Experimental Agro-forestry Plot Yields 10 Mini Bags of Rice

Experimental Agro-forestry Plot Yields 10 Mini Bags of Rice

Ghana - 01 December, 2014

Reformed Chainsaw Operators now engaged in agroforestry have reaped a total of ten (10) mini bags of rice from a one acre experimental plot established to assess the viability of the agroforestry project being promoted as an alternative livelihood for former chainsaw operators by Tropenbos International (TBI) Ghana.

Presently, the 40 member association based in Breman Anwhaim in the Assin Fosu District of the Central Region is harvesting plantain intercropped with tree species such as teak and Cedrela on part of the 67 hectare plot comprising compartment 31 of the Supon Forest Reserve.

The compartment was released to the association last year through the intervention of TBI Ghana under its European Union Sponsored Chainsaw Milling (EU CSM) Project which is promoting the adoption of alternative livelihoods as a means of curtailing illegal chainsaw activities as a source of income for forest fringe communities.

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This was revealed when a group of journalists paid a working visit to the plantation on November 19, 2014 as part of activities being organised by the EU CSM project for its Project Advisory Committee (PAC) members to acquaint them with the progress of their projects.

The association has since planted tree seedlings on a total of 46 hectares of the forest between last year and this year and plans to plant tree seedlings on another 20 hectares next year.

The agro-forestry project has been lauded by the Forestry Commission (FC) as the most viable method to check forest degradation, enhance soil fertility and curb illegal chainsaw activities in the community.
Meanwhile, illegal chainsaw activities have reportedly gone down in the community since the introduction of the agroforestry /plantation project and other alternative livelihoods by the EU CSM project.