Z Tchoundjeu: Overview of ICRAF research activities in West and Central Africa

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

OVERVIEW OF ICRAF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

PAPER PRESENTED AT Bamako Workshop

Zac TchoundjeuICRAF REGIONAL DIRECTORPO. Box 16 317 Yaoundé CameroonEmail: [email protected]


Articulations

1. Structure of ICRAF WCA Region

2. Main Projects being implemented in WCA

3. Way Forward

4. CONCLUSION


ICRAF IN THE WORLD


VISION & MISSION• Vision: Rural transformation of smallholder

households by strategically increase their use of trees in agricultural landscapes to improve their food security, nutrition, income , health, shelter, energy resources and environmental sustainability.

• Mission: Generate science-based knowledge about the diverse roles trees play in agricultural landscapes and to use research top advance policies and practices to benefit the poor and the environment.


ICRAF GLOBAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES

• GRP1: domestication, utilization and conservation of superior agroforestry germplams

• GRP2: Maximizing on-farm productivity of trees and agroforestry germplasm

• GRP3: Improving tree product marketing for smallholders


ICRAF GLOBAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES

• GRP4: Reducing risks to land health and targeting agroforestry intervention to enhance land productivity

• GRP 5: Improving the ability of farmers, ecosystems and governments to cope with climate change

• GRP 6: Developing policies and incentives for multifunctional landscapes with trees that provide environmental services


21 countries330 million people1200 million ha


ECOSYSTEMS OF WCA REGION

AHT is a hot spot with more than 1800 endemic plant species31 endemic threatened birds35 endemic threatened mammals


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

55--year Average (2003year Average (2003--2007)2007)

9


Yield per hectare by ZoneYield per hectare by Zone

20075yr Average(2003‐2007)

World 541 524

Africa 539 510

America 327 334

Asia & Oceania 772 786

10


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



NTFPS can generate more income (FCFA)

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

cent

s/lb

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1996 1997 1998 1999

CocoaIrvingiaRicinod.

Volatility of coffee price


Participatory Tree Domestication (PTD)

Put simply 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

African Humid Tropics Regional Programme African Humid Tropics Regional Programme –– World Agroforestry CentreWorld Agroforestry CentreGnetum africanum

SPECIES UNDER DOMESTICATION

Irvingia gabonensis

Ricinodendron heudelotiiKola nitida


Allanblackia floribunda

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

laur

icm

yrist

icpa

lmit i

cste

aric

olei

cC1

8:2

AllanblackiaPalm oilPalm kernelRape oil

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


Grafting

African Humid Tropics Regional Programme African Humid Tropics Regional Programme –– World Agroforestry CentreWorld Agroforestry CentreHow to multiply the selected species: air layeringair layering


Creation of a cultivar

Earlier fruiting, smaller trees and uniform quality

Dacryodes edulis



BAOBAB VEGETABLE BANK



Farmer-Managed Vegetative Propagation Unit

Non-mist rooting propagator

Humidity chamber

Shade house

Stockplant


ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN PILOT VILLAGES

DRCNigeria

Cameroon


Approaches for linking rural communities to

markets

1. Integrating small farmers into value chains

2. Building local skills for improving competitiveness

3. Appraising market-led opportunities for rural communities

4. Strengthening service providers


0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

RegionalRetailer (3)

LocalTraders (4)

LocalCollectors (4)

LocalCollectors (3)

RegionalRetailer (4)

Farmer (1-4)

Profit margin received by market actors

HOW TO INCREASEHOW TO INCREASEFARMER INCOMESFARMER INCOMES


Collectives action / Group Sales

GuaranteeFunds

GuaranteeFunds

SensitizationMeetings

SensitizationMeetings

Workshop &TrainingWorkshop &Training

MarketSurveyMarketSurvey

Building linkages between farmersand traders

Building linkages between farmersand traders

Improve harvest and post-harvest techniques

Improve harvest and post-harvest techniques

Njansang Examples

Farmers

Farmer Farmer Enterprise Enterprise DevelopmeDevelopment In nt In CameroonCameroon

Group DynamicsGroup Dynamics


Some ResultsSome Results

• In 2005, 4 farmers enterprises generates received 709,075 FCFA from the sale of njansang.

• In 2006, they generated 2,826,000FCFA.

• In 2007 they generated 2,472,150FCFA.

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

1600000

1800000

2000000

Nkoloboudou

Ondeck

Melen

Ekpwasso

nVillages enterprise

Amou

nt Amount 2005

Amount 2006Amount 2007


The Njansang Kernel Cracking machine:

Percentage of success 90


Cassava Processing Micro Enterprise


Enhance agricultural Income Generating

Options in West and North West

regions of Cameroon


Post harvest machines

Ventilated dryers for drying tree, food and spice products Multipurpose mills


GENERALISED TREE SPECIES DOMESTIGRAM

PRIORITY SPECIES(and alternate species)

Procurement(Tree Seed Suppliers

Directory)

Exploration

Collection

Conservation,Diversity Assess.

IPR, Access, Exchange & Benefit Sharing

EVALUATION

On station On farm

PROPAGATION

MANAGEMENT ADOPTION

Laboratory On station On farmVillage

On station On farm

• Species trials• Literature searches• Expert input/meetings (historically)• Farmer surveys (indigenous knowledge)• On-farm/nursery tree inventories• Market surveys

- survival- growth- repro. ecology- genetic variation

- survival- growth- niche- scale- assess. method- compatibility- indig. knowledge

- molecular- nutrition- processability- seed quality

- nursery practices- propagule type- symbionts

- nursery practices- propagule type- indig. knowledge

- spacing- watering- fertilizing- thinning- coppicing- pruning- top working- fruit set- pest/disease- reprod. ecology

Collaboration& linkages

- marketing/process- outgrower scheme- germ. delivery- collective action- farmer exchanges- demonstrations- targeting climate

market, soils, popn- policy- certification- incentives-environmentalservice payments

• training important for all aspects• species/techniques also for domesticating the landscape

PRODUCTIONIDENTIFICATION

- spacing- watering- fertilizing- thinning- selection- coppicing- pruning- top working- fruit set- pest/disease- conservation- indig. Know.

MULTIPLICATION

- on farm- on station- Nat. Seed Cent.- composition- spacing- thinning- selection- fruit set- forecasting- timing

Seed Vegetative

- on farm- in community- on station- Nat. Hort Cent.- no. clones- mother blocks- selection- forecasting- timing

DIVERSEGERMPLASM

NARROWGERMPLASM

Actively Discourage

(e.g. TSSD, DD, NGOs)

Nomenclature(Bot. Nom. Dbase)

Documentation(Agroforestree Dbase)

selection


• Early fruiting and capture of desired traits are great incentive for adoption.

• Market of agroforestry products is being gradually developed with appropriate transformation and packaging methods.

• Indigenous fruit trees have high potentials to improve livelihood of local populations helping to achieve the MDGs (Poverty eradication, hunger reduction, improved of health and nutrition)

Conclusion


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

Business

Z Tchoundjeu: Overview of ICRAF research activities in West and Central Africa