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Edible,multi-purpose Australian acacias for Agroforestry farming systems in Africa’s dry lands.

Peter Cunningham, Salifou Yaou & Tony Rinaudo

SIM, World Vision Niger & Australia

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SIM

Africa: Hardest hit continent• Reduced crop yields –Sub Sahara > 20%

• Sahelian region: Millet/Sorghum –15% by 2030

• Food security < 11% rainfed land by 2080

Global food crises2008…

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SIM

Maradi region

Semi-arid tropics: 450 mm rainfall p.a. Growing season: June-Sept

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• Frequent famines• Chronic malnutrition• Hunger• Poor health• Food security?• General security

• Climate change

Challenges

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The Farmer Managed Agroforestry Farming System (FMAFS)

An integrated agroforestry farming system to overcome the main limitations to farming

- Soil & water erosion- Low soil fertility- Mono-culture cropping- Lack of biodiversity- Poor income generation & distribution- Drought

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SIM

Farmer Managed Agroforestry Farming System

FMNR Multi-purpose acacias +

Other Agroforestry trees +Annual/Perennial crops +

Soil amelioration (CRM, compost, NPK micro-

dosing)

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FMAFS Farm layout (½ ha)

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Severe Land Degradation

Crop Residue Mulching

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration of trees (FMNR)

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SIM

50 % of Nigers farmland reforested in last 25 yrs

“One of the great success stories in the field of climate change and agriculture”“the single largest environmental

transformation in Africa”Mark Hertsgaard- environment writer

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration

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Multi-purpose acacias

Sustainable firewood

Tools

Poles/Timber

Mulch

Reclamation of degraded lands- ICRISAT

A. tumida

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A. colei seed pods

var Ileocarpa

Acacia flour- 60% yield

21- 24% Protein, 50% Carbohydrate

Human food

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SIMTraditional foods cooked with 25% acacia

flour

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Kunu- “Weaning formula”• Millet• Sorghum• Peanut• Soy bean• Sesame• Moringa• Acacia 15%• Boabab pulp• Salt• Sugar

Acacia based food products

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FMAFS Demonstrations

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Promotion & adoption

• Training courses• Village visits, tours/dialogue• Followup• Radio broadcasts• Open days• Acacia seed market

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FMAFS Component

FMAFS (kg/ha)

Control (kg/ha)

Millet 173 149Other crops (Sorghum, cowpeas, hibiscus, peanuts)

77 10

FMNR wood 167 -Acacia wood 142 -Acacia seed 20 -

Mean average annual crop and wood production from FMAFS vs control farms in

the Maradi district, Niger (2006-2009)

All data in kg/ha. 7 FMAFS (1/2 – 1 ha). Mean of 3-4 yrs

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FMAFS Component

FMAFS (cfa)

Control (cfa)

% Increase

Millet 43,250 37,250 14Other crops (Sorghum, cowpeas, hibiscus, peanuts)

23,100 3,000 87

FMNR wood 6,680Acacia wood 2,850Acacia seed 5,760Total benefits 81,630 40,250 103

Mean average annual economic benefits from FMAFS vs control farms in the Maradi

district, Niger (2006-2009)

All data in kg/ha. 7 FMAFS (1/2 – 1 ha). Mean of 3-4 yrs

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FMAFS Component

FMAFS Control

Millet 53 92.5Other crops (Sorghum, cowpeas, hibiscus, peanuts)

28(81.5)

7.5

FMNR wood 8Acacia wood 3.5Acacia seed 7Total 100 100

Proportion of farm income derived from the components of FMAFS vs control farms in the Maradi district, Niger (2006-2009) %

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Acacia fire wood

½ ha FMAFS Demonstration: Magajin Kware

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Acacia fire wood

Acacia torulosa

Acacia colei3 yrs - Feb 2009

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Acacia fire wood

May-June 2009Acacia prunings

Acacia leaf compost

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Acacia fire wood

October 2009

FMNR

CRM

Weeding

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Acacia torulosa

Acacia tumida

Acacia colei

Component research: acacia species, domestication, silviculture

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Acacia torulosa

High seed yieldEase of

thrashing4 yrs

Coppicing/Pollarding

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Acacia tumida var Kulparn Danja (20 months)

Provenance trials 2004... Within provenance selections 2008...

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Silvicultural requirements

A. colei & torulosa. 10 yrs.(4 prunings) 10x10 m

spacing Farming system

Spacing, pruning

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Third edible Acacia roundtable

meeting March 2012, MaradiNiger, Ghana,

Senegal

Expanding the impact- Niger Edible Acacia Network (NEAN)

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Main benefits of the FMAFS

Simple, flexible, teachable, transferableBegins with what the farmers know:- FMNR- Acacias- Traditional cropsBiodiversityEvery Acacia tree produces multiple benefitsLand protection & restorationIncreased soil fertility Income generation & distributionMinimal problems from grazing animalsOvercomes famines- Resilience

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Conclusions

• Multi-purpose Australian acacias can be used to enrich FMNR in dryland agroforestry farming systems (FMAFS)- “Beyond FMNR”

• FMAFS in Niger can significantly improve farm economics, resilience and adaptation to Climate change

• R&D gaps are in need of further work & funding

• Multi-purpose Australian acacias may have an important role in a “New Green Revolution” in Africas drylands? (Reclamation of degraded lands)

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Mun gode(Thankyou)

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Acacia seed for Human food: Principles

• Nutrious with cereal compliment (certain amino acids limited)• Protein suppliment• No more than 25% Acacia flour mix• Seed preparation: No roasting, seed cost removed 0.6 mm seive. Flour meal• Incorporate into local recipies• Local seed processing technologies at village level• Potential for various food stuffs- Kunnu, Nutrition mixes, Famine foods

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The need for a new Green revolution for Africa’s drylands

Based on widespread cultivation of new crops adapted to low soil fertility & lower and more variable rainfall

Edible multi-purpose Acacias• Drought tolerant• Adapted to low soil fertility• <Soil erosion >Soil fertility• Mulch• Windbreaks• Timber products- building, fencing• Restoration of degraded lands• Fodder• Honey production?• Human food

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SIM

The Sahelian region of West Africa