IMPACT OF PARTICIPATORY TREE DOMESTICATION ON FARMER LIVELIHOODS IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

African Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry CentreAfrican Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry Centre

IMPACT OF PARTICIPATORY TREE DOMESTICATION ON FARMER LIVELIHOODS IN WEST AND CENTRAL

AFRICA

PAPER PRESENTED AT 2nd WORLD CONGRESS OF AGROFORESTRY23-28 AUGUST 2009

NAIROBI KENYA

Tchoundjeu, Z.; Degrande, A.; Leakey, R.R.B.; Simons, T.; Nimino, G.; Kemajou, E.; Asaah, E.; Facheux, C.; Tsobeng, A.; Mbile, P. and Sado, T.


ARTICULATIONS

1. PARTICIPATORY TREE DOMESTICATION (PTD)• APPROACH OF PTD• WHY INDIGENOUS FRUIT TREES

2. IMPACTS ON FARMERS’ LIVELIHOODS

CONCLUSION


21 countries330 million people1200 million ha


HOT SPOTS IN WCA

WCA is a hot spot with more: 1800 endemic plant species 31 endemic threatened birds 35 endemic threatened mammals


Distribution of Area under Cultivation By Distribution of Area under Cultivation By ZoneZone

5-year Average (2003-2007)5-year Average (2003-2007)

5


Area under CultivationArea under Cultivation

6


30.00

50.00

70.00

90.00

110.00

130.00

150.00

170.00

190.00

210.00

230.00

250.00

1966 1970 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002

calendar year

US ce

nts/lb

Volatility of Coffee Price


FOREST IS NOT ONLY LOGS AND TIMBERFOREST IS NOT ONLY LOGS AND TIMBER

Over two thirds of the 600 million people in Africa rely directly or indirectly on forest for their livelihoods


Main NTFPs


What is domestication?

Resource identification

and characterization

Capture, selection and management

of genetic resources

Regeneration and management in

sustainable landuse systems

Ethnobotanic studies and socio-

economic evaluation.

Market research

Farmer preferences.

Market development

Assessment of adoption and

socio-economic impact.

Market expansion

Species selection

Germplasm collection and conservation

Genetic selection and

breeeding

Development of techniques to capture

genetic variation

Efficient resource capture.

Assessment of environmental

impact

SOCIAL SCIENCES

BIOPHYSICAL SCIENCES


Participatory Tree Domestication (PTD)

PTD refers to:• the means communities select, propagate and manage

high-value indigenous fruit trees and medicinal plants and integrate them in the various farming systems,

• Species for domestication are mainly selected encompassing indigenous knowledge and genetic selection based on scientific principles

• A strong partnership is developed with scientists, civic authorities and private companies.

• PTD is a farmer driven and market lead process. It focuses on species farmers consume best with high potentials for local, regional and international markets


APPROACH: Participatory tree domestication

• Conventional or Classical approach– Progeny trials– Biophysical and phenological assessments

• ICRAF approach– Priority setting (farmer participation)– Germplasm collection priority species– Selection via vegetative propagation techniques– On-station and on-farm evaluation of selected species– Marketing options for maximizing farmer family

income– Capacity building

African Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry CentreAfrican Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry CentreHow to multiply the selected species: rooting cuttingsrooting cuttings


Creation of a cultivar

Earlier fruiting, smaller trees and uniform quality

Dacryodes edulis


Sites of Impact Studies (DJONTU, 2006)


FARMHOUSEHOLD

Improved propagulesFruitsLeavesNuts/KernelsBark, firewood

TreeDomestication

Technology

Income(financial)

Outcomes: Food and nutrition, Environment resilience, Knowledge empowerment, Housing, quality and Standard of life

Consumption

Invest in

Other livelihood activities

Subsistence

Natural assets (Wild trees)

Role of tree domestication in household’s livelihood


Agroforestry nurseriesIncome used to send children to school, to pay for medicines, to dig wells, make bricks, to purchase livestock, to purchase fertilizers and other inputs; improved diet.

Increased knowledge in AF techniques

Impacts :


Income generation projectsImpacts: Income for medicines, water and homes;

better health; more time for family and farming; creates employment.


Rural Resource Centres

Impacts: Technical and business training and knowledge; empowerment of communities; Income for multiple uses; Dissemination of technologies; introduction of germplasm.


Microfinance Projects

Impacts: Provision of money for purchase of agricultural inputs; higher productivity; better livelihoods


FarmersSaw application of good practices and diversification, discussed their needs and aspirations, heard their interest in new technologies.


Innovators

Saw farmers and business developing and implementing new technologies and domesticating new crops


Farmer Groups

Met some dynamic and enthusiastic people excited about the ways the Project was improving their lives. Heard their hopes and aspirations.


Entrepreneurs

Heard that they were making money from their new businesses.


Traditional traders

There are so many more people that projects like this need to reach, whether they are farmers, traders or potential business people.

It was exciting to learn about the successes, but sad to think about the people who are still living without much hope.

African Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry CentreAfrican Humid Tropics Regional Programme – World Agroforestry CentreTransforming people’s lives

Agroforestry has

improved our lives

PARTICIPATORY TREE DOMESTICATION

My kids are eating fruits

and veg

I’ve improved my house and built a well

My family are healthier and going to

school

I’m buying fertilizers

and have a cow

I’ve decided to be a

nursery man and stay in my village

I’m processing and trading

AFTPs


Conclusion…Indigenous fruit portfolio now at the heart of key

global environmental processes• Convention to combat desertification

Agroforestry for land regeneration• Biodiversity Convention

Role of agroforestry in biodiversity conservation• Climate Change Convention

Agroforestry as a key to adaptationSmallholder projects for carbon sequestration

• UN Forum on ForestsKey role of trees outside forests

Documents

IMPACT OF PARTICIPATORY TREE DOMESTICATION ON FARMER LIVELIHOODS IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA