Biodiversity has been decreasing at an alarming rate in the Sahelian zone of Niger. This is due to traditional farming practices, land clearing, habitat loss, soil erosion and population pressure. This leads to water loss, crop failure and famine.
The Sowing Seeds of Change in the Sahel project conducts on-site research into sustainable agro-forestry farming systems appropriate to the region and communicates the results through hands-on training and demonstration farms.
Improved Well-Being
The new farming systems being taught in this project are improving the livelihood and well-being of participating villagers. Trials have shown that income has increased over traditional farming methods two to three times.
A village survey on acacia food completed in September 2007 also showed that this high protein food supplement has been widely and enthusiastically accepted in the villages where the project is working.
The food brings significant benefits, increasing strength, helping staple foods to go further, and increasing the milk production of nursing mothers.
Issa and Chima’s story
When project workers visited the Zodaye and Alfari villages, they found that the demonstration farms had made significant progress, particularly due to the consistent work being carried out by two of the villagers, Issa and Chima.
At Issa and Chima’s compound in Zodaye, a group of 14 boys and girls were sitting in the shade painstakingly cleaning acacia seed for later sale. All of the seed had come from Chima’s farm. The acacias give a seed harvest every March/April, at a time when food is running low in villages and there are few or no other sources of income. Issa and Chima’s acacias are providing them with a valuable income and high quality food.
