1

CERTIFICATION

I, TABE SHADRACK Ayuk, hereby declare that this piece of work entitled “Socio-Economic

Environment and Food Security in the Student Residential Area of Bonamoussadi” that I am

presenting is not a copy of any work that has been presented before.

STUDENT: TABE SHADRACK Ayuk

Signature:

Date:

SUPERVISOR: Professor AMIN E. Martin

Signature:

Date:

PRESIDENT: Mr. NTENGONG Cletus

Signature:

Date:

EXAMINER: Mr. CHAFFI Cyrille Ivan

Signature:

Date:

2

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to my late father Chief Ayuk Flicson TABE.

3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was a very long and arduous process which could not have been achieved easily

without the help of many people. I am most thankful to God Almighty for the manifestation of His

Will throughout this work.

I am grateful to Prof. Amin Martin E. for putting much of his time in the supervision of this

work. Many thanks also go to all my teachers: Prof. FONKENG George, Mr. NTENGONG Cletus,

Mr. CHAFFI Cyrille Ivan, Mr. EFUET Simon Akem, Mr. ETAMANYOR Edward Eta, Mr. ESIBE

Franklin, and the entire staff of CITEC who instilled in me the concepts, theories, and

methodologies on how to handle the dimensions of social phenomenon using management

perception not leaving out the Administrative Board for the conducive environment for learning.

My profound gratitude goes to my course mates of the 7th Batch of Project Planning and

Management for manifesting some aspects of altruism and leadership qualities during the program.

My special gratitude to my class Board (Mr. Adig Emmanuel Adig, Mrs Ekfuingei Constance and

an auxiliary member Mr. Acha Kirsten) and Angel Wings group for accepting my vision as a

“delegue”. My unforgettable thanks also go to friends, relations, the entire students of CITEC, Mrs.

Endeley Florence, Ms. Franka Fri Foncham, Ms. Konlim Florence, Mr. Agbor Enow Elvis, Mr.

Wilson Mbock Arrey Etta, Mr. Arrey Etta Arrey Divine, Mr. Monju Calasantius, Mr. Adig

Emmanuel, Ms. Mejang Mirreille, Mrs. Nde Adeline, Mr. Fongang Narcisse Fosso, Mr. Ayuk Iyok,

James Ako-Egbe and other informants for their inexhaustible support however small towards the

realization of my program.

I am equally very grateful to my family members Ms. Enow Grace TABE, Mr. Abunaw

Henry TABE, Mr. Atong TABE Samuel, Mr.TABE Ricky Ayuk, Mrs. TABE Doris Vaitl, Mr. Ayuk

Felicson II TABE, Ms. Anne-Claire Biffe, for their love, financial and consistent encouragement

which gives me the opportunity to meet my vision.

4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTIFICATION……………………………………………………………………………………..i

DEDICATION………………………………………………………………………………………..ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………………….....iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………………………….………iv

LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………...………………….v

LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………….……………….vi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS…………………………………………………...…………………..vii

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………..…………….viii

RESUME………………………………………………………………………………..……………ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………1

1.2 Historical Background……………………………………………………………………………2

1.3 Theoretical Background………………………………………….….……………………………3

1.4 Conceptual Background…………………………………………………………………………..4

1.5 Contextual Background……………………………………….…….…………………………….6

1.6 Statement of Problem……………………………………………………………………………..6

1.7 General Objective………………………………………….…………………………………….8

1.8 Research Questions………………………………………………….……………………………8

1.9 Research Hypotheses………………………….…………………………………………………..8

5

1.10 Significance of the study…………………..……………………………………………….8

1.11 Justification of the Study……………………...………………………………………………9

1.12 Scope of Work……………………………………………………………………………….10

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Review of Literature………………………………………….………………………………….11

2.2 Review of Theories……………………………….……………………………………………11

2.3 Review of Concepts………………………………….………………………………………..15

2.4 Conceptual Diagram…………………………………………………………………………….17

2.5 Review of Objective…………………………………………………………………………..18

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Methodology………………………………………………………………………….20

3.2 Research Design……………………………………………………...………………………….20

3.3 Site and Description…………………………………………………..…………………………20

3.4 Population, Sample size and Methodology……………………….……………………………..21

3.5 Data collection Instruments……………………………….……………………………………..22

3.6 Validity and Reliability……………………………………….…………………………………22

3.7 Data analysis Methods…………………………………………….…………………………….23

3.8 research Procedure………………………………………………………………………………23

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

4.1 Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation……………………………………….………………24

4.2 Verification of hypothesis…………………………………………………… …………………25

6

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Discussions…………………………………………………………………………….………..37

5.2 Conclusions…………………………………………………………………………..…………40

5.3 Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………41

References………………………………………………………………………………………....43

Appendix (es)

Appendix A Activity Plan

Appendix B Resource Plan

Appendix C Research Budget

Appendix D Interview Guide

Appendix E Observation Guide

Appendix F Questionnaire of the Study

Appendix G Map of “Bonamoussadi”

Appendix H Sampling Table

7

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Gender…………………………………………….………..………………………………24

Table 2: Marital status…………………………………….……………..…………………………..24

Table 3: Profession……………………………………………..……………………………………25

Table 4: Education……………………………………………………..……………………………26

Table 5: Religion…………………………………………………………………………………….26

Table 6: Does your social interaction have an impact on your choice of food?.................................27

Table 7: Has your eating habits changed because of social ties?........................................................28

Table 8: What determines your food choice?......................................................................................29

Table 9: Do you always rely from friends or relatives for food?........................................................29

Table 10: Does your financial status always permit you to buy food on credit?................................30

Table 11: Which of the following do you spend on most?.................................................................31

Table 12: How often do you do environmental hygiene and sanitation?............................................32

Table 13: What is your main source of drinking water?.....................................................................32

Table 14: Do you think environmental hygiene and sanitation has an impact on your food

consumption?.......................................................................................................................................33

Table 15: Which of the physical and economic restrictions prevent you to have access to sufficient,

safe and nutritious food?.....................................................................................................................34

Table 16: How many times a day do you eat sufficient, safe and nutritious food?............................35

Table 17: Does eating in the restaurant pose health risk?...................................................................35

Table 18: Will you appreciate the study of food security to be implemented in

“Bonamoussadi”?................................................................................................................................36

8

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Gender……………………………………………………….…………………………….24

Figure 2: Marital status………………………………………………...…………………………….25

Figure 3: Profession………………………………………………………………………………….25

Figure 4: Education…………………………………………………………………….……………26

Figure 5: Religion…………………………………………………………...……………………….27

Figure 6: Does your social interaction have an impact on your choice of food?................................27

Figure 7: Has your eating habits changed because of social ties?......................................................28

Figure 8: What determines your food choice?....................................................................................29

Figure 9: Do you always rely from friends or relatives for food?.......................................................30

Figure 10: Does your financial status always permit you to buy food on credit?...............................30

Figure 11: Which of the following do you spend on most?................................................................31

Figure 12: How often do you do environmental hygiene and sanitation?..........................................32

Figure 13: What is your main source of drinking water?....................................................................33

Figure 14: Do you think environmental hygiene and sanitation has an impact on your food

consumption?.......................................................................................................................................33

Figure 15: Which of the physical and economic restrictions prevent you to have access to sufficient,

safe and nutritious food?.....................................................................................................................34

Figure 16: How many times a day do you eat sufficient, safe and nutritious food?...........................35

Figure 17: Does eating in the restaurant pose health risk?..................................................................36

Figure 18: Will you appreciate the study of food security to be implemented in

“Bonamoussadi”?................................................................................................................................36

9

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CEMAC: Communetairé Economic et Monetair d’Afrique Centrale

COMINSUD: Community Initiative for Sustainable Development

CRADAT: Centre Regional Africain d’administration du Travail

FAO: Food and Agricultural Organization

INFOSAN: International Food Safety Authorities Network

LIFDC: Low-Income Food Deficit Country

Km²: Kilo Meter Square

MDG: Millennium Development Goal

MS EXCEL: Microsoft Excel

MSP: Microsoft Project

MS WORD: Microsoft Word

OECD: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

SPSS: Statistical Package for Social Sciences

UNDHR: United Nations Declaration on Human Rights

UNO: United Nations Organization

US$: United State Dollar

WHO: World Health Organization

10

ABSTRACT

This study examined not only on how agricultural policies affect food supply and income, but also

on how the heavily affected populations acquires food, how relationship between low socio-

economic status and poor health is influenced by gender, age, culture, environment, social and

community networks, and individual lifestyle factors on food security in “Bonamoussadi. This was

in relation to the consequences that exist between the ideal and the actual practices of food security

in the area under study that leads to constant food poisoning and some times death due to health risk

posed by improper food handling, lack of basic infrastructural facilities such clean water supply,

drainage accessibility, and toilets especially with food consumption from vendors of street food who

play a significant role in shaping the eating habit of “Bonamoussadi” who are the strength and

ambition of Cameroon’s active population facing a serious threat to Cameroon’s vision 2035

program. The study was conducted through an exploratory research design pattern within the

framework of a survey and case study using both the qualitative and quantitative research strategies

to collect data, during the period of October and November, 2010 using data collection techniques

such as questionnaires, interviews, document analysis and observation from a sample size of 200

subjects in the student residential area of “Bonamoussadi”. The data collected was grouped,

categorized, and analyzed with the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), the data

will then be transferred to Microsoft Word (MS WORD) for interpretation, the work breakdown

plan was used to demonstrate the research time frame using the Gantt chart in Microsoft Project

(MSP) and Microsoft excel (MS Excel) was also used to prepare budget of activities. This study

established that 46% said “yes” as against 10% who said “no”, while 44% said sometimes to social

interaction has an impact on food behavior. From our findings, we accept our research hypothesis.

We therefore recommend that Strategies for sustainable development should involve a much broader

array of policies than agricultural development, since the ecological setting of “Bonamoussadi”

allows people to import food than cultivate food crops in the area.

11

RESUME

Cette étude examine non seulement la façon dont les politiques agricoles affectent

l'approvisionnement alimentaire et les revenus, mais aussi sur la manière dont les populations

démunies acquièrent la nourriture, comment la relation entre le faible statut socio-économique et la

mauvaise santé est influencée par le genre, l'âge, la culture, l’environnement, le social et les réseaux

communautaires, les facteurs de style de vie individuel sur la sécurité alimentaire. L'étude visait à

examiner l'impact socio-économique de la sécurité alimentaire à "Bonamoussadi"(quartier

résidentiel des étudiants). Ceci concernait la relation entre l'écart entre l'idéal et les pratiques

effectives de la sécurité alimentaire dans la zone d'étude, c'est qu'il ya une intoxication alimentaire

constant et d'autres maladies liées à l'alimentation affectant plus de 85% de la population cible en

raison de risques pour la santé posés par les mauvaise manipulations des aliments, le manque

d'infrastructures de base tels l'approvisionnement en eau potable, l'accessibilité de drainage, des

toilettes, en particulier avec la consommation des aliments vendus dans la rue qui jouent un rôle

important en façonnant l'habitude du manger à "Bonamoussadi". Les variations en termes

d'ingrédients, de traitement, les méthodes de commercialisation et la consommation sont souvent le

reflet d'une difficulté croissante à fournir des infrastructures adéquates et d'hygiène de

l'environnement pour assurer une production sécurisée des aliments rendant la population cible

vulnérable vis-à-vis de la sécurité alimentaire, ce qui a un impact négatif sur leur participation

active, santé et des fois la mort. L'étude a été réalisée grâce à un modèle de conception de la

recherche exploratoire dans le cadre d'une étude de cas et l'enquête en utilisant les stratégies de

recherche qualitative et quantitative de collecte de données, au cours de la période d’Octobre et de

Novembre 2010, en utilisant des techniques de collecte de données telles que des questionnaires,

interviews, l'analyse de documents et l'observation d'un échantillon de 200 sujets dans le quartier

résidentiel des étudiants de "Bonamoussadi". Les données recueillies ont été regroupées, classées et

analysées avec l’outil de traitement des données "Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), les

données seront ensuite transférées vers Microsoft Word (MS WORD) pour l’analyse, le

commentaire, le plan de répartition du travail sera utilisé pour démontrer la planification du travail à

l’aide du diagramme du GANTT, qui jouxte avec Ms WORD et MS EXCEL entre autres, cela nous

a permis de créer le plan d’activités, de ressource et le budget.. Cette étude a établi que 46% ont dit

«oui» contre 10% qui ont dit «non», tandis que 44% ont parfois dit oui que l'interaction sociale a un

impact sur le comportement alimentaire, 21,3% ont répondu «oui» contre 34% qui ont dit «non» ,

12

tandis que 44% ont répondu «parfois», 88% ont dit «oui», contre 4% qui ont dit «non», tandis que

8% ont dit que l'hygiène du milieu et de l'assainissement "parfois" a un impact sur la consommation

alimentaire. De nos résultats, nous acceptons notre hypothèse de recherche et nous rejetons

l'hypothèse nulle en raison du lien entre l'environnement socio-économique et la Sécurité

alimentaire. De cela certains recommandations ont été formulées à l’encontre du gouvernement :

Les stratégies du développement durable devraient intégrer une plus grande étendue de variété de

produits ainsi que le développement agricole ; puisque la zone écologique de « Bonamousadi »

permet juste d’importer les aliments que de la culture desdits aliments dans la zone.

13

ABSTRACT

This study examined not only on how agricultural policies affect food supply and income, but also

on how the heavily affected populations acquires food, how relationship between low socio-

economic status and poor health is influenced by gender, age, culture, environment, social and

community networks, and individual lifestyle factors on food security. The study sought to examine

the socio-economic impact of food security in the student residential area of “Bonamoussadi”-

Yaounde in Cameroon. This was in relation to the consequences that exist between the ideal and the

actual practices of food security in the area under study that leads to constant food poisoning and

some times death due to health risk posed by improper food handling, lack of basic infrastructural

facilities such as clean water supply, drainage accessibility, and toilets especially consuming from

vendors of street food who play a significant role in shaping the eating habit of “Bonamoussadi”

inhabitants who are the strength and ambition of Cameroon’s active population facing a serious

threat to Cameroon’s vision 2035 program. The study was conducted through an exploratory

research design pattern within the framework of a survey and case study using both qualitative and

quantitative research patterns to collect data, during the period of October and November, 2010

using data collection techniques such as questionnaires, interviews, document analysis and

observation from a sample size of 200 subjects in the student residential area of “Bonamoussadi”.

The data collected was grouped, categorized, and analyzed with the use of Statistical Package for

Social Sciences (SPSS), the data is then be transferred to Microsoft Word (MS WORD) for

interpretation, the work breakdown plan was used to demonstrate the research time frame using the

Gantt chart in Microsoft Project (MSP). This study established that 46% said “yes” as against 10%

who said “no”, while 44% said sometimes to social interaction has an impact on food behavior;

21.3% answered “yes” as against 34% who said “no”, while 44% said “sometimes”; 88% said “yes”

as against 4% who said “no”, while 8% said environmental hygiene and sanitation “sometimes” has

an impact on food consumption. From our findings, we accept our research hypothesis.

14

RESUME

Cette étude examine non seulement la façon dont les politiques agricoles affectent

l'approvisionnement alimentaire et les revenus, mais aussi sur la manière dont les populations

démunies acquièrent la nourriture, comment la relation entre le faible statut socio-économique et la

mauvaise santé est influencée par le genre, l'âge, la culture, l’environnement, le social et les réseaux

communautaires, les facteurs de style de vie individuel sur la sécurité alimentaire. L'étude visait à

examiner l'impact socio-économique de la sécurité alimentaire à "Bonamoussadi"(quartier

résidentiel des étudiants). Ceci concernait la relation entre l'écart entre l'idéal et les pratiques

effectives de la sécurité alimentaire dans la zone d'étude, c'est qu'il ya une intoxication alimentaire

constant et d'autres maladies liées à l'alimentation affectant plus de 85% de la population cible en

raison de risques pour la santé posés par les mauvaise manipulations des aliments, le manque

d'infrastructures de base tels l'approvisionnement en eau potable, l'accessibilité de drainage, des

toilettes, en particulier avec la consommation des aliments vendus dans la rue qui jouent un rôle

important en façonnant l'habitude du manger à "Bonamoussadi". Les variations en termes

d'ingrédients, de traitement, les méthodes de commercialisation et la consommation sont souvent le

reflet d'une difficulté croissante à fournir des infrastructures adéquates et d'hygiène de

l'environnement pour assurer une production sécurisée des aliments rendant la population cible

vulnérable vis-à-vis de la sécurité alimentaire, ce qui a un impact négatif sur leur participation

active, santé et des fois la mort. L'étude a été réalisée grâce à un modèle de conception de la

recherche exploratoire dans le cadre d'une étude de cas et l'enquête en utilisant les stratégies de

recherche qualitative et quantitative de collecte de données, au cours de la période d’Octobre et de

Novembre 2010, en utilisant des techniques de collecte de données telles que des questionnaires,

interviews, l'analyse de documents et l'observation d'un échantillon de 200 sujets dans le quartier

résidentiel des étudiants de "Bonamoussadi". Les données recueillies ont été regroupées, classées et

analysées avec l’outil de traitement des données "Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), les

données seront ensuite transférées vers Microsoft Word (MS WORD) pour l’analyse, le

commentaire, le plan de répartition du travail sera utilisé pour démontrer la planification du travail à

l’aide du diagramme du GANTT, qui jouxte avec Ms WORD et MS EXCEL entre autres, cela nous

a permis de créer le plan d’activités, de ressource et le budget.. Cette étude a établi que 46% ont dit

«oui» contre 10% qui ont dit «non», tandis que 44% ont parfois dit oui que l'interaction sociale a un

impact sur le comportement alimentaire, 21,3% ont répondu «oui» contre 34% qui ont dit «non» ,

15

tandis que 44% ont répondu «parfois», 88% ont dit «oui», contre 4% qui ont dit «non», tandis que

8% ont dit que l'hygiène du milieu et de l'assainissement "parfois" a un impact sur la consommation

alimentaire. De nos résultats, nous acceptons notre hypothèse de recherche et nous rejetons

l'hypothèse nulle en raison du lien entre l'environnement socio-économique et la Sécurité

alimentaire. De cela certains recommandations ont été formulées à l’encontre du gouvernement :

Les stratégies du développement durable devraient intégrer une plus grande étendue de variété de

produits ainsi que le développement agricole ; puisque la zone écologique de « Bonamousadi »

permet juste d’importer les aliments que de la culture desdits aliments dans la zone.

16

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The concept of food security has been a major preoccupation for the international

community over time. As early as 1948, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UNHR)

recognized food as a core element of an adequate standard of living. The definition for food security

was universally adopted during the World Food Summit in Rome-Italy in1996. Cameroon with a

surface area of 475.440 km² and population of 19.4 million inhabitants is blessed with enormous

land, water, forest resources and reserves. The cultural, biological and landscape diversities make it

to pride as Africa in miniature; Cameroon is an unquestionable giant with respect to its population

and potentials and also referred to the bread basket of the Economic Monetary Communities for

Central Africa (CEMAC).

Today, Cameroon seems to be living on its past glories as economic and social conditions

fall short of guaranteeing a decent living for its inhabitants, caught in a web of hunger,

unemployment and underemployment as is grossly manifested by a drop in its growth rate to 2% in

2009 as opposed to 4.2% in 2003 (COMINSUD, 2010), Cameroon is also a low-income food-

insecure country ranked 144th of 177 countries: 40 percent of the population has an income of less

than US$1 a day; 18 percent of children under 5 are underweight. The rate of severe acute

malnutrition ranges from 0.3 percent to 1.9 percent in the northern part of the country. (UNDPHD

Report, 2006).

Food security has long been used as an important macro-level indicator of agricultural

stability and progress for both agricultural and economic researchers. However, little work has been

done to operationalize the concept at the household level. We view household food security as a

concept that integrates socio-economic and environmental factors in a manner that can provide a

useful tool for predicting dietary patterns within the student residential area of “Bonamoussadi”.

These factors affect the manner in which households manage their food resources, either by

affecting initial food selection and acquisition or by affecting the use of food once it has been

selected. Household food security is an outcome of these decisions.

17

This study seeks to further the operationalization of household food security in three ways. First,

a thematic background for household food security is presented, describing the set of relevant

independent, intervening, and dependent variables. Second, a framework for operationalization is

presented, using data collected from households in “Bonamoussadi”. Third, the relevance of

household food security, measured at the micro level, is examined through data analysis,

interpretation that predicts household food security and finally conclusion and recommendation to

the government and stake holders.

1.2 Historical Background

The concept of food security has gone through various transformations over the last several

decades, as has development theory in general. As early as 1948, the Universal Declaration on

Human Rights recognized the right to food as a core element of an adequate standard of living. The

1960s, known as the “development decade” was a time of hope for the Third World which included

the real aspiration of ending hunger. In 1960, the United Nations Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO) launched the International Freedom from Hunger Campaign which mobilized

governments and non-government support. The goal was to end hunger by enabling people to grow

enough to feed themselves, rather than through reliance on food aid. At the time, much emphasis

was placed on national governments to produce enough food to supply the demand in their

countries, hunger would disappear. Policy makers in the 1960s and more so in the 1970s were also

increasingly worried about the “population explosion.” High food prices and a growing population

led policy makers to worry about national food security; their principal concern was running out of

food for the world’s growing population. Resources were directed towards improvements in

agriculture production and the “Green Revolution” did increase absolute output dramatically. In

1974, the UN World Food Conference in Rome recommended the adoption of an International

Undertaking on World Food Security at the World Food Conference. Governments examined the

global problem of food production and consumption, and solemnly proclaimed that "every man,

woman and child has the inalienable right to be free from hunger and malnutrition in order to

develop their physical and mental faculties." Despite the focus on individuals, policy makers were

still mostly concerned with national food security, and failed to take into account access and

distribution within countries. In the 1980s-1990s the paradigm shifted as policy makers began to

explore individual and household food security as opposed to food security from a national

18

perspective. It was gradually accepted that food availability alone does not provide food security.

A combination of factors including groundbreaking publications, a deterioration of living standards

in the Third World, and severe famine in Africa helped ushers in the paradigm change. The 1984-85

famines in Africa also had a profound impact on food security theory and practice, which led to a

“livelihoods perspective.” The famines in Africa revealed people intentionally suffering from

hunger rather than losing their assets. People assess their risk and have to take into account short-

term and long-term survival. This is especially true in populations that are frequently subject to

crisis. It was accepted that food is not always the first priority of people living through a famine, but

one objective out of many. In 1994, the FAO launched the Special Programme for Food Security;

targeting low-income food-deficit countries to increase food production in order reach a goal of

halving the number of hungry in the world by 2015. In 2000, at the United Nations Millennium

Summit, world leaders agreed to a set of time-bound and measurable goals and targets for

combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination

against women. These goals and targets became known as the Millennium Development Goals

(MDG). MDG 1 is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by reducing by half the proportion of

people living on less than a dollar a day, and reducing by half the proportion of people who suffer

from hunger by 2016. The World Food Summit in 2002 reaffirmed the international community's

commitment to reduce hunger by half by 2015.

1.3 Theoretical Background

The theoretical background of this study is guided by the population theory advanced by the

English economist Sir. Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834). In his theory he postulated that

population would increase at a geometric rate and the food supply at the arithmetic rate. This

disharmony will lead to widespread poverty and starvation which would only be checked by natural

occurrences such as disasters, disease, high infant mortality, famine, war or moral restraint. It was

adopted for this study in order to identify the impact of socio-economic and environmental features

on food security in “Bonamoussadi”. Malthusian population theory was eventually dismissed for its

pessimism and failure to take into account technological advancement in agriculture and food

production.

In this regard, the population theory of the Danish agricultural economist Esther Boserup has

been proposed because she offers a hopeful alternative to the Malthusian theory. When, the

19

population is reaching the point when the food supply is reaching exhaustion. Malthus says, the

extra people have to die. Boserup says that you just have to upgrade the productivity of the food

supply. Under pressure of numbers, with more mouths to feed, people put more labor and more

intense effort into feeding themselves, and find ways to get more food production out of the land.

They cultivate the land more intensively; they add extra manure, extra fertilizer, and extra water and

improve their crops. They invent their way out of the Malthusian crisis. Indeed, the Malthusian trap

may even drive the development of technology. As Chairman Mau maintained, each mouth comes

with a pair of hands. Boserup developed her ideas in connection with traditional farming systems in

South East Asia, but her ideas have been applied to global agricultural patterns.

If Boserup is right, then the most advanced agricultural technology should be found in places

which are closest to a Malthusian crisis. High-tech agriculture should therefore only be found in

places with large populations of near-starving people. Unfortunately, the places with the food

shortages tend to have low-tech agriculture, and the high-tech parts of the world tend to have high

living standards and plenty of food.

Probably we don't have to choose between Boserup and Malthus. They can both be right.

Malthus is talking about the potential for a population to face environmental limits. Boserup is

talking about overcoming those limits through culture and technology.

However, the target population in my study involve themselves in the informal sector

supplementing the remittances from relations in order to invent their way out of food crisis and

sustain livelihoods.

1.4 Conceptual Background

The concept of food security has been a major preoccupation for the international community

over time. The definition for food security has been universally adopted during the World Food

Summit in 1996 as thus: “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and

economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food

preferences for an active and healthy life”. Food insecurity exists when this access is jeopardized.

From this definition, some dimensions of food security can be identified:

20

Physical Availability of food: Food availability addresses the “supply side” of food security and is

determined by the level of food production, stock levels and net trade; enough food for an active and

healthy life (World Bank, 1986).

Economic and Physical access to food: An adequate supply of food does not itself guarantee level

of food security or sufficient food. The focus on economic and physical access is whether and how

people acquire food and is rooted in nutritional planning.

Stability of the other dimensions over time: Even if food intake is adequate today still considers

food insecure if there is inadequate access to food on a periodic basis.

Food: means any substance or product, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed,

intended to be, or reasonably expected to be ingested by humans. "Food" includes drink, chewing

gum and any substance, including water, intentionally incorporated into the food during its

manufacture, preparation or treatment (European Parliament and of the Council, 28 January 2002).

Security indicates protecting against risk of inadequate access and risk of fluctuation of prices.

Transitory food insecurity means a group of people face a temporal decline in food security in

duration caused by insufficient food consumption.

Hunger usually understood as an uncomfortable or painful sensation.

Poverty refers different dimensions of deprivation that relate to human capabilities including

consumption and food security, health, education, rights, voice, security, dignity, and decent work.

Chronic food insecurity implies the target population runs a continual high risk of inability to meet

food needs.

Seasonal food insecurity is of limited duration it can also be seen as recurrent, transitory food

insecurity. It occurs when there is a cyclical pattern of inadequate availability and access to food.

This is associated with seasonal fluctuations in the climate, cropping patterns, food prices, work

opportunities and disease.

Feeding habits according to the Dictionary of Anthropology referred to “food ways”. These food

ways are the ideas and behaviors that affect what people eat.

Socio-economic environment refers to the interrelationship and social behavioural pattern and in

relation to employment and ecology.

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1.5 Contextual Background

Contextualizing the concept of food security in an area dominated by people from different

backgrounds as lesser professionals involved in the informal service sector such as documentation,

tailoring, hairdressing, provisions stores, and other businesses, street-vended foods is growing leaps

and bounds and has gone through various transformations over the last decades in sustaining

livelihoods. The socio-economic features of the population under study show that the student

population is the greatest parts of inhabitant of “Bonamoussadi”. This is because the area is a multi

socio-economic and cultural environment where student converged to pursue education at different

levels in Yaounde. All categories of people live in this area and involved themselves either

concurrently while schooling or solely in small businesses to sustain livelihoods.

Feeding habit in “Bonamoussadi” operates within an ecological framework characterized by social,

economic, academic, physical, and psychological factors. Social influences on food intake affect the

way one or more persons has on the eating behavior of others, either direct or indirect, either

conscious or unconscious. Even when eating alone, food choice is influenced by social factors

because attitudes and habits develop through their interaction with others. Also, the low socio-

economic and poor health is complicated and is influenced by gender, age, culture, environment,

social and community networks, individual lifestyle factors and health behavior. Low-income group

who find it difficult to achieve a balanced healthy diet, are often referred to as experiencing food

poverty or food insecurity. Moreover, ecology does not provide much influence on food production

because food stuffs are imported from out of the area, this has led to an increase in the need for

food-vending that has shaped the food pattern of the population under study.

1.6 Statement of the Problem

The problem of our study is that both physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious

food to meet dietary needs and food preference to active and healthy life is jeopardized due to

certain factors such as unemployment and underemployment level exacerbated by the high cost of

utilities, health care, poor food habit, and lack of other necessities, among which is increasing

reliance of street vended foods which most times do not meet healthy hygienic conditions explain

the primary contributing factors why the dimensions of food security cannot be met in

“Bonamoussadi” which is characterized by mostly marshy areas popularly known as “elobi”,

household waste most times narrow the course of streams when there is downpour. Coupled to this,

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the hostels are built in a haphazard manner; this makes the penetration of sunlight that transformed

energy into vitamin D very difficult. Toilets are either located behind or besides another hostel to

make it worse, constant food poisoning and other related food borne diseases is affecting more than

85% of the target population due to health risk posed by improper food handling, lack of basic

infrastructural facilities such clean water supply, drainage accessibility, toilets, especially with

street-vended foods consumption which play a significant role in shaping the eating habit of the

people in “Bonamoussadi” outweigh their benefits. The variations in terms of ingredients,

processing, methods of marketing and consumption often reflect a growing difficulty to provide

adequate infrastructure and environmental hygiene to ensure safe production of food making the

target population vulnerable to food insecurity, consequently leading a negative impact on their

active, healthy and some times death.

1.7 General Objective

To examine the impact of socio-economic environment on food security in

“Bonamoussadi”

1.7.1 Specific Objectives

1. To determine the impact social interaction has on food security in “Bonamoussadi”

2. To examine if income determines access to food supply in “Bonamoussadi”

3. To investigate the hygienic condition of food consumption in “Bonamoussadi”

1.8 Main Question

What is the impact of socio-economic environment on food security in “Bonamoussadi”?

1.8.1 Specific Questions

1. Does social interaction have an impact on food security in “Bonamoussadi”?

2. Does income level determine access to food supply in “Bonamoussadi”?

3. Does environmental hygiene and sanitation affect food consumption in “Bonamoussadi”?

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1.9 Main Hypotheses

Socio-economic environment has an impact on food security

1.9.1 Hypotheses

1. Social interaction has an impact on food security in “Bonamoussadi”

2. Income determines access to food supply in “Bonamoussadi”

3. Environmental hygiene and sanitation affects food consumption in “Bonamoussadi”

1.10 Significance of the Study

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights recognized the right to food as a core element of

an adequate standard of living. This study does not only bring out the inadequacies in this

fundamental human right among the target population, but also hope that the assessment of food

security in “Bonamoussadi” will be useful in further scholarly research because it seeks to

examining food security in relation to socio-economic environment, the way it is perceived, and

adopting strategies to improve on it. This study is also expected to improve practice because the

target population lives daily on street-vended food since street food sector plays an important role in

providing accessible, low-cost meals for our target population. Vendors are often poorly educated

and untrained in food safety. They often work under unsanitary conditions with little or no

infrastructure support. However research has shown that the majority of food-related illnesses and

death could be controlled, or eliminated, by the use of proper food handling techniques (Haply and

Probart, 2004). Therefore, education and training of street-food vendors may offer the most cost-

effective way to reduce the incidence of food borne disease.

Besides the present predicament, this study will help Cameroon in its Vision 2035 which aimed

at making the country an emergent nation that sets out the frame work for boosting growth to 5.5%,

creating formal sector jobs and cutting the underemployment rate from 39.9% in 2007 to 28.7%

(GESP, 2010).

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1.11 Justification

The Republic of Cameroon is a low-income food-insecure country with 19.4 million

inhabitants. The United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report for 2006

ranked it 144th of 177 countries: 40 percent of the population has an income of less than US$1 a

day; 18 percent of children under 5 are underweight. The rate of severe acute malnutrition ranges

from 0.3 percent to 1.9 percent in the north. Today, Cameroon seems to be living on its past glories

as economic and social conditions fall short of guaranteeing a decent living for its inhabitants,

caught in a web of hunger, unemployment and underemployment as is grossly manifested by a drop

in its growth rate to 2% in 2009 as opposed to 4.2% in 2003 (COMINSUD, 2010), an obscured and

deteriorating fiscal situation partially resulting a continuous drop in its oil revenue thus forcing the

president of the republic to down size its 20011 national budget by 50 billion francs cfa (Budgetary

session, 2010).

Meanwhile street food sector plays a very important role in providing accessible, low-cost

meals for urban poor populations of “Bonamoussadi”, a quarter in Ngoa-Ekelle III sub-division with

estimated population of 17096 inhabitants with a population density scale to 18 hectares in the

Yaoundé 3 division. Contamination of street food by chemical and microbiological pathogens,

atmospheric nuisance and other factors is believed to be a significant contributor to food borne

diseases. Poor environmental sanitation, inadequate infrastructure and improper food handling are

also the main health risk factors associated with street foods which usually outweighs benefits from

street-food vending.

Food security has gone through various transformations over the last several decades, as has

development theory in general. The Universal Declaration on Human Rights recognized the right to

food as a core element of an adequate standard of living. This study can best be described as

“exploratory research” because it seeks to investigate food security situation that has been

exacerbated with high cost of utilities and health care; and its impact on the student residential area

of “Bonamossadi” who are the strength and ambition of Cameroon’s active population which is

grossly affected by the county’s low growth rate.

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1.12 Scope of the Study

This study is concern with socio-economic environment and food security and will be conducted in

“Bonamoussadi”, a quarter in Ngoa-Ekelle III sub-division with estimated population of 17096

inhabitants with a population density scale to 18 hectares in the Yaoundé 3 division boarded by

Obili at the North and Melen at the East. The time frame of the study is between October and

November 2010 through a cross sectional sample survey of assessing student’s socio-economic and

environmental influences on food security. Data will be collected using questionnaires, interviews,

Focus Group Discussions, and document analysis techniques. Stakeholders involved in the study

include local street vendors, World Food Programme, the National Food Security Programme at the

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Food and Agricultural Organization and some

interested parties in the field. The first part of this study is to mobilize the community and collect

data and in the second part seek to do analysis, interpretation of analysis and make recommendation

to stakeholders.

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CHAPTER TWO

2.1 LITERATURE REVIEW

Although a large amount of literature exists on food security assessment of households, very little

attention has been paid on food security assessment, but none has been made explicitly to examine

the “socio-economic environment and food security in the student residential area of

“Bonamoussadi”,Yaounde-Cameroon”. The universal Declaration on Human rights recognized the

right to food as a core element of an adequate standard of living Article 25 (UN 1948). Since then,

World leaders agreed to a set of time-bound and measurable goals and targets for combating

poverty, hunger, illiteracy, environmental degradation… These goals and targets became what is

known as the Millennium Development Goals. MDG 1 is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

by reducing by half the proportion of people living on less than one dollar a day, and reducing by

half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2016. Later the World Food Summit in

1996 conventionally conceptualized and defined food security as: “food security exist when, all

people at all times, have physical and economical access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to

meet their dietary needs, and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” Today, for food

security objectives to be realized, three main pillars of food availability, food access, and food

stability must be properly analyzed. “…The priorities which we set - revival of growth, improvement

of the standard of living…” (President Paul Biya’s speech on the eve new year, 2009).

2.2 Review of Theories

Review of theories for this study was framed by theorists such as Esther Boserup (Boserup’s

theory), Adam Smith, and David Ricardo (Subsistence theory) and Abraham Maslow (Maslow

Hierarchy of needs). These theories are used to examine socio-economic environment and food

security in “Bonamoussadi”.

The review of this work has been modeled by the population theory of the Danish agricultural

economist Esther Boserup has been adopted because she offers a hopeful alternative to the

Malthusian theory. When, the population is reaching the point when the food supply is reaching

exhaustion. Malthus says, the extra people have to die. Boserup says that you just have to upgrade

the productivity of the food supply. Under pressure of numbers, with more mouths to feed, people

put more labor and more intense effort into feeding themselves, and find ways to get more food

27

production out of the land. They cultivate the land more intensively; they add extra manure, extra

fertilizer, and extra water and improve their crops. They invent their way out of the Malthusian

crisis. Indeed, the Malthusian trap may even drive the development of technology. As Chairman

Mau maintained, each mouth comes with a pair of hands. Boserup developed her ideas in connection

with traditional farming systems in South East Asia, but her ideas have been applied to global

agricultural patterns.

If Boserup is right, then the most advanced agricultural technology should be found in places which

are closest to a Malthusian crisis. High-tech agriculture should therefore only be found in places

with large populations of near-starving people. Unfortunately, the places with the food shortages

tend to have low-tech agriculture, and the high-tech parts of the world tend to have high living

standards and plenty of food.

Probably we don't have to choose between Boserup and Malthus. They can both be right. Malthus is

talking about the potential for a population to face environmental limits. Boserup is talking about

overcoming those limits through culture and technology.

Again, the subsistence theory adumbrated by the Scottish economist Adam smith, and developed

fully by David Ricardo who emphasized that the consumption needed to sustain and maintain the

working population as the chief determinants of wage levels. Ricardo argued that if earnings should

fall below subsistence level, the labour force will not reproduce itself; if earnings should rise above

subsistence level, more working class children than the number needed to replenish the labour force

would survive and wages again would be forced down to subsistence levels by the competition of

labourers for the available jobs. The assumptions of the subsistence theory were invalidated by the

fact of subsequent economic history. In advance countries, the output of food and other consumer

goods increased more rapidly than population during the later 19th and 20th centuries. The wages

accordingly rose well above subsistence levels.

The subsistence theory was adopted for this study in order to conceptualize the state of food security

to the responsive working population of “Bonamoussadi” as the chief determinants in their

predominant nonfarm informal service sector supplemented by remittances from relations to the

consumption needed to invent their way out of food crisis in order to for sustain livelihoods.

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Moreover, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a theory in Psychology, proposed by Abraham Maslow in

his 1943 Paper A Theory of Human Motivation. In it, he subsequently extended the idea to include

his observations of humans’ innate curiosity. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is often portrayed in the

shape of a pyramid, with the largest and lowest levels of needs at the bottom, and the need for self-

actualization at the top.

The lower four layers of the pyramid contain what Maslow called "deficiency needs" or "d-needs":

esteem, friendship and love, security, and physical needs. With the exception of the lowest

(physiological) needs, if these "deficiency needs" are not met, the body gives no physical indication

but the individual feels anxious and tense.

Self-actualization creativityspontaneity,

problem solving,

lack of prejudice

Esteem Self-esteem,

Confidence,achievement,

Respect of others,respect by others

Love/Belonging Friendship,family,sexual intimacy

Security of body, of employment, of resources,

Safety of morality, of the family, of health, of property

Physiological Breathin, food, water, shelter, sex,excretion

(Dina, 2010)

However, whatever theory chosen for this study, we shall confirm as adopted in 1948 by the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights which recognized the right to food as a core element of an

adequate standard of living, also food is supposed to be one of the most basic human needs within a

hierarchy of concerns (Maslow, cited in Handy 1985:30). Within this hierarchy

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Lower-order needs (physiological and safety) are dominant until satisfied, where upon the higher

order needs to come into operation… if you are starving, your needs for esteem or status will be

unimportant; only food matters. (Handy 1985:30).

Much food security has assumed this logic and the urgency to satisfy food needs which it implies,

such that these needs are met by poor households before and in preference to all others. Hopkins

argued that food security stands as a fundamental need, basic to all human needs and the

organization of social life. Access to necessary nutrients is fundamental not only to life per se, but

also to stable and enduring social order (Hopkins 1986:4).

2.3 Review of Concepts

(World Food Programme2009:23). Analyzes these three main pillars which are:

Food availability

Food availability is the physical presence of food in the area of concern through all forms of

domestic production, commercial imports and food aid. Food availability might be aggregated at the

regional, national, district or community level. In (EFSA 2010), food availability is usually analyzed

at the district and community levels; national and regional food availability may be considered when

developing future scenarios and discussing response options. Food availability is determined by:

• Production is food produced in the area;

• Trade is food brought into the area through market mechanisms;

• Stocks are food held by traders and in government reserves;

• Transfers are food supplied by the government and/or aid agencies.

Food access

Food access concerns a household’s ability to acquire adequate amounts of food, through one or a

combination of own home production and stocks, purchases, barter, gifts, borrowing and food aid.

The following are some examples:

• own production – crops, livestock, etc.;

• Hunting, fishing and gathering of wild foods;

• purchase at markets, shops, etc.;

• Barter – exchange of items for food;

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• Gifts from friends/relatives, community, government, aid agencies, etc.

Food may be available but not accessible to certain households if they cannot acquire a sufficient

quantity or diversity of food through these mechanisms.

Food utilization

Food utilization refers to households’ use of the food to which they have access, and individuals’

ability to absorb and metabolize the nutrients – the conversion efficiency of the body. Food

utilization includes:

• the ways in which food is stored, processed and prepared, including the water and cooking fuel

used, and hygiene conditions;

• feeding practices, particularly for individuals with special nutrition needs, such as babies, young

children, the elderly, sick people, and pregnant or lactating women;

• the sharing of food within the household, and the extent to which this corresponds to individuals’

nutrition needs - growth, pregnancy, lactation, etc.;

• the health status of each member of the household.

Food may be available and accessible but certain household members may not benefit fully if they

do not receive an adequate share of the food in terms of quantity and diversity, or if their bodies are

unable to absorb food because of poor food preparation or sickness.

Again, in Simon Maxwell & Marisol Smith, focuses on a neutral but important dimension of food

security which is

Security

Security indicates secure access to enough food. This builds on the idea of vulnerability of

entitlement failure focusing more clearly on risk. The notion of risk and risk avoidance is central to

the definition of food security. However, the scope has widened with that of food security itself to

focus on increasingly on individual and household level analysis. The World Food Conference

identified the risk of “ acute food shortages in the event of widespread crop failure, natural or other

disasters,” as well as risk of fluctuations in production or prices (UN 1975:14). By the mid 1980s,

“analysis of risk of inadequate access (had become) an important concern” (World Bank, 1989)

and food insecurity was more often defined in terms of risk: by Phillips and Tailor (1990) and By

Von Braum (1991) as” the risk of an on going lack of access by people to the food they need.”

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The FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission defines “street-vended foods” or its shorter

equivalent “street foods” as ready-to-eat foods prepared and/or sold by vendors and hawkers

especially in the streets and other public places (CAC-GL 22 rev.1, 1999)

2.4 Conceptual Diagram

This review postulates that socio-economic environment is defined using the variables of nutrition,

livelihood security, and ecological sustainability in “Bonamoussadi” directly affects healthy life,

Socio-economic environment

Independent variable

Social Interaction

Marriage/Relationship

Food intake

Gifts/Aid from relation

Economic Impact

Market Prices

Food Prices

Purchasing Power

Barter- Exchange of items for

Food

Hygienic Conditions

Public Health Environment

Method of Food Preparation

Adequate infrastructure

Mode of Selling

Creating awareness

Causes

Extraneous variable

Food security in “Bonamoussadi”

Dependent variable

Employment

status

Prices of goods

Hygiene and sanitation

Healthy Life

Food availability

Sufficient & Safe Food

Avoid moldy and damaged food

Active Life

Social & Human Capital

Fixed Income

Management of Income

Economic Environment

Ecological Sustainability

Good Personal Hygiene

Food cooked at 70 ̊C and

consume hot

Basic Infrastructure eg toilets,

safe water

Education and Training of food

vendors

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active life, and stability representing food security. However, this relationship may be modified by

employment status, food prices, and hygiene and sanitation of the population under study.

2.5 Reviews by Objectives

Determine the impact social interaction has on food security

The World Food Programme, (2009:23) identified three pillars in which food security is based

among which one of them is physical access to food. From their analysis, access to food concerns a

household’s ability to acquire adequate food, through one or a combination of own home production

and stocks, purchases, barter, gifts,

On the other hand, Food and Agricultural Organization (Page 1) concern itself about sufficient

economic access to food is linked to variables such as employment, incomes, expenditure, food

prices in order to attain food security objectives. But WFP/FAO (2009:6) indicated that majority of

households are characterized by high levels of poverty and food insecurity. Therefore, coping with

vulnerability to food insecurity and maintaining the minimum humanitarian standard, improving

employment and livelihood sustainability will also achieve food security objectives.

Considering the assertion above, social factors is an important determinant of food behavoiur

because social influences on food intake refers to the impact that one or more persons have on the

eating behavior of others because attitudes and habits develop through interaction with others.

To examine if income determines access to food supply

WFP/FAO SEFsec (2009:27) report show that household expenditures are greater than their

income with the exception of food secure and marginally secure people suggesting income gap and

their ability to save for rainy days. Income however is unreliable as an indicator of household

poverty level due to the tendency of people to report and sometimes underreport their level of

income, particularly if they are involved in illegal trade but also if they receive remittances from

relations and social networks.

Food Security Information for Action Practical Guides (P. 7) maintains that majority households

have reduced expenditures on both the quantity and quality of food because of low-income. If this is

33

not addressed properly, the effect will be transitory food insecurity which occurs when there is a

sudden drop in the ability to produce or access enough food to maintain good nutritional status.

To investigate hygienic condition of food consumption

(INFOSAN) information Note No. 3/2010, cited poor environmental sanitation, inadequate

infrastructure and improper food handling as the main risk factors associated with street food. The

FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission defines “street-vended foods” or its shorter

equivalent “street foods” as ready-to-eat foods prepared and/or sold by vendors and hawkers

especially in the streets and other public places (CAC-GL 22 rev.1, 1999). While street foods are an

important source of ready-to-eat nutritious, low-cost meals for the urban poor, the health risk posed

by such foods may outweigh their benefits. Street foods show great variation in terms of ingredients,

processing, methods of marketing and consumption. There is much diversity in the raw materials as

well as in the method of preparation of street foods. In addition, there are differences in the places

where street foods are prepared and can be broadly grouped as follows:

Food prepared in small-scale food factories or traditional workshops; Food prepared in the home;

Food prepared in markets; and Food prepared on the street. These categories reflect a growing

difficulty to provide adequate infrastructure and environmental hygiene to ensure the safe

production of food. However, it should be emphasized that safe food can be prepared on the street if

appropriate food handling measures are observed. For example, food cooked to 70° C and consumed

piping hot poses little or no risk from pathogenic microorganisms, regardless of sanitary conditions

of the environment. If food must be prepared in advance, or if there are leftovers or if food needs to

be transported some distance from one location to another, be sure to store the food either hot (best

above 60° C) or cold (best below 5° C).

34

CHAPTER THREE

3.1 Research Methodology

This chapter presents a detailed description of the research methodology of this work. Methodology

refers to the detailed procedure that will be followed to realize the research objectives. Just like in

any scientific study, the methodology that is employed in this study includes a description of the

research design, population and sampling methodology, instrumentation and their validity as well as

data analysis techniques.

3.2 Research Design

This study will be conducted through an exploratory research design pattern within the framework

of a survey and case study using both the qualitative and quantitative research strategies to collect

data.

3.2.1 A Survey

A Survey research design was carried out, it permitted us to present oriented methodology used to

investigate population by selecting samples to analyze and discover occurrences. It was used to

provide numeric descriptions of some part of the population and to describe and explain events as

they are, as they were or as they will be. The design was selected for this study because we consider

issues such as economy of the design, rapid data collection and ability to understand a population

from a part of it.

3.2.2 Case Study

A case study which is an intensive, descriptive and holistic analysis of a single entity will also be

adopted for the purpose of studying a single entity in depth in order to gain insight into the larger

cases and to describe and explain rather than to predict a phenomenon; this design has been selected

because we will be using smaller samples for in depth analysis.

35

3.3 Site and Description

“Bonamoussadi” is one of the quarters in the Yaoundé 3 sub-division located in Mfoundi Division

of the Centre Region in Cameroon which covers a total are of 68 950 km2 with headquarters in

Yaoundé. “Bonamoussadi”, for the purpose of this study is divided into five geographical zones.

Each of these zones is separated by a network of roads which are not motorable. A main road cut

across this residential area which is mainly used by vehicles to get into the quarters. CRADAT,

“Carrefour condom”, “Parlement” are some of the major business spots. Unlike in some residential

areas in Yaounde where food –vending places are somehow indented, in “Bonamoussadi” they are

situated along the main and major roads of the zones. Like any other quarter in the Ngoa-Ekelle

neighborhoods, in “Bonamoussadi” population increase is alarming coupled with the fact that after

graduation, most students do not see the need to return to their parents homes without a job at hand.

Lyengu (1990:24) presents the city of Yaounde as composed of demarcated quarters according to

ethnic composition. “Bonamoussadi” is an exception since it is mosaic of students and peoples from

different backgrounds.

Anglophones and Francophones from different backgrounds interact and live together in the same

hostels popularly known in the area as “mini cites”.

3.4 Population, Sample size and Sampling methodology

This work is conducted based on two categories of people: a cross section of food vendors and

students in “Bonamoussadi” because of the nature of the population. Food vendors comprise those

who own, prepare and sell food, while students comprises those Francophones and Anglophones

alike who regularly attend school and live in any of the five zones in the area under study.

3.4.1 Sample size

The accessible population for this study consists of food vendors and students in the student

residential area of “Bonamoussadi”, a quarter in Ngoa-Ekelle III sub-division with estimated

population of 17096 inhabitants with a population density scale to 18 hectares in the Yaoundé 3

division. The sample size of 200 subjects has been chosen to represent the target population because

“Bonamoussadi” is composed of a constant influx of people who either go for regular vacation, to

36

work and their maturity and knowledge on this phenomenon will provide us with concrete

information we need to develop the study Amin, M.E (2005:254).

3.4.2 Sampling Methodology

This research work made use of the simple random sampling technique, convenience sample

technique and purposive sampling technique in order to select the sample through questionnaires

and interview. Simple random sampling technique selects a sample without bias from the accessible

population; it enables us to select a representative sample; so that we can ensure each member of the

target population has an equal and independent chance of being included in the sample. Purposive

sample technique permits us to consciously decide who to include in the sample. We are using it in

our work because it helps us to select typical and useful cases only. Convenience sampling method

selects on first come first served basis that is those who happen to be available for the purpose of

this exploratory research study; in order to take advantage of those who happen to be there.

3.5 Data Collection Instruments

In order to gather information for this study, mainly quantitative and qualitative data collection

techniques were employed through research instruments such as questionnaires, interviews,

observations, a map, survey statistics, and document analysis as the main tools for collecting data.

The selection of these tools have been guided by the nature of data to be collected, the time available

as well as by the objectives of the study. Careful planning through the use of well designed guides

has been made for each of the instruments mentioned above. To determine the effectiveness of our

questionnaire, it was necessary to pretest it before actually using it. It helped us determine the

strength and weaknesses of our survey concerning the questions format, wording and order; where

respondents were asked to explain reactions to question form, wording and order (Participating

pretest). This approach helped us to determine whether the questionnaire is understandable.

3.6 Validity and Reliability of Data collection Instruments

Validity and reliability are two main important concepts in the acceptability of the use of our

instrument for appropriateness and consistency in measuring our study. While validity is the

strength of our conclusions, inferences or proportions ; reliability is the degree to which our research

instruments was measured the same way each time it was used under the same condition with the

37

same subjects. The estimated values of validity and reliability coefficients adopted depend on the

study. However, conventionally, a coefficient value of at least 0.70 or 70% is acceptable in research

(Kathuri & Pals, 1993). Questionnaires, interviews, observations, a map, survey statistics, and

document analysis are appropriate and consistent to measure the content and prediction validity; and

consistency, stability and ability to eliminate errors of reliability in order to control the quality this

research intends to measure and to attain validity and reliability coefficient values of at least70%.

3.7 Data analysis Methods

To postulate how the data was analyzed, descriptive analysis was used in reporting the findings and

inferential analysis will be used to draw conclusions concerning the relationship and differences

found in research results. The data collected was grouped, categorized, and analyzed with the use of

Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software according to the study objective. Visual

display such as pie charts was used to demonstrate the percentage of every variable under study. The

data was then transferred to Microsoft Word (MS WORD) for interpretation. The work breakdown

plan was also used to demonstrate the research time frame using the Gantt chart in Microsoft Project

(MSP) and Microsoft excel (MS Excel) was used to prepare the resource plan and Budget of

activities.

3.8 Research Procedure

Data was collected from a sample size of 200 respondents, interviewees and observant from the

student residential area of “Bonamoussadi” in Yaounde, Cameroon during the period of October and

November, 2010 using data collection techniques such as questionnaires, interviews, document

analysis, and observation. The data was collected by the research team consisting of some members

of Focused Group Discussion (FGD), and research assistants.

38

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of Data

This chapter explains how this study investigated the “impact of socio-economic environment and

food security in the University of Yaounde I, Cameroon”. This was in the light of the discrepancy

between the ideal situation and the actual practice of food security in “Bonamoussadi” is the

constant food poisoning and other related food borne diseases and the variations in terms of

ingredients, processing, methods of marketing and consumption often reflect a growing difficulty to

provide adequate infrastructure and environmental hygiene to ensure safe production of food

making the target population vulnerable to food insecurity, consequently leading a negative impact

on their active, healthy and some times death. The data collected was analyzed using research

instruments such as questionnaires, interviews, observations, a map, survey statistics, and document

analysis as the main tools for collecting data. This chapter presents the findings of this analyzes and

verification of objectives or questions in order to show that our hypotheses were verified.

Table 1: Gender

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1

This work focuses on how socio-economic environment status that is influenced by gender as an

important determinant in the study. From the results, male respondents have a higher proportion of

Frequency Percent

Male 77 51.3

Female 73 48.7

Total 150 100.0

Female

Male

Gender

39

51.3% as compared to 48.7% for female. Hence, this indicates to us that most male respondents eat

in restaurants or their social ties has an impact on food security than our female respondents.

Table 2: Marital Status

Frequency Percent

Single 134 89.3

Married 16 10.7

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2: Marital Status

The statistics above show that singles have a percentage of 89.3% than married with 10.7%.

Hence, social interaction and individual lifestyle factor such as status play a role in shaping the

study. However, the proportion of singles influences social interaction as a determining factor in

food security.

Table 3: Profession

Frequency Percent

Student 95 63.3

Civil servant 10 6.7

Military 8 5.3

Others 37 24.7

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 3 below.

Married

Single

Marital Status

40

Figure 3: Profession

The statistics above show that “Bonamoussadi” inhabit people from different professional

backgrounds such as students bearing 63.3%, Civil servants bearing 6.7%, military bearing 5.3%,

and people from other works of life bearing 24.7%. Hence, the area under study is a student’s

residential area.

Table 4: Education

Frequency Percent

O/L 18 12.0

A/L 43 28.7

Bachelor Degree 57 38.0

Maitrise 12 8.0

Master degree 11 7.3

Others 9 6.0

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 4 below

Figure 4: Education

Others

Military

Civil servant

Student

Profession

Others

Master degree

Maitrise

Bachelor Degree

A/L

O/L

Education

41

The results above show that students holding secondary school certificate is 12%, high school

28.7%, undergraduate 38%, postgraduate 17.3% and other certificate holders form just 6%. Hence,

the area under study is predominantly where students converged to pursue education.

Table 5: Religion

Frequency Percent

Christian 126 84.0

Muslim 3 2.0

Others 21 14.0

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 5 below.

Figure 5: Religion

From the survey, socio-economic environment and food security is not a phenomenon for a

particular religion, every one is involved.84% of our respondent’s represent Christians, 2% of our

respondents were Muslims and 14% represent others. Therefore Christians have more social

interactive ties that influence food behavior in the area than the other denominations.

Table 7: Has your eating habit changed because of social ties?

Frequency Percent

Yes (Always) 61 40.7

No 28 18.7

Yes (Sometimes) 61 40.7

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 7 below.

Others

Muslim

Christian

Religion

42

Figure 7: Has your eating habit changed because of social ties?

The statistics above show that 40.7% of our respondents said yes (always), 18% said no and 40.75

said sometimes to their eating habits being changed because of social ties. This in indicative by the

fact that even when eating alone, eating habit is influenced by social ties because attitudes and habits

develop through interaction with others as per the analysis.

Table 8: What determines your food choice?

Frequency Percent

Nutritional needs 36 24.0

Taste 62 41.3

Cooking skills 24 16.0

Co-habitation 20 13.3

Cultural barriers from eating certain food 8 5.3

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 8 below.

Figure 8: What determines your food choice?

Yes (Sometimes)

No

Yes (Always)

Has your eating habit changed because of social ties?

Cultural barriers fromeating certain food

Co-habitation

Cooking skills

Taste

Nutritional needs

What determines your food choice?

43

Our survey report show 24% of our respondents said nutrition needs, 41% said taste, 16% said

Cooking skills, 13.3% said Co-habitation and 5.3% said Cultural barriers from eating certain food

determines their food choice. Therefore many of our respondents preference for food is taste.

Table 10: Does your financial status always permit you to buy food on credit?

Frequency Percent

Yes (Always) 30 20.0

No 82 54.7

Yes (Sometimes) 38 25.3

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 10 below.

Figure 10: Does your financial status always permit you to buy food on credit?

During our research, we observed that there were clear differences in social classes with regard to

food and nutrients intakes. Low-income groups in particular have a tendency to consume low-cost

food and indebt themselves, and finally don’t pay back in most cases. 20% of our respondents buy

food on credit basis, 54% does not, while 25.3% sometimes does. This implies our respondents have

the means to buy food.

Yes (Sometimes)

No

Yes (Always)

Does your financial status always permit you to buy food on credit?

44

Table 11: Which of the following do you spend on most?

Frequency Percent

Low-cost food 17 11.3

Nutritious food 42 28.0

Drinking with friends 20 13.3

Fashion 16 10.7

Education 37 24.7

Utility bills 18 12.0

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 11 below.

Figure 11: Which of the following do you spend on most?

We also observed the area under study has more young, active and ambitious Cameroonians who

seems to loss focus with their remittances, this is backed up by our statistics which shows 11.3%

expensed on low-cost food, 28% on nutritious food,13.3% on drinking with friends, 24.7% on

education and 12% on utility bills. This implies more of our respondents spend their money on

nutritious food than the others.

Table 12: How often do you do environmental hygiene and sanitation?

Frequency Percent

Very often 82 54.7

Often 57 38.0

Don't have time 11 7.3

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 12 below.

Utility bills

Education

Fashion

Drinking with friends

Nutritious food

Low-cost food

Which of the following do you expensed on most?

45

Figure12: How often do you do environmental hygiene and sanitation?

Good environmental hygiene, sanitation, and adequate infrastructure is very necessary for proper

food handling in order to avoid risk factors associated with food especially street foods. Our

research statistics show that 54.7% of our respondents carry on environmental hygiene and

sanitation very often, 38% do it often, and only 7.3% don’t have time for it. More of our respondents

do practice environmental hygiene and sanitation that is why the area is not yet very vulnerable to

food security.

Table 13: What is your main source of drinking water?

Frequency Percent

Public tap (Buy water sometimes) 75 50.0

Well 12 8.0

Spring 3 2.0

Mineral water 17 11.3

Others 43 28.7

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 13 below.

Figure 13: What is your main source of drinking water?

Don't have time

Often

Very often

How often do you do environmental hygiene and sanitation?

Others

Mineral water

Spring

Well

Public tap (Buy watersometimes)

What is your main source of drinking water?

46

The results above revealed that, the main source of drinking water for our target population come

from public tap (sometimes buy water) 50%, well 8%, spring 2%, those who buy mineral water were

11.3% and other sources of drinking water were 28.7%. This implies that the available income left

with our respondents cannot enable them buy mineral water all the time

Table 15: Which of the physical and economic restrictions prevent you to have access to

sufficient, safe and nutritious food?

Frequency Percent

Lack of land to cultivate food crop 4 2.7

Lack of food availability 3 2.0

High food prices 106 70.7

Don't have time to cook food 37 24.7

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 15 below.

Figure 15: Which of the physical and economic restrictions prevent you to have access to

sufficient, safe and nutritious food?

Concerns about insufficient food access have resulted in greater policy focus on food prices and

expenditures that is why 70.7% of our respondents said high food prices, 24% said they don’t have

time to cook food are the main reasons physical and economic restrictions prevent them to have

access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Only 2.7% lack land to cultivate food crop and just 2%

lack food availability. This implies high food prices is usually the reason why they can not meet

their food preference.

Don't have time to cookfood

High food prices

Lack of food availability

Lack of land to cultivatefood crop

Which of the physical and economic restrictions prevent you to have accessto sufficient, safe and nutritious food?

47

Table 16: How many times a day do you eat sufficient, safe and nutritious food?

Frequency Percent

Three times 25 16.7

Two times 72 48.0

Once 36 24.0

Less than Once 17 11.3

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 16 below.

Figure 16: How many times a day do you eat sufficient, safe and nutritious food?

Food availability addresses the supply side of food security and is determined by the level of food

production, stock level, and trading which is the reason 16.7% of our respondents said three times,

48% said two times, 24% said once and 11.3% said less than once to have eaten sufficient, safe and

nutritious food a day. That is why food security is a concern.

Table 17: Does eating in the restaurant pose health risk?

Frequency Percent

Yes (Always) 93 62.0

No 6 4.0

Yes (Sometimes) 51 34.0

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 17 below.

Less than Once

Once

Two times

Three times

How many times a day do you eat sufficient, safe and nutritious food?

48

Figure 17: Does eating in the restaurant pose health risk?

Health risk posed by food from restaurants may outweigh their benefits, that is the reason 62% of

our respondents said yes, 34% said some times, and only 4% said no to eating in restaurant pose

health risk.

Table 18: Will you appreciate the study of food security to be implemented in

"Bonamoussadi"?

Frequency Percent

Yes 143 95.3

No 7 4.7

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 18 below.

Figure 18: Will you appreciate the study of food security to be implemented in

"Bonamoussadi"?

From observation, 95.3% will recommend “socio-economic environment and food security to be

implemented in “Bonamoussadi”, only 4.7% will not. This implies our respondents are vulnerable to

food security.

Yes (Sometimes)

No

Yes (Always)

Does eating in the restaurant pose health risk?

No

Yes

Will you appreciate the study of food security to be implemented in"Bonamoussadi"?

49

4.2 Verification of Hypothesis

1. To determine the impact social interaction has on food security in “Bonamoussadi”

Table 6: Does your social interaction have an impact on your choice of food?

Frequency Percent

Yes (Always) 69 46.0

No 15 10.0

Yes (Sometimes) 66 44.0

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 6 below

Figure 6: Does your social interaction have an impact on your choice of food?

“Bonamoussadi” has a mosaic setting characterized by young people whose daily action or omission

affects others. From the survey, 46% of our respondents said yes (always), 10% said no and 44%

said sometimes. Hence, social interaction has an impact either directly on indirectly on others food

choice. From the interpretation, we therefore confirm our hypothesis for this question to be

verifiable that social interaction has an impact on food security in “Bonamoussadi”.

2. To examine if income determines access to food supply in “Bonamoussadi”

Table 9: Do you always rely from friends or relatives for food?

Frequency Percent

Yes (Always) 32 21.3

No 51 34.0

Yes (Sometimes) 67 44.7

Total 150 100.0

Yes (Sometimes)

No

Yes (Always)

Does your social interaction have an impact on your choice of food?

50

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 9 below.

Figure 9: Do you always rely from friends or relatives for food?

It was observed during research that our target group was facing difficulties of low-income in

achieving healthy diet. This is in support by our survey statistics which show 21.3% of our

respondents rely from friends or relatives for food, 34% does not and 44.7% sometimes rely from

friends or relatives for food. Verifying our research question does income level determine access to

food supply? Income determines access to food supply in “Bonamoussadi”.

3. To investigate the hygienic condition of food consumption in “Bonamoussadi”

Table 14: Do you think environmental hygiene and sanitation has an impact on your food

consumption?

Frequency Percent

Yes 132 88.0

No 6 4.0

Sometimes 12 8.0

Total 150 100.0

The statistics presented on the table above is also presented on the pie chart in Figure 14 below.

Figure 14: Do you think environmental hygiene and sanitation has an impact on your food

consumption?

Yes (Sometimes)

No

Yes (Always)

Do you always rely from friends or relatives for food?

51

From the analysis above, it was observed that, only 4% think no, 8% think sometimes and 88%

think environmental hygiene and sanitation has an impact on their food consumption, which means

risk factors associated with foods shall be eliminated should environmental hygiene and sanitation is

practiced, should there be the presence of adequate basic infrastructure, and proper food handling.

Verifying the objective for this question shows that we accept our research hypothesis that

environmental hygiene and sanitation affects food consumption

Sometimes

No

Yes

Do you think environmental hygiene and sanitation has an impact on yourfood consumption?

52

CHAPTER FIVE

Discussions, Conclusions and Recommendations

5.1 Discussions

During our research, we were able to identify three main stakeholders that has responsibility of

affecting the study either positively of negatively, they are food-vendors, consumers of food in any

form and actors in the field of food security. In addition to the analysis on chapter four, discussions

highlight some interesting findings to verify our objectives and from interviews with stakeholders in

the field of food security such as some past and residents and students who lived in “Bonamoussadi

at the time, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Focused Group Discussion (FGD) and the

National Programme for Food Security at the ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The

purpose of these interviews is to collect information that cannot be directly observed or are difficult

to put down in writing, to capture meanings beyond words. These will enable us to obtain historical

information and gain control over the line of questioning. The following findings were gotten:

5.1.1 The socio-economic characteristics of “Bonamoussadi”

“Bonamoussadi” is the main student residential area around the University of Yaounde I. It is a

multi-ethnic community which has a constant influx of especially student in quest of education.

Families and people of different walks of life live in the area; the number of students is more than

any other category of people living there. Most of the students come from different socio-cultural

and economic backgrounds, due to these differences; there is the need to adapt to new pattern of life.

Social influences on food intake which implies to the impact that one or more persons have on the

eating behaviour of others, either direct or indirect, either conscious or subconscious. Even when

eating alone, food choice is influenced by social factors because attitudes and habits develop

through the interaction with others. Housing in the area is poorly planned and are very close to each

other in such a way that the rays of sun hardly reach in them all day. Students do in such hostel

suffer a lot in the absence of electricity. Some students share single rooms with friends in order to

lessen the burden of exorbitant rent, while other choose to live in rooms they can afford. Students

and non students alike in “Bonamoussadi” involve themselves in the informal service sector to

supplement remittances from relations and social networks. “Bonamoussadi” as described by a

53

lecturer at the University of Younde I is a beehive of diverse business networks that attract city

dwellers of Yaounde on a daily basis at low-cost prices. (FGD, 2010).

5.1.2 Eating habit in “Bonamoussadi”

Eating habit in”Bonamoussadi” operates within an ecological framework characterized by social,

economic, academic, physical and psychological factors. These factors interact and shaped feeding

habits of our target population. Foster and Anderson (1978:265) are of the opinion that

“anthropologists view feeding habits as a complex whole of culinary activities, likes and dislikes,

folk wisdom, beliefs, taboos and superstitions associated with the production, preparation and

consumption of food.”(FGD, 2010). In a typical setting like “Bonanz”, feeding habit is influenced

by social interaction with others consciously or not (motorbike rider, 2010).

5.1.3 Environmental hygiene and basic infrastructural facilities

Environmental hygiene and sanitation is a very big problem in “Bonamoussadi” because of the fact

that hostels are built in such a haphazard manner, it makes it easier for people to make their way

through in between hotels and dump debris along the way. Toilets are either located behind or

besides hostels, most landlords do not take into consideration the fact that wrong placement of

toilets is nuisance to other neighbours. A few toilets offer basic infrastructural facilities like internal

toilet/bath and kitchen, while in most cases, the baths or urinary pipes are emptied in the gutters

demarcating the hotels. To make it worse, the area is characterized by marshy areas popularly

known as “elobi”. Due to the topography, after every down pour water drains to the base where

streams cut across. While some human activities and household wastes most often are emptied into

the gutters and streams which narrows the course of the streams. Worse still is the placement of

local food-vendors in every nooks and corner of “Bonamoussadi”, lack of basic infrastructural

support to promote sanitation like safe water supplies, toilets, hand washing facilities and drainage

accessibility; and improper food handling (FGD,2010).

5.1.4 Perception on food security and intervention

Approximately 75% of the people interviewed on the perception of the concept of food security in

“Bonamoussadi” does not fully understand or are unaware about the whole concept. They strongly

recommend “socio-economic environment and food security” to be implement as a sensitization

54

programme and are in dire need of the intervention of the government to ameliorate the housing and

employment problems. We were equally briefed by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)

on the “report of the twenty-first FAO Regional Conference for Africa on the recommendations of

food security on member states held on the 21st-25th, February 2000 in Youande, Cameroon to

underline the need to expand the programme in order to achieve national food security objectives

and requested FAO to mobilise financing, to the extent possible (Appendix G, paragraph 21b) and

recommended the participatory formulation of a coherent and equitable national food security policy

with the involvement of all stakeholders; (Appendix H, paragraph 5).

5.1.5 Discussions on Findings

To determine the impact social interaction has on food security

The data analysis and interpretation of the objective above revealed major findings under this

objective. The objective was to verify the impact of social interaction has on food behavior, our

findings revealed that out of a sample size of 150, 69 respondents answered “Yes” scoring 46%, 66

respondents said “Yes (Sometimes)” scoring 44% and only 15 respondents said “No” scoring just

10% to the fact that social interaction has an impact on food behavior. These findings indicate that

social interaction has an impact on food behavior. Therefore, we accept the research hypothesis and

reject the null hypothesis. This may owe to the fact that “Bonamoussadi” has a mosaic setting

characterized by young ambitious people whose daily actions and omissions affect others directly or

indirectly, consciously or unconsciously. Hopkins argued with reference to Maslow’s theory of

hierarchy that food security stands as a fundamental need, basic to all human needs and the

organization of social life. Access to necessary nutrients is fundamental not only to life per se, but

also to stable and enduring social order (Hopkins 1986:4).

To examine if income determines access to food supply

The second objective of this study was to examine if income determine access to food supplies in

“Bonamoussadi”. Data analysis and interpretation revealed major findings under this objective.

Ensuring food availability does not necessarily guarantee all household will be able to secure their

food needs. The purpose for this objective was to verify if poor people or low-income earners may

be able to produce enough food for their needs or able to buy food. It was revealed that 21% of our

respondents always rely from friends or relatives for food as against 34% who said they don’t, but

55

44.7% sometimes rely from friends or relatives for food. These findings indicate income determines

access to food supply though a lesser percentage rely from friends or relatives, a greater percentage

sometimes rely from friends or relatives. This statistic may owe to the fact that food availability

does not necessarily ensure food security. But the subsistence theory conceptualizes the state of food

security to the responsive working population of “Bonamoussadi” as the chief determinants in their

predominant nonfarm informal service sector supplemented by remittances from relations to the

consumption needed to invent their way out of poverty and food crisis in order to for sustain

livelihoods.

To investigate hygiene and sanitation condition of food consumption

The third objective of this study was to establish hygiene and sanitation condition on food

consumption in “Bonamousadi”. Data analysis and interpretation revealed major findings under this

objective since contemporary issues on the survival of population have made food security and

environmental protection issues of discourse. This is because the need to maintain a good

environment and to ensure good eating habit is lingering challenges with health care. The purpose

for this objective is that with dire poverty and ignorance of citizenry on correct healthy practices,

there is the great need to ensure that whatever is available as food must not only meet safety

standards, but must also be friendly to the environment. Our findings revealed that 88% of our

respondents said “Yes” as against only 4% who said “No”, while 8% said “Sometimes” to

environmental hygiene and sanitation affecting food consumption. Therefore, we accept research

hypothesis and reject null hypothesis. This may owe to the fact that Herzberg’s theory and hygiene

factors in this study may not satisfy food security needs, but will maintain good environment and

ensure healthy food habit.

5.2 Conclusions

This study was out to investigate the “socio-economic environment and food security in the student

residential area of “Bonamoussadi””. It was intended to examine the socio-economic impact of food

security in “Bonamoussadi”. This was in relation to the discrepancy between the ideal and the actual

practices of food security in the area under study is that there is constant food poisoning and other

related food borne diseases affecting more than 85% of the target population due to health risk

posed by improper food handling, lack of basic infrastructural facilities such clean water supply,

56

drainage accessibility, toilets, especially with street-vended foods consumption which play a

significant role in shaping the eating habit of “Bonamoussadi” outweigh their benefits. The

variations in terms of ingredients, processing, methods of marketing and consumption often reflect a

growing difficulty to provide adequate infrastructure and environmental hygiene to ensure safe

production of food making the target population vulnerable to food insecurity, consequently leading

a negative impact on their active, healthy and some times death. This work specifically sought to

determine the impact social interaction has on food behavior, examine if income determines access

to food supply, and investigate hygiene and sanitation condition of food consumption in

“Bonamoussadi”; some research questions were posed to find out the relationship between two

variables which reflects our specific objectives such as does social interaction have an impact on

food behavior?, does income level determine food supply?, does environmental hygiene and

sanitation affect food consumption?; a presumptive proposition were made in order to test our

findings such as social interaction has an impact on food behavior, income determines access to

food supply, and environmental hygiene and sanitation affect food consumption. This study

established that 46% said “yes” as against 10% who said “no”, while 44% said sometimes to social

interaction has an impact on food behavior; 21.3% answered “yes” as against 34% who said “no”,

while 44% said “sometimes”; 88% said “yes” as against 4% who said “no”, while 8% said

environmental hygiene and sanitation “sometimes” has an impact on food consumption. From our

findings, we accept our research hypothesis and reject null hypothesis because of the link between

the socio-economic environment and food security.

5.3 Recommendations by Objectives

Basing generalizations on the findings of this study, we recommend to the government that:

Strategies for sustainable development should involve a much broader array of policies than

agricultural development, since the ecological setting of “Bonamoussadi” allow people to import

food and buy road side food than cultivate food crops in the area.

The implementation of credits to nonfarm enterprises should be the improvement of low-cost

housing and expansion of hygiene and sanitation education should also be considered.

57

Basic infrastructural facilities such as toilets, drainage accessibility, clean water supplies, waste bin

with lids, and hand washing facilities should be provided since our target population feed more from

road side restaurants than prepare food in their houses.

Other Recommendations

Investment should be made in education and training should of especially street food vendors on

proper food handling, since they play a significant role in providing accessible, low-cost meals to

“Bonamoussadi”.

Concerted efforts should be made to have a participatory formulation of a coherent and

equitable national food security policy with the involvement of all stakeholders in field of food

security.

Concern should be made to education and training of street-food vendors which offer the most cost-

effective way to reduce the incidence of food borne disease.

There is need to valorize local conservation techniques and promote them to enhance local food

security as well as develop modern techniques for conservation for the market at various levels.

58

APPENDIX F

CAMEROON BILINGUAL CENTER FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND

CONSULTANCY (CITEC)

THEME: The Socio-Economic Environment and Food Security Assessment in the Student

Residential Area of “Bonamoussadi”, Yaounde-Cameroon.

Prepared By TABE SHADRACK Ayuk

I am a student at the Cameroon Bilingual Center for Information Technology and Consultancy

(CITEC), this questionnaire is intended for the completion of research study in partial fulfillment for

an award of Diploma in Project Planning and Management. The information I collect will be used

only for purely academic purpose. To ensure a successful completion of this research, please kindly

answer the questions below as honestly and objectively as possible. I promise to keep your identity

anonymous and all the information you give will be confidential, private and will not be used for

any purpose other than that stated objectives above. The questions usually take about 10 minutes.

There is no right or wrong answer, kindly tick or mark an “X” the responds that best suits your

perception or actions. Thanks for your opinion and corporation.

SECTION A: PERSONAL IDENTITY

1. Gender a) Male b) Female

2. Marital Status a) Single b) Married c) Divorced d) Widow(er)

3. Profession a) Student b) Civil Servant c) Military d) Others

4. Education a) O/L b) A/L c) Bachelor Degree d) Maîtrise e) Master Degree f) Others

5. Religion a) Christian b) Muslim c) Others

SECTION B: SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

6. Does your social interaction have an impact on your choice of food? a) Yes (Always) b) No

c) Sometimes

7. Has your eating habit changed because of social ties? a) Yes (Always) b) No c) Yes

(Sometimes)

8. What determines your food choice? a) Nutritional needs b) Taste c) Cooking skills

d) Co-habitation e) Marriage f) cultural barriers from eating certain food

59

9. Do you always rely on help from friends or relatives for food? a) Yes (Always) b) No c)

Sometimes

10. Does your financial status always permit you to buy food on credit? a) Yes (Always) b) No

c) Yes (Sometimes)

11. Which of the following do you expense most on? a) Low-cost food b) Nutritious food

c) Drinking with friends d) Fashion e) Education f) Utility bills

12. How often do you do environmental hygiene and sanitation? a) Very often b) Often

c) Never (Don’t have time)

13. What is the main source of your drinking water? a) Public tap (Buy water sometimes) b)

Well c) Spring d) Mineral water e) Others

14. Do you think environmental hygiene and sanitation has an impact on food consumption?

a) Yes (Always) b) No c) Yes (Sometimes)

SECTION C: FOOD SECURITY

15. Which of the physical and economic restrictions prevent you to have access to sufficient, safe

and nutritious food? a) Lack of land to cultivate food crop b) Lack of food in my dwelling c)

high food prices d) don’t have time to cook food

16. How many times a day does you eat sufficient, safe and nutritious food? a) Three times

b) Two times c) Once d) Less than Once

17. Does eating in the restaurant pose health risk? a) Yes (Always) b) No c) Yes (Sometimes)

18. Will you appreciate the study of food security to be implemented in “Bonamoussadi”? a) Yes

b) No

Thank You Again!!!

60

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Food and Agricultural Organization. Food Security Information for Action Practical Guides

International Food safety Authorities Network Information Note, (2010). Basic steps to improve

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Oso & Onen, (2008). A Handbook for Beginning Researchers (2nd ed.)

Thomas Robert Malthus, (1978). An essay on the principle of population.

World Food Programme, (2009).Emergency Food Assessment Handbook (2nd ed.).

REPORTS AND ARTICLES

COMINSUD, (2010). Cameroon: Hunger and poverty amidst abundant resources and potentials.

Bad policies or lack of good will.

United Nations Development Programme Human Development Report, (2006).

FAO, (2000). Report of the twenty-first FAO Regional Conference for Africa

INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE

American Psychological Association: www.apa.org

European Food Information Council: www.eufic.org

Encarta 2009

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