Village Development Committee of Ando-Kpomey Togo

Tabligbo, Togo

An Overview Of Our Solution

Rural communities are wholly dependent on natural resources carry out activities that undermine the regeneration of ecosystems and biodiversity (use of pesticides and chemicals and intensive burning). Moreover, agriculture remains the basis of the national economy and employs 60% of the working population. The forest sector is strongly linked to agriculture and plays an important role in soil preservation and fertility, but land degradation leads to decreased agricultural productivity and the maintenance of ecosystems and biodiversity. village development committee of ADOKPOMEY has launched "The ecological village initiative" focusing on community management of natural resources

Who is this solution impacting?

Community Type

Rural

Organization type

Cooperativa

Ecosystem (select all that apply)

Forests

Population impacted

35000 peoples

Size of agricultural area

ex. 1000ha

Production quantity

ex. 25000 kilo

People employed

10 peoples

Describe your solution

cooperative focus on capacity-building, awareness management approach through appropriate management practices in order to optimize the economic and social benefits derived from land while retaining; enhancing the ecological support functions of ecosystems To improve agriculture productivity the cooperative uses agricultural officers to disseminate new technologies, training in animal husbandry and information on efficient production methods. Specific intervention include crop protection diversification and organic fertilizer use .Crop protection methods fight parasitic plant diseases use natural materials rather than chemical inputs. Seed diversity is encouraged, as is the use of compost and organic fertilizers. Intercropping has enabled farmers to diversify their crops with complementary species such as peppers and soil-enhancing legumes. This techniques provides habitat for insects and soil organisms that would not be present in a single-crop environment, thereby enhancing biodiversity and reducing pest outbreaks. Farmers also produce natural pest repellents made from on farm items as chili peppers, garlic, onion. With a focus on repelling instead of killing the shift from chemical insecticides to natural insect repellants illustrates another strategy to conserve biodiversity.

Describe your implementation

community members, raise awareness on conservation issues and priorities, and disseminate improved agriculture techniques. Farming extension agents conduct demonstrations for farming communities. Model farmers apply new techniques in their own fields , which are then use as demonstration sites for the entire community. Model farmers also mobilize people from the community to attend demonstrations where they share their expertise, methods and achievements. Each farming facilitator extension agent and model farmer is also responsible one radio show each week. Tree planting ecosystem restoration and the use of manure for compost and organic fertilizers have improved the integrity of soils and enhanced water security by facilitating groundwater recharging. In addition, to above activities, Cooperative helps its members to secure micro-finance. cooperative works with a network of rural microcredit agencies to connect member families with financing for off-season crop cultivation. Cooperative worked with partners to train and position technicians in the roles of farming facilitators, farming extension, and model farmers train-to-trainers approach has thrived and represents a model of effective environmental education Cooperative undertakes comprehensive awareness-raising campaigns to educate the local population on the importance of biodiversity and ecosystems services to human Weill-being. One early barrier to outreach was the high rates of illiteracy amongst local farmers. This challenge was overcome through radio programming which broadcasts news and information on environmental conservation activities, sustainable livelihoods opportunities, resources management rules and improved farming techniques on common language.

External connections

Since 2010, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has led Local Human Development Program. The program promotes technological innovation for sustainable human development in rural communities In the community, the program focus was a local initiative to promote sustainable natural resource management land the environmental rehabilitation of land. Emphasis was placed on diversifying Vegetation and creating employment opportunities for economically marginalized communities. The Government of Togo developed a strategic to replicate this model in 500 communities around the country until 2022. Financial support, capacity building, farm equipment and water system for nursery are given by UNITED NATION DEVELOPMENT PROGAMME (UNDP) .Technical assistance are given by Ministry of Environmental and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and others governments agencies and NGOs.

What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?

Deterioration of forest cover due to the combined effects of unsustainable agricultural practices and the overexploitation of forest resources, which increased from 4.5% in 2005 to 5.75% in 2010, 20000 hectares of losses per year. The arable land covers about 3.6 million hectares, or 60 percent of the total national area. But the developed area is valued at only 1.4 million hectares, accounting for 41 percent of the cultivable area and 25 percent of the total area. But 83 percent of these lands are declared poor today. However, degradation and land use lead to decreased productivity and the maintenance of ecosystem balance and biodiversity.

Describe the context in which you are operating

City is part of the coastal plain of southern Togo, with the subequatorial climate marked by a rainfall deficit. Community is regularly the victim of vegetation fires,climatic phenomena such as floods in the fields, soil erosion which has led to land degradation, loss of agricultural crops. Vulnerability to climatic phenomena is thus strong on agriculture and livestock, and affects land that reduces the supply of plant and animal products; leading to an increase in poverty. Agriculture is the most important source of income and employment in rural community. in forest communities farming is essential for food security and household income. Unfortunately poor farming practices are a common source of forest degradation and outright forest loss. Community has initiated a sustainable land management approach through appropriate management practices in order to optimize the economic and social benefits derived from land while retaining; enhancing the ecological support functions of ecosystems.It is an initiative to promote sustainable development and resilience to climate change through sustainable land management, the aim of which is to enhance the knowledge and local methods of agricultural production in order to promote the formation of soil and limit soil degradation, improve soil water retention capacity, conserve soil biodiversity through agroforestry, increase agricultural production to ensure food security and social well-being.

How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?

Cooperative promotes a variety methods to teach others about the benefits of their farming techniques including exchange visits, workshops, demonstrations radio programs, folk music. The active role that farmers have taken has created an environment of mutual respect and support and motivates others to contribute to the effort. The result was the return of vegetative cover the surrounding common lands, reduced erosion and increased water infiltration and storage. The planting of plants and fruits trees and other agroforestry efforts has already brought gains in income and food security. The experience demonstrate that the adaptation benefits of forest restoration and land management are far reaching and go beyond a response to climate change alone. Forest restoration and the return of ecosystem functioning translates to healthier more resilience land and forests, which in turn support forest community with more economic opportunities and less vulnerability to natural disasters and environmental threats. Alternative farming practices championed by farmer-to-farmer program transformed local subsistence agriculture based on slash-and-burn to a sustainable system based on planting legumes as cover crops to improve soil fertility using plant-basic organic pesticides, and diversifying their crop mix and livestock rearing. This has enabled families to meet their basic food needs and sell their excess produce at market, reducing the impetus for new forest clearance.

Language(s)

French, others TBD

Water

Tree planting ecosystem restoration activities, and the use of manure for compost and organic fertilizers have improved the integrity of soils and enhanced water security by facilitating groundwater recharging. Improvements in soil quality have translated to increased absorption of water into the soil which has reduced incidence of flooding and increased resilience to drought. The community also constructs small dams, catchment ponds, and buns to restore groundwater functioning. This has resulte

Food Security/Nutrition

Access to water has made irrigation during the dry season and supplementary irrigation during the rainy season possible, created reliable year-round agricultural production .The ability to produce crops, fruits, and vegetables year-round has fundamentally changed the area and the lives of the local population. For the average shallow well user, food self-sufficiency is now possible for over nine months of the year, while for 27 percent of users, food self-sufficiency is possible year round. Addi

Economic/Sustainable Development

Revenues from biodiversity conservation activities have also been reinvested into schools fees, hospitals, local infrastructures, alternative energy, restoration projects and water potable. Agricultural intensification, agroforestry and adoption of alternative crops and markets increased the productivity of local agriculture and integrate farming into forest landscape, easing the pressure for conversion and overuse. Locally adapted training programs, demonstrations sites, and community educati

Climate

The community forest has also improved air quality around the village and that the trees planted around Ando-kpomey have created a microclimate that produces regular rainfall which has benefits freshwater access and agriculture. Ultimately, adopting an integrated approach to land use that recognizes the link between local farming and forest use, and accommodates them both within a larger framework of landscape management is the best way to create a sustainable working landscape that delivers cl

Sustainability

Project is sustainable because is the forum which has given for drafting a common vision and activities for conservation and sustainable development in the community. Placing a high degree of ownership and decision-making power within the community contributed to the overall sustainability of the initiative. Basing decisions and land management plans. Cooperative emphasizes a multi-stakeholder partnership. Cooperative shared their experiences with communities around the country .people visited the initiative to learn first-hand about their cultivation, production and marketing techniques. Knowledge generated from the project has been exchanged demonstration activities.

Return on investment

Smallholder agriculture is a bulwark of food security, but also a primary source of pressure on local forests. Successful community –based initiatives address this essential-farm connection. Agriculture intensification, agroforestry and adoption of alternative crops and markets, can increase the productivity of local agriculture and integrate into the forest. Locally adapted training programs, demonstration sites, and community education efforts are essential to change local agriculture practice. Sustaining local forests can be helped by adopting an integrated approach to land management that sees the interdependence of local agriculture, forestry and other land uses.

Entrant Image

How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?

The project is largely sustainable because is the forum which has given for drafting a common vision and activities for conservation and sustainable development amongst the local population. Placing a high degree of ownership and decision-making power within the community has contributed to the overall sustainability of the initiative .By basing decisions and land management plans, Cooperative has facilities a socially and culturally embedded with the local population. At the same time, Cooperative emphasizes a multi-stakeholder partnership model. Cooperative has shared its project and experiences with communities around the country. Over 890 people have visited the initiative to learn first-hand about their cultivation, production and marketing techniques. Knowledge generated from the project has been exchanged demonstration activities, storytelling, exchange visits, radio and television.

YouTube URL

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Overview