Energy, water and food nexus in the west region of Cameroon: Case of the Tchouadeng watershed

This article examines the interactions between water, energy, and food in the Tchouadeng watershed. The relationships among these elements, as well as the management of the micro-hydropower plant in this watershed, were assessed using survey sheets, exploratory interviews, and a literature review. T...

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Main Authors: Nasse Fetio Ngoune, Boris Merlain Kanouo Djousse, Grisseur Henri Djoukeng, Sibelle Tsague Mouafo, Arthur L Tagny Tapa, Jospin Gouana Tedongmo, Junior GB Khenzo, Martin Tchoffo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Energy Nexus
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427125000920
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author Nasse Fetio Ngoune
Boris Merlain Kanouo Djousse
Grisseur Henri Djoukeng
Sibelle Tsague Mouafo
Arthur L Tagny Tapa
Jospin Gouana Tedongmo
Junior GB Khenzo
Martin Tchoffo
author_facet Nasse Fetio Ngoune
Boris Merlain Kanouo Djousse
Grisseur Henri Djoukeng
Sibelle Tsague Mouafo
Arthur L Tagny Tapa
Jospin Gouana Tedongmo
Junior GB Khenzo
Martin Tchoffo
author_sort Nasse Fetio Ngoune
collection DOAJ
description This article examines the interactions between water, energy, and food in the Tchouadeng watershed. The relationships among these elements, as well as the management of the micro-hydropower plant in this watershed, were assessed using survey sheets, exploratory interviews, and a literature review. The results reveal that the water resources in this watershed are utilized for drinking water, crop irrigation, and hydroelectricity production. Among farmers in the Tchouadeng watershed, 19.99% irrigate vegetable crops, with 85.71% using a gravity-fed irrigation system with local sprinklers and 14.29% using a furrow irrigation system with a motor pump. Monoculture crops have a water productivity ranging from 1.02-2.96 USD/m3, 0.60 and 0.62 USD/m3, respectively for tomatoes, cabbage, and potatoes. Conversely, mixed crops have a productivity of 2.00 and 2.93 USD/m3, respectively for tomato-cabbage-potato and tomato-cabbage-potato-black nightshade combinations. Mixed cropping (28.57%) optimizes water usage. The electricity generated in Tchouadeng is used to power 92 households, yet approximately 95% of subscribers are dissatisfied due to frequent voltage fluctuations. During drought periods, local residents and micro-hydropower plant managers face conflicts over water extraction from the mini reservoir dam. These conflicts are typically managed amicably or by village authorities. There is currently no organization responsible for managing water, energy, and food in the area. It is imperative to coordinate these various sectors to ensure effective management and demonstrate the benefits of an integrated approach to water, energy, and food.
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spelling doaj-art-e6e91f8043664078b0e12119656be7572025-08-20T02:39:31ZengElsevierEnergy Nexus2772-42712025-06-011810045110.1016/j.nexus.2025.100451Energy, water and food nexus in the west region of Cameroon: Case of the Tchouadeng watershedNasse Fetio Ngoune0Boris Merlain Kanouo Djousse1Grisseur Henri Djoukeng2Sibelle Tsague Mouafo3Arthur L Tagny Tapa4Jospin Gouana Tedongmo5Junior GB Khenzo6Martin Tchoffo7Laboratory of Renewable Energies, Department of Rural Engineering, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Dschang, 222 BP, Dschang, Cameroon; Corresponding author.Laboratory of Renewable Energies, Department of Rural Engineering, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Dschang, 222 BP, Dschang, CameroonLaboratory of Renewable Energies, Department of Rural Engineering, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Dschang, 222 BP, Dschang, CameroonWater Management Research Unit. Department of Rural Engineering. Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences, University of Dschang, 222 BP, Dschang, CameroonSoil Analysis and Environmental Chemistry Research Unit, Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Dschang, 67 BP, Dschang, CameroonLaboratory of Renewable Energies, Department of Rural Engineering, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Dschang, 222 BP, Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, 812 BP, Yaoundé, CameroonDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Sciences of the University of Dschang, 67 BP, Dschang, Cameroon; Centre d'Études et de Recherches en Agronomie et Biodiversité (CERAB), Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences of the University of Dschang, 222 BP, Dschang, CameroonThis article examines the interactions between water, energy, and food in the Tchouadeng watershed. The relationships among these elements, as well as the management of the micro-hydropower plant in this watershed, were assessed using survey sheets, exploratory interviews, and a literature review. The results reveal that the water resources in this watershed are utilized for drinking water, crop irrigation, and hydroelectricity production. Among farmers in the Tchouadeng watershed, 19.99% irrigate vegetable crops, with 85.71% using a gravity-fed irrigation system with local sprinklers and 14.29% using a furrow irrigation system with a motor pump. Monoculture crops have a water productivity ranging from 1.02-2.96 USD/m3, 0.60 and 0.62 USD/m3, respectively for tomatoes, cabbage, and potatoes. Conversely, mixed crops have a productivity of 2.00 and 2.93 USD/m3, respectively for tomato-cabbage-potato and tomato-cabbage-potato-black nightshade combinations. Mixed cropping (28.57%) optimizes water usage. The electricity generated in Tchouadeng is used to power 92 households, yet approximately 95% of subscribers are dissatisfied due to frequent voltage fluctuations. During drought periods, local residents and micro-hydropower plant managers face conflicts over water extraction from the mini reservoir dam. These conflicts are typically managed amicably or by village authorities. There is currently no organization responsible for managing water, energy, and food in the area. It is imperative to coordinate these various sectors to ensure effective management and demonstrate the benefits of an integrated approach to water, energy, and food.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427125000920Irrigation water productivityHydroelectricityEnergyWater and food nexusCameroon
spellingShingle Nasse Fetio Ngoune
Boris Merlain Kanouo Djousse
Grisseur Henri Djoukeng
Sibelle Tsague Mouafo
Arthur L Tagny Tapa
Jospin Gouana Tedongmo
Junior GB Khenzo
Martin Tchoffo
Energy, water and food nexus in the west region of Cameroon: Case of the Tchouadeng watershed
Energy Nexus
Irrigation water productivity
Hydroelectricity
Energy
Water and food nexus
Cameroon
title Energy, water and food nexus in the west region of Cameroon: Case of the Tchouadeng watershed
title_full Energy, water and food nexus in the west region of Cameroon: Case of the Tchouadeng watershed
title_fullStr Energy, water and food nexus in the west region of Cameroon: Case of the Tchouadeng watershed
title_full_unstemmed Energy, water and food nexus in the west region of Cameroon: Case of the Tchouadeng watershed
title_short Energy, water and food nexus in the west region of Cameroon: Case of the Tchouadeng watershed
title_sort energy water and food nexus in the west region of cameroon case of the tchouadeng watershed
topic Irrigation water productivity
Hydroelectricity
Energy
Water and food nexus
Cameroon
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772427125000920
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