Jos - Nigeria
Agroforestry
To ensure food security for local producers in Jos, Nigeria, Maison Hennessy, Reforest'Action and local partner Green Sahara Farms LTD have developed new agroforestry systems using fruit and leguminous species.
2021 - 2022
Financé
Nigeria lost 60 million hectares of primary tropical forest during the 20th century, and this significant loss continues to this day. Against this backdrop of severe forest loss in Nigeria, Reforest'Action has teamed up with local company Green Sahara to put trees and their countless benefits back at the heart of farmers' daily lives.
This project involves the development of agroforestry, i.e. the integration of trees around and within farmers' fields. These trees will bring numerous economic and environmental benefits, thanks in particular to the diversity of the species planted. Indeed, crop diversity has many advantages, including ensuring food security for farmers and their families, diversifying their sources of income, spreading harvesting work more evenly over the year, and responding better to variations in market demand. As part of the project, 50 different tree species will be integrated into individual agricultural plots. Among these, the fruit species planted (such as papaya or pomegranate) will eventually provide a secondary crop of fruit, for the personal consumption of farming families or for sale on local markets. As for leguminous species, their root systems will provide the nutrients needed to fertilize the soil. Finally, high-growing tree species provide a protective canopy over food crops. Thus, the interaction between the trees planted as part of the project and the pre-existing agricultural crops will benefit production and gradually improve the standard of living of the associated farmers. In addition, throughout the project, Green Sahara trains farmers in the application of agroforestry and the management of their farm businesses. They are also encouraged to adopt organic production and ecologically sustainable farming systems. Thanks to the training component of this project, local populations will be able to continue developing agroforestry on their plots.
Green Sahara Revolution is a social impact investment program spearheaded by Green Sahara Farms. Driven by the desire to provide innovative solutions to Nigeria's social, economic and environmental challenges, the program aims to redesign agricultural systems to better preserve natural resources and train farmers in sustainable, economically viable and environmentally sound farming practices. Green Sahara's strategic goals include reducing the environmental impact of the agro-industry, preserving water and energy resources, developing biodiversity, increasing production of the country's main crops (spices, tubers, cereals) and creating participatory entrepreneurial models to contribute to the autonomy of local communities. Thanks to the Green Tree Thrift program, the partnership between Reforest'Action and Green Sahara will enable the deployment of agroforestry projects in central and south-western Nigeria to help address these various challenges.
