Yaoundé - With the approach of the new planting season, many people use bush fires as an easy way of preparing their farmland.

Any visitor to Yaounde during this time of the year will be shocked at first sight. It is common place to see smoke or fire in some parts of the town especially in the outskirts. Bush burning, which is a local traditional method of farming in remote areas, is now being practised in the town. In most neighbourhoods, the inhabitants have transformed their gardens, surroundings and building plots to farmlands.

With the approach of the new planting season, many people depend on bush fires as an easy way of clearing their gardens or farms for planting. Sidonie M. who lives in the Mendong area of the city told Cameroon Tribune that she owns a small garden behind her house. She said she prefers bush burning because it makes the soil more fertile. Also, it is the easiest way of clearing the farm especially during the dry season when the soil is dry and hard. "I burn the grass early enough and wait for the coming of the rains to soften the ground for planting," she said. Marthe N. who also lives in Mendong owns a piece of land a few metres from her home. The land, according to her, was bought four years ago with the aim of building a house. She decided to transform the land into a farm in order to meet some of her family needs. She also practises bush burning not minding whether she lives in the town or not. What has raised eyebrows is that the bush fires have become a major threat to the population. In some areas, the farms are quite close to houses and so pose a threat to people living around. Due to over- crowding in some areas, electricity cables are crossed slightly above houses and on the ground in some places. In some cases children are sent to burn the farms without any control.

Apart from that, sparks are carried by the wind due to the weather conditions now. As a result houses might go on flames if care is not taken. Paul K., one of the inhabitants of the Etouge-Ebe neighbourhood complained that bush fires are fast becoming a major threat to the population especially during dry season. "People burn their bushes without taking into consideration the risks involved in such archaic practices," he lamented. According to Marthe, even though burning disturbs neighbours around her, she takes necessary precautions each time she is burning. These notwithstanding efforts are being made by the Yaounde Urban Council authorities to combat the phenomenon.

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