Allanblackia. WCA scientists strategize in Yaounde. Allanblackia

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1 Allanblackia Bilingual Monthly - ICRAF/West and Central Africa Region August 2011 WCA scientists strategize in Yaounde Allanblackia Publisher Dr Zac Tchoundjeu Editing, design & layout Julius Atia Iseli Contributed in this issue Fatoumata Tata Traoré Antoine Kalinganire Jules Bayala Apollinaire Biloso Lyliane Kani Contact us Ph.(+237) Fax(+237) icraf-aht@cgiar.org The World Agroforestry Centre West and Central Africa (WCA) region held its annual regional planning meeting on August 2011 in Yaounde, Cameroon. The meeting brought together scientists from across the region to review WCA achievements in the past year ( 2010), align regional research priorities with CRPs, reflect on publication and resource mobilization strategy for WCA for 2012 and beyond, and to review administrative and financial issues for more efficiency.. The scientists presented ongoing research activities in the different countries and the Global Research Projects (GRPs). Talking to scientists at the meeting, the WCA Regional Coordinator, Dr Zac Tchoundjeu encouraged the team to work harder and challenged researchers to publish more to maintain the region as one of the best in the Centre. Last year the WCA region was the second in terms of publications. You cannot be a researcher if you are not publishing. We should also avoid poor quality papers because they create more problems than when they are not published he said. The different scientists presented the list of planned publications for 2011 and Zac called on the different national coordinators to help encourage junior scientists in their respective countries to be first authors of publications to help boost their carrier. He used the opportunities to exhort junior scientists and PhD students in the region to do all to produce good quality papers. With some of the major projects in the region expected to end by December 2011, Zac called on scientists to write new proposals. Talking about future projects, there were suggestions that it is time to package a number of high value species in a solid proposal that could have more impact. Also in this issue WCA scientists receive training on statistics Réunion nationale des partenaires de l ICRAF FEM: Réflexions pour la cinquième phase au Cameroun ICRAF launches Best Nursery Award in Cameroon West and Central Africa

2 2 Statistics training to sharpen publication skills the data so that other scientists can access. If protocols are not respected and your statistical data are faulty, you cannot publish, Zac advised participants. A three day regional workshop on statistics to help sharpen the skills of WCA scientists in underway in Yaounde. The training workshop aimed to raise awareness on the importance of high quality data. The training has brought together over thirty scientists and data collectors from across the region and from the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development of Cameroon (IRAD). The workshop is very important because the CGIAR Centres are restructuring and researchers from the different institutions would be called to collaborate on certain activities Our researchers should not be found wanting the Regional Coordinator, Dr Zac Tchoundjeu told participants at the opening on Wednesday. Faulty data he said is like a time bomb for scientists. The World Agroforestry Centre procedures now require that all publications as from 2011 must be accompanied by the primary data they are based upon. Zac said, He further explained that the library files both the publication and The training was carried by two ICRAF scientists, Dr Anja Gassner and Lazare Kouodiekong. The course was an opportunity to overview the standard methods of analyzing research data, design a field data collection sheet, outline data entry, organization and quality control strategies. They will introduce participants to simple ANOVA techniques, multivariate analysis techniques and alternative to the standard analysis methods. Field workers are very important in data collection. If they collect false data, modeling will not be possible, Dr Anja Gassner told participants. It is worth noting that ICRAF is the first CGIAR Centre to publish its data and the West and Central Africa region is the most advanced in the Centre when it comes to data collection. A situation which Anja credits Dr Tchoundjeu for the pace setting initiative to hire the services of a data curator. Anja lauded the work done so far by Lazare and exhorted the team to keep on. After the training, participants are expected to make good use of the knowledge acquired such that it will help improve the house keeping system. Also, they will be able to put together data collected in an easier form for transmission to the data analyst based in Yaounde. FEM: Réflexions pour la cinquième phase au Cameroun Une réunion de haut niveau avec les partenaires et le comite national du Fonds pour l Environnement Mondial (FEM) s est tenue du 17 au 19 août au Palais de Congrès à Yaounde pour la formulation du portefeuille national des projets FEM pour la phase opérationnelle L atelier présidé par le Ministre de l Environnement et la Protection de la Nature, M. Hélé Pierre, visait trois objectifs: de familiariser les partenaires avec le processus FEM et de leur présenter les principaux défis de l environnement au Cameroun; de prendre en compte les préoccupations environnementales des partenaires et de former une synergie nationale autour des objectifs communs (FEM, Agences d exécution du FEM, Gouvernement, Secteur prive, Société civile, communauté de base); et de valider le porte feuille national des projets FEM. A l ouverture de l atelier, le coordonateur régional de l ICRAF, Dr Zac Tchoundjeu a tiré la sonnette d alarme sur les problèmes de l atténuation des effets de déforestation et de dégradation des forêts du Bassin du Congo. «Grace aux travaux de recherche de l ICRAF et ses partenaires, la domestication de nos arbres fruitiers locaux de haute valeur marchande est devenue une réalité. Le plus pauvre des fermiers des zones rurales de l Afrique de l Ouest et du centre comprend la nécessité de protéger et de conserver cet écosystème qui abrite les arbres fruitiers à haute valeur marchande qu il consomme avant de vendre le surplus Ce défi qui menace la disparition de ces écosystèmes importants pour la survie de l humanité, est le nôtre. Nous devons le relever car de la bonne gestion de cette planète dépendra notre futur» a t il relevé. Le ministre Hélé Pierre a annoncé que le FEM a jusqu'ici financé des projets d une valeur de 11 millions de dollars au Cameroun et que pour la cinquième phase, «le Cameroun se voit doté d un montant de 14,95 millions de dollars pour financer ses projets prioritaires entre juillet 2010 et juin 2014». Le représentant du secteur d'affaires, GICAM, a annoncé qu ils travaillent vers le «green business». Au terme des présentations et après échanges et débats, les recommandations fortes ont été adoptées pour le choix des projets dans les domaines de la Biodiversité, changements climatiques, dégradation des sols et POPs. Ils ont aussi recommandé une méthodologie de travail pour le suivi évaluation est la suivante sous la coordination du ministère de l environnement (MINEP). Le Fonds pour l environnement mondial (FEM) réunit 182 pays en partenariat avec des institutions internationales, des organisations non gouvernementales et le secteur privé, pour s attaquer à des problèmes environnementaux à caractère mondial.

3 3 Réunion nationale des partenaires de l ICRAF Dans le souci de se recadrer par rapport aux objectifs annuels de projets IFADIII et AFTP4A et d encourager l échange entre ses partenaires, ICRAF organise chaque année deux réunions, à raison d une réunion par semestre. C est dans ce cadre qu une réunion de deux jours a été organisée par l ICRAF en partenariat avec l ONG CIMAR du 20 au 21 juillet 2011 à Njombé. Cette réunion regroupait des partenaires nationaux de l ICRAF qui œuvrent sous le projet IFADIII (Promouvoir l innovation rurale par la domestication participative) et AFTP4A (Produits Agroforestiers pour Afrique de l Ouest/ Centre). La réunion qui a connu la participation de tous les partenaires invités avait trois objectifs principaux, à savoir : Mieux se connaitre et connaitre ce que les autres font, partager les expériences les uns des autres (leurs succès, leurs problèmes et comment ils les résolvent) et s enrichir des expériences des autres et les adapter si possible dans son propre contexte. Définir les priorités pour les prochains 6 mois d activités, réfléchir sur l état d avancement des activités du premier semestre relatif à ces projets et discuter ensemble sur le planning du prochain semestre et réajuster le programme d activités si nécessaire par rapport au semestre restant. Réfléchir sur l après IFAD III Dans son ensemble, la réunion s est bien déroulée et les participants ont été impressionnés par la visite de terrain. Surtout que le CIMAR malgré sa jeunesse avait déjà à son actif des réalisations que certaines centres des ressources plus âgés n ont pas encore atteints. Les participants ont sollicité que des voyages d échange soient régulièrement organisés entre les centres des ressources et organisations de relai pour leur permettre de partager les expériences et voir ce que les autres font, car le fait de voir tout ce que Christopher et son équipe arrivent à faire a galvanisé et motivé plusieurs d entre eux. Les travaux en groupe ont permis d avoir une vue plus large des travaux de ICRAF dans d autres régions et de voir les différents impacts qui ont déjà pu être créés dans les zones d intervention. En marge de la réunion proprement dite, les organisations de relai se sont regroupées, afin de définir ensemble une position commune dans le développement de leurs activités. Plusieurs points ont ainsi été clarifiés parmi lequel le nom du réseau baptisé ANACRAD entendu Association Nationale des Centres de Ressources en Agroforesterie et Agriculture Durable. Il a été rappelé que le réseau doit tout mettre en œuvre pour être légalisé et fonctionner de manière autonome le plus rapidement possible. Avant de clôturer la réunion, il a été rappelé que le concours de la meilleure pépinière 2011 a déjà été ouvert. Les conditions de soumission, les critères d évaluation et le processus de sélection ont été longuement expliqués. Chaque participant repart donc avec ses attentes comblées et le désir d aller faire le compte rendu de cette session à ses collaborateurs. IFAD III looks into the future A meeting to put together lofty ideas to develop a proposal for the next phase of the project, Promoting Rural Innovation through Participatory Tree Domestication held in Yaounde on 18 th August The meeting chaired by the project manager, Dr Ann Degrande, comprising scientists from DRC and Cameroon. They sat to brainstorm on a possible next phase of the project which is being executed in Cameroon, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project is being financed by IFAD started in 2009 and is expected to end in December The team looked at the achievements registered so far in all the countries, the gaps, opportunities and justifications for a possible next phase. Talking about the next phase, they examined the possible project objectives, the main outputs and components, target groups, countries, sites, the implementation strategy and possible partners in the execution of the project in the different countries. In the days ahead, a proposal will be formulated from the ideas and forwarded to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

4 4 Impacts socio économiques et environnementaux du SIM des PAF et PFNL des forêts en RDC Depuis plusieurs décennies, le monde fait face à la crise de l environnent et du développement. Cette double crise est caractérisée entre autres par la pollution des milieux naturels, la déforestation, la famine, la difficulté d accès aux biens et services de premières nécessités, et les changements climatiques. La solution accentuée repose sur la conservation et la gestion rationnelle de la biodiversité et précisément de la forêt tropicale. Toutefois, cette solution ne s avère pas facile dans le Bassin du Congo qui bien que reconnu deuxième poumon de la planète terre, reste martelé par une pauvreté qui gangrène ses milieux ruraux. Cette dernière est amplifiée par la forte croissance démographique (2,7 % par an) qui fera d ailleurs doubler sa population d ici 2030 (PNUD, 2007), avec une pression encore plus forte sur la forêt. La principale cause de la destruction de la forêt tropicale est l agriculture itinérante sur brûlis à laquelle s associe l exploitation irrationnelle des produits de la forêt (Lututala, 2001 ; Maldague, 2003 et 2010). Ces pratiques restent courantes dans les milieux pauvres d Afrique Centrale et du Cameroun en particulier, notamment dans sa partie forestière. Parmi les causes de cette dégradation figure en bonne place la difficulté d accès au marché par les producteurs/ exploitants, puisque ces derniers sont obligés de céder de grandes quantités de produits pour avoir le revenu nécessaire à leur subsistance. En effet, Maldague (2010) présente l accès à l information par les ruraux pauvres comme l un des principaux catalyseurs qui leur permettrait de vaincre la pauvreté, de relever leurs conditions de vie et d améliorer les systèmes de production à la base. Cette réflexion de Maldague traduit bien la nécessité d un dispositif qui mettrait le producteur au contact des consommateurs avec le minimum d intermédiaires et avec le maximum d informations devant l orienter dans la prise de décision. Sous la houlette de l ICRAF, un Système d Information des Marchés (SIM) des produits agroforestiers et PFNL a vu le jour en 2011 en RDC et a fait ses premiers pas dans la province du Bas Congo et la ville province de Kinshasa. Il permet de faire le lien entre l offre et la demande en vue de rendre le marché des produits agroforestiers et PFNL plus transparent et équitable au profit des acteurs directs des filières. Il s appuie sur des rabatteurs d information (appelés points focaux) des radios communautaires pour faire des diffusions d information au profit des producteurs, des commerçants et des consommateurs. Cette innovation de part sa conception est donc un catalyseur des ventes groupées des produits agroforestiers et PFNL en général et du miel en particulier, notamment dans sa première phase. Après une évaluation satisfaisante de cette phase pionnière, le SIM des produits agroforestiers et PFNL sera relancé avec plus d efficacité en Upcoming activities September 2011: Visit of Prof. Patrick September 2011: Management team Van Damme of the University of Gent, Belgium to ICRAF Yaounde meeting to hold in Nairobi September 2011: Alain Tsobeng will September 2011: ICRAF scientists to undertake a technical support visit to Democratic Republic of meet in Nairobi for the Science Week. Congo. 12 September 22 October 2011: Adoption survey, Cameroon September 2011: Ann and Zac will participate at the IFAD Share Fair, Kome.

5 5 More than just a tree In Mali, the Shea tree is more than just a tree it represents gold money in bank says Maimouna Boaré, leader of a women group in the village of Diakobougou in the Segou region. Worthy of note is the fact that the Sahel is one of those areas across the globe where deteriorating ecological conditions and extreme poverty cohabit. In the face of a very challenging environment, nature has compensated the people of semi arid Sahel region of West Africa with the Shea tree or Karité (Vitellaria paradoxa). The tree produces fruits through which Shea butter is extracted. In Mali, the Shea tree is protected by law. The Shea tree is not just a tree but a valuable natural resource that helps many families make ends meet. In Mali Shea butter is used in cooking especially in rural areas. The fruits are consumed as food by humans and livestock. It is also used in traditional medicine, cosmetics (it is used in making soap and body lotion) and as substitute of cocoa butter by chocolate manufacturers. The local people admit it treats some skin diseases and keeps the skin smooth. The wood is used as firewood. The several thousands of hectares of Shea trees across Mali are as precious as gold mines. Traditional methods of transformation are very laborious and time consuming and it leaves the final product with a strong smell most often not appreciated by pharmaceutical industries who are the biggest buyers. With the assistance of certain organizations, some communities now own mechanized extraction units and have learned improved techniques of transformation. Income generated plays a great role in improving the livelihoods of the local populations. Shea butter has given women a voice; it has financially empowered women. Without Karité, life will be more difficult says Maimouna. Money generated from Shea butter is used to buy food, clothes and provide healthcare for the family. They also use part of the money to pay school fees and buy books for their children. Unfortunately, most of the women are illiterate and are not able to keep financial records of their income. Maimouna says when Shea produces well, we eat well. When it does not we feed badly. Despite the socio economic importance and value of the Shea tree, researchers and even some local people believe the trees are threatened by drought, diseases, ageing parklands and over use as a source of firewood. Scientist say there is a need for an intensive fight against pest. During a focused group discussion in the locality of Diakobougou, the farmers admitted that some plants are dyeing and production is reducing in some farms. Some years ago, the most challenging aspect used to be the cultivation of Shea tree. Scientists say the tree could take up to twenty five years to start fruiting when planted using traditional methods. At the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Bamako Mali, there are ongoing research activities on Karité. The Centre s scientists say they have successfully developed vegetative propagation techniques that have reduced the fruiting period to about five years. Grafting technique has brought hope as it reduces the juvenile phase and induces early fructification period says Dr Jules Bayala of ICRAF. A recently published technical manual by Samaké et al (2011) focuses on the techniques of combating parasites and the management of Karité on farm. In 2005, ICRAF scientists began training local groups on how to multiply the Shea tree by grafting. In Segou, there exist nurseries established by individuals and the Shea tree is one of the priority species. The challenge is to have more people across Mali and Vitellaria paradoxa parkland in Batouré bougou, Mali in other parts of the Sahel to learn the vegetative multiplication technique. In communities where more people have been introduced to improved tree planting techniques, farmers say the number of Shea trees is on the rise though still young. Farmers are developing more parklands of not only Shea tree, but also with other high value trees especially Faidherbia albida, which helps in soil regeneration. There exist some ICRAF promoted nurseries in the villages of Mantana, Samene, Tiby I and Dioro Koila. In Montana, the nursery owner, Seydou Fomba, sells seedlings of Vitellaria paradoxa, Ziziphus mauritiana, Faidherbia albida, Balanites aegyptiaca, Parkia biglobosa for up to CFA 750, 000 yearly. In the village of Tiby I, another nursery owner, Tahirou Diarra, generated up to CFA 2.5 million last year from the sale of plants alone. In the absence of good financial records, it is very difficult to know how much they generated from karité alone. Local producers say the market situation in the last few years shows the future is bright for Shea butter production. With the growth of international demand for Shea outside Africa, especially by chocolate manufacturers there is need for farmers to prepare for a possible increase in demand. With the introduction of a Shea butter extraction machine in Diakobougou and in many other communities, Maimouna and the other women say it has improved the quality of butter and has reduced their work load. Mali is ranked second largest producer of Shea butter after Burkina Faso with an output of about 60,000 tons per year. The challenge now is to get many more farmers learn the new techniques that will enable them to plant early fruiting materials and be able to meet future market demands. From every indication, vegetative propagation techniques hold great prospects for poverty alleviation and environmental resilience in the Mali and the rest of the Sahel. With the new technique, farmers will be able to multiply the Shea tree and other highvalue indigenous trees. For there to be meaningful progress, village and even municipal authorities will have to put hands on deck to help in the sensitization and dissemination of new techniques.

6 6 Fatoma Coulibaly A life time of nursing, selling and planting trees Fatoma Coulibaly is a Malian farmer who owns a nursery and has spent most of his life nursing, selling and planting trees in the region of Segou. Nursery business is very lucrative I generate more than a million CFA from plants each year there is nothing that can push me to change activity he said during an encounter with some ICRAF staff. Coulibaly started by working for someone. I was always indebted he said. Shortly after, he decided to establish his own nursery along the banks of the River Niger in Segou. This is my 27 th year in this nursery he said. He sells a wide variety of fruit, timber and shade trees including some high value indigenous species like Vitellaria paradoxa, Ziziphus mauritiana, Faidherbia albida, Balanites aegyptiaca and Parkia biglobosa. Some years ago ICRAF helped to train me on grafting I have also trained a number of young people. Some are already well established and it makes me happy he said. Coulibaly has adopted a very practical method to nurse his plants. He uses waste plastic bags which he says are easily available, cheap and very resistant compared to the conventional polybags which are not always available in shops in his locality. I make more money from fruit and shade trees. In the past, his customers were mostly people from rural areas whom he said came to eucalyptus, mango and citrus plants but things are gradually changing. Many people from within the city come to buy fruit and shade trees to plant in their compounds. This fact could be confirmed by this reporter who within less than an hour in Coulibaly s nursery could count up to six different people who called around to buy trees. People living in towns have understood the importance of trees even my former master comes to buy from me now and most often they order for hundreds of trees. He does not only sell the trees but also advises his customers on what to buy and how to plant and take care of the plants. Coulibaly has also planted some of the trees in his farm which he uses as a demonstration farm. Many people are motivated to plant fruit trees in his locality from what they see in his farm. Some people come asking for the same varieties that I have in my farm Each year, I generate a lot of money selling fruits from my farm I also give some of the fruits to the needy, relations and friends Thanks to the money I generate from my business I was able to rebuild my mud brick house with cement block. He has also created jobs to a few young men who assist him with the watering of the plants every day. The objective of the award is to encourage nursery operators to improve the performance of their nursery by producing quality improved planting materials and promote tree domestication techniques and agroforestry practices. Evaluation Criteria Originality of the name of the nursery The general aspect of the nursery: Choice of the site, hygiene, maintenance, arrangement of plants, etc. Number of plants produced in 2010 and 2011 Number of species, particularly local species. The propagation techniques used to produce the plants. The physical quality of plants produced: health, vigour, shoot to root ratio, sturdiness The genetic quality of plants produced: sources of seeds, cuttings, marcotts, scions Group contribution to the installation and the management of the nursery Number of active members. Implication of vulnerable groups, particularly women, youths and the poorest in society Distribution of tasks and responsibilities Group management, solidarity, transparency, understanding, dynamism. Member attendance record book Production and sale record book ICRAF launches Best Nursery Award in Cameroon Innovations Actions carried out for information, sensitization, promotion and training in the village and elsewhere. Selection Process During the year 2011, nurseries will be regularly followed up by a team made up of researchers and extentionists. Then the groups will confirm their participation by submitting the following documents/information: A completed award 2011 form obtainable at ICRAF Office List of active members of the nursery with signatures A photocopy of the pages of the attendance register Detailed information on the 2010 and 2011 plants production Detailed information on the 2010 and 2011 plants commercialization Photocopy of the production and sales register of the nursery Information on visitors, training carried out, exhibitions attended, sensitizations organised if possible with pictures All other documents deemed as necessary in the evaluation of the nursery. The form will be available during the months of August and September The deadline for the submission of application forms is 30 th of September 2011 The first phase of the award will be at the zonal levels and the second phase at the national level. For more information, contact ICRAF office in Yaounde: Ph.(+237) Fax(+237) icraf-aht@cgiar.org