Reference Date: 07-April-2026

Crop production in 2026 continued to be affected by conflict and climate shocks

In central bimodal rainfall areas, sowing of the 2026 main maize crops started in late March 2026, with harvesting taking place between August and September. In northern unimodal rainfall areas, planting operations of 2026 cereal crops, including maize, millet and sorghum, to be harvested in October 2026, is expected to start in May.

The ongoing conflict in northwest and southwest regions is expected to continue undermining farmers’ productive capacity in 2026, while elevated input prices are likely to constrain agricultural activities across the country.

According to the Cameroon National Meteorological Observatory, average to above ‑ average rainfall amounts are expected between May and July 2026. In the main southern maize ‑ growing regions, above ‑ average rainfall amounts expected between July and August 2026 could increase the risk of flooding during the peak of the rainy season. Above ‑ average temperatures may affect crop conditions in northcentral zones, with below ‑ average rainfall amounts and possible dry spells in minor maize ‑ producing areas.

Prices of locally produced maize above year‑earlier levels in January 2026

According to the National Statistics Institute (INS), the annual inflation rate declined from 4.5 percent in 2024 to 3.4 percent in 2025, mainly reflecting the impact of monetary tightening by the Bank of Central African States. In Yaoundé, retail prices of locally produced maize increased by over 20 percent between October 2025 and January 2026, when they were about 40 percent higher year ‑ on ‑ year, reflecting disrupted farming activities and high fertilizer costs that constrained domestic production.

Prices of imported rice remained broadly stable year‑on‑year as of January 2026, supported by continued government price stabilization measures.

Over 2.8 million people estimated to be severely food insecure in 2026

According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis conducted in October 2025, over 2.8 million people (10 percent of the analysed population) are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] or above) between June and August 2026, including about 250 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). This marks a slight deterioration compared to the same period in 2025, when about 2.6 million people were estimated to face severe acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] or above.

Conflict continues to be a key driver of acute food insecurity, particularly in far north, northwest and southwest. The humanitarian situation has further deteriorated due to persistent Boko Haram attacks, repeated fires in displacement camps and the premature cessation of the rainy season in September 2025.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:
FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .

Cadre Harmonisé (CH) https://www.cadreharmonise.org/ .