GEOGRAPHY OF NJIRONG VILLAGE

LOCATION OF RONG VILLAGE ( NJIRONG)

Administratively, Njirong is found in the North West region of Cameroon, Donga Mantung Division in Ndu subdivision .Rong is amongst the seventeen villages that make up the sub division ruled by a Fon.

Geographically  Njirong is located between latitude 5°and 35’ and 6° 40’north of the Equator and longitude 9° 5’ and 11° east of the Greenwich Meridian. Njirong is located 35km south East of Ndu town along the Trans African road.

Njirong can also be reached from the Adamawa and western regions through the Trans African road from Foumban-Magbwa-Mbankim. She is made up of fourteen quarters; namely Mbulah, Ntayatsi, Nfi, Kofhu, Shokop, Ngashong, Mafa (market square) located on the plain of the village. Quarters on the plateau include Mbupluh, koye, Mbulah, Ntoh (where the palace is), Nyanki, Kansha, Njito. This village is bordered to the northwest by Ntumbaw, to the south east by Ntem, to the southwest by Bui division, north east by Sop. It is the third largest village in terms of surface area in the sub division, after Ndu and Sop.

                       The Physical Geography of Rong

 Topographically (Nganjo 2005), Njirong is found on two distinctive landscapes namely, the upper part situated on the plateau and the lower part on the lowland (Mbawrong). The upper section is hilly and mountainous with altitude ranging from 2000m-2700m above sea level while the plain is 850m above sea level.  This plain is an extension of the Noun and Adamawa plains of the West regions and Adamawa regions 

According to climate, (Abdou 1999) Rong has two seasons like all areas of the grass field. Rainy season begin from mid-March to mid-November while the dry season takes off from mid-November to mid-March.  Annual precipitation varies greatly between 1500m-2000m with highest rainfall in July and August. Furthermore the distinction in landscape, has led to variation in climatic condition of this village. On the plateau, climates are extremely cold especially in the mornings of the dry seasons and mild during the rainy season.  In the dry season afternoons have cool dry air accompanied by strong winds. On the plain at Mbawrong, dry seasons are not as cold as on the plateau. And most often temperatures are excessively hot and moist before the start of the rainy season.

                  The Vegetation of Rong ( Njirong Village)

As concern the vegetation of this area, one can find extensive grassland dotted with forest of secondary type. The natural vegetation is fast degrading due to deforestation. Those remaining are found on mountains summit known as montane forests, while those along river banks are known as gallery forest. Mountain grassland is mostly found on the slopes while Rapphia occupies the valley. Man-made forest is gaining ground especially on the plateau of the village with the planting of eucalyptus trees which now dominate the landscape. Here, remnant of natural forest is found behind the palace and constitute a sacred forest. On the plain are found some sacred forests, oil palm plantations, and fruit trees such as cocoa plantations. 

 A number of small streams flow across the village, with highlands serving as their source areas. The water flows down the valley toward the plain where they meet to form bigger streams. The soil varies as well. Rich alluvial soils are found on the lowland area; deposited by agents of denudation (wind, water). This soil offers great agricultural potentials because of its fertility. Soils on the upland area are ferruginous soils.