Climate Change have swept over the world, and no place has been left untouched. From the Gulf of Guinea to the Poles, we are beginning to see and feel the effects of climate change. While trying to prevent any further damage to the environment, we also need to figure out how to cope with the changing conditions. Cameroon, a country in the Gulf of Guinea, has about 70% of the population depending on Agriculture as a means of livelihood. Agriculture in turn is influenced by the climate. 

The changing climate is particularly detrimental to the agricultural situation in Cameroon. Farmers are experiencing losses as the climate gets more unpredictable. In Mbienfebie, Mankon, Bamenda, the population is affected. Once upon a time, seasons were regular. Now, there are so many irregularities that farmers are facing. There are rainfall irregularities as well as too many hours of sunshine. Also, creeping desertification.  

In a bit to bring awareness to climate change and lessen the impact, the government of Cameroon created an adaptation plan; National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC). This consists of 20 adaptation plans which are meant to help citizen deal with the changing conditions. 

The irregularities in the climate are also affecting construction plans. For the locals of Mankon, the dry season is the time to mold mud-bricks, a building material of choice. These bricks are sun-dried, hence, the reliance on the dry season. With the recent irregularities with the climate, rainfall patterns are shaky. Even in what was once the dry season, it sometimes rains. For those who already made and began building plans, the effects are far from stellar. When it rains, the mud bricks, which had been exposed to dry out, suck up water, weaken and eventually scatter. All the efforts used to make them are in vain. 

For those who can afford the extra costs, they turn to using cement bricks instead. These are hollow bricks made from a mix of sand and cement will harden into a strong structure. Because they are hollow, they take less time to dry than the mud bricks. They are also waterproof and will easily resist the pounding of raindrops. Concrete bricks cost about four times more to make than mudbricks. For mud bricks, the soil used to create them is free and only labor has to be paid. For concrete bricks, sand, cement as well as labor need to be accounted for. 

For the locals who can’t afford the concrete bricks luxury, they are taking measures to protect their sun-dried mud bricks from the irregular rainfall. This includes covering them with banana leaves or a polyethene bag whenever it begins to rain. This is effective, up to an extent.