Forest Resources Management Workshop for West African Farmers in Niamey (ECOWAS)

9 June 2011
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Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Niamey -Niger — West African farmers are to undergo a training workshop from 20th to -22nd June 2011 in Niamey, Niger on restoration techniques and soil enrichment with tree species with high potential of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) as part of regional efforts at achieving sustainable management of forest resources.

The ECOWAS Commission is organizing the workshop in collaboration with the Niamey-based Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), within the framework of implementation of the Commission's Forest and Environment Policies.

The overall objective of the workshop is to strengthen the capacities of farmers on better farming and management of agro-forest systems, and the protection of natural regeneration of valuable woody species. This is with a view to encouraging innovative farming techniques and good practices of soil conservation that could protect and restore soil fertility.

This initiative is expected to result not only in the improvement of agricultural production and income diversification, but also in the post- harvest collection of NTFPs, which contribute significantly to food security and nutrition of local communities in the region. NTFPs also play a key role in the local population's health improvement, as well as in the development of handicrafts and the local economy and they also enhance the soil's fertility.

The workshop is an opportunity to promote sharing of knowledge and best practices in farming techniques, focusing on integrated agro-forest systems, ensuring effective management of fertility with improved plant species and soil conservation. It is also expected to strengthen the farmers' capacity on developing information networks on NTFPs to ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising from the production, preservation, enhancement and sustainable use of NTFPs.

A network of agricultural producers of NTFPs will emerge from the workshop, whose participants will include representatives of Ministries of Agriculture in charge of land management and agro-forestry systems as well as representatives of the association of agricultural producers in each ECOWAS Member States.

Read the original article on Ecowas.

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