency on reliable water supply relative to good soil-nitrogen levels was revealed. A warming/ drying trend thus, a direct effect of global warming, is proving a pernicious effect on the crop. I therefore conclude that the recent disappearance of colocasia esculenta in the Bamenda area skew more toward impactful climate change ramifications than to its overexploitation.

Climate change, colocasia esculenta, Bamenda, nitrogen, growing degree days, carbon dioxide, solar-zenith times

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