Charcoal prices skyrocket in the North Region of Cameroon, as it becomes increasingly difficult to come by.

It used to require little effort to obtain charcoal throughout the North Region of Cameroon.

Charcoal is employed in the preparation of food, for domestic and commercial purposes in the majority of homes, as these households are not financially viable enough to acquire more expensive forms of fuel such as domestic gas. to many, its advantages also include its producing little or no pollution, it is cleaner, and more economical. 

However, for a region that sits squarely on the Sudano- Sahelian belt, this practice is detrimental to the environment. trees here are few and far-between, and the landscape is increasingly being exposed and is degrading due to the indiscriminate felling of trees. Aridity is accelerated, and so is drought. Water shortages are becoming increasingly frequent, and the scorching, suffocating heat from direct sunlight hitting the earth is unbearable.

It is against this backdrop that authorities of the region have resumed the campaign to clamp down on those who fell trees without authorization. Environmental authorities have deployed agents even to the remotest parts of the region, and Garoua in particular, to fish out defaulters and bring them to book.

This move translates into shortage of this commonly used fuel-type. The prices of charcoal has skyrocketed, driving the trade almost totally underground and illegal.

Inhabitants of the region, especially Garoua, have been urged to cultivate the habit of planting trees, a procedure which is remarkably easy given the presence of trees adapted to the climate. Cognizant of the reluctance in abiding by this order, authorities have opted for more drastic measures in stemming the tide.

So, if you envisage using charcoal in the long term, the better option would be to begin searching for viable options like sawdust or better still, the domestic gas, which though might seem expensive at present, is actually cheaper in the long run!