RE-GREENING IN THE SAHEL: IMPACT ON FOOD SECURITY

Dynamics of land use Dynamics of land use and vegetation in and vegetation in Southwest ZinderSouthwest Zinder

19551955

2005200519751975

NIGER: 5 million ha in the Maradi and Zinder Regions

IT PRODUCES AN ADDITIONAL 500,000 TONS OF CEREALS

FOOD DEFICIT IN NIGER IN 2011 -2012:

600,000 TONS

Grain surplus Kantché District Grain surplus Kantché District (Zinder/Niger). 350,000 inhabitants; high (Zinder/Niger). 350,000 inhabitants; high on-farm tree densitieson-farm tree densities

20072007+ 21,230 ton+ 21,230 ton 20082008+ 36,838 ton+ 36,838 ton 20092009+ 28,122 ton+ 28,122 ton 20102010+ 64,208 ton+ 64,208 ton 20112011+ 13,818 ton+ 13,818 ton

Source: National Committee for the Prevention and Management of Food Crises and FEWSQuoted by: Yamba and sambo (2012)

Why do farmers invest in the Why do farmers invest in the Kantche District invest inKantche District invest inre-greening?re-greening?

Soil fertility Soil fertility 58%58% Food productionFood production 25%25% FirewoodFirewood 12%12% Construction woodConstruction wood 12%12% FodderFodder 11%11% EtcEtc

Source: Yamba and Sambo (2012)

Improved soil fertility and an increase in fodder production

FODDER IS LESS ACONSTRAINT AND LIVESTOCK DEPENDS 6 MONTHS/YEAR ON TREES

BAOBABS DOMINATE REGENERATIONIN PARTS MIRRIAH DEPARTMENT(NIGER)

The value of the leaves of one mature baobabvaries from 34 $ to 70 $ per tree

At current cereal prices in Niger one can buy 70 – 175 kg of grain on the market

Source: Yamba and Sambo (2012)

Village  Degreeof vulnerability

Kouka Samou

Doukoum Doukoum

Kirou HaussaZedrawa Daré

Leastvulnerable

200 40 140 125 135

MediumVulnerable

110 37 120 70 63

Veryvulnerable

80 83 26 40 100

ExtremelyVulnerable

104 50 116 80 45

AVERAGE ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME FROM NEW AGROFORESTRY PARKLAND (US $)

Source: Yamba and Sambo (2012)

Barren land in 1985 now complex production system

and they manage the tree stock

….TO IMPROVE SOIL FERTILITY AND INCREASE CROP YIELDS.

NEW AGROFORESTS ON MALI’SSENO PLAINS (450,000 ha)

GRAIN SURPLUS IN 2011: about 50,000 tons

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE GROUND

FARMERS PRUNE IN JUNEAND LITTER IMPROVES SOIL FERTILITY

1990

WATER HARVESTING AND AGROFORESTRY

2004

Demi lunes

Combretum glutinosum

Zaï

Simple techniques

Piliostigma reticulatum

Important impacts

THIS WAS BARREN LAND (0 kg/ha)

TO FARMERS AGROFORESTRY IS A LOW-COST WAY TO INTENSIFY AGRICULTURE AND STABILIZE ACCESS TO FOOD

Major agroforestry regions in West Africa and Major agroforestry regions in West Africa and potential directions of expansionpotential directions of expansion

ISAIAH 35: 1

THE DESERT WILL REJOICE AND WILL BE FLOWERING LIKE A ROSE