The Emergence of Corn in Urban Household Food Consumption in Northern Cameroon

The food system of Northern Cameroon is based on cereals, mainly millet and sorghum. However, the increase in the urban population translates into growth in the production of corn . To clarify this process, we analyze the food dynamics of these urban populations through two surveys conducted among 550 households in August 2007 and January 2008. The results show that the increase in the consumption of corn is substantial during lean periods. Two explanations are proposed. The first concerns the limited availability of millet and sorghum during periods of temporary food insecurity, while the second is related to the dynamics of innovation among producers, who benefit from higher institutional investments in corn.