Kologan Agroforestry Project – Togo
This project uses an agricultural technology known as alley cropping. Trees are planted in alleys and alternated with crops to improve soil quality, improve water retention, prevent erosion, provide wood for fodder and fuel, prevent deforestation, eliminate much labor and thus make a sustainable system of agriculture.
A local river will provide water for needed irrigation, using a system of cisterns, a motorized pump, and movable piping.
This project is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Christine Remein.
Sitchope Cooperative is located in the village of Kologan on the outskirts of the county of Agou, Togo. The cooperative decided to use sustainable agricultural practices in their planting and irrigation, and settled upon a method of agroforestry that will provide for their needs while maintaining the quality of the soil.
Community members are primarily cultivators. The village suffers from deforestation and poor soil quality. As population increases, rainfall and farmable land decrease. Despite daily efforts of the community members, particularly women, to feed their families, malnutrition is a reality.
The cooperative has thus far prepared for the cisterns that will be installed, bought cement for the cisterns, and also planted the tree nursery. In the weeks to come they will build the cisterns, tend to the tree nursery, and buy piping for the irrigation.
Project funds will be used for the purchase and transportation of seeds and the construction of the irrigation system. The community will provide the labor for the project.
This project will benefit a community of 1,000 people.
A sustainable system of agriculture is invaluable to the beneficiaries of this project. Their livelihood depends on their capacity and ability to yield food from their farms and also make a profit. The system makes good use of the available water, as it closes the nutrient cycle of the soil.
This project has now been funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
Any donations using the Donate button below will go toward additional water and sanitation projects in Togo.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.
Conclusion of Kologan Agroforestry Project – Togo
This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Christine Remein. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK
HERE.
This project was to develop a sustainable system of agriculture by planting trees in alleys, alternated with crops, to improve soil quality, improve water retention, prevent erosion, provide wood, and prevent deforestation.
Christine reports:
This project was completed by the Sitchope Cooperative of Kologan.
An agro forestry system takes at least two seasons to reach production capacity. Although the system is not yet at capacity, all trees are planted and have established themselves. The cooperative therefore views the project as a success. As the trees continue to grow they will begin to fix nitrogen into the soil, and create compost to improve soil quality, water retention, and prevent erosion.
The ally cropping will increase field production, and within 6 months provide wood for fodder and fuel. As the trees grow, labor input—in the way of land preparation and wood collection—will decrease. The farm will become increasingly more productive, producing more grains and vegetables.
The community also completed cisterns to expand their irrigation system.
Primarily Luceana, Semmia Samman and Lebbeck trees were planted in the alley cropping farms, though Albezia Chevelerie did not grow well in the local environment, and was thus limited in its use.
The cooperative did not plant the cabbage they originally intended to plant, or do some gardening they normally do. This is because the first rainy season was very irregular and they needed to water the grain alley cropping field by hand. Bringing water to the field created a large amount of unexpected labor.
Despite the extra labor created by irregular rains, the cooperative installed extra fruit and fodder trees to line the gardening field. The trees reinforce the agro forestry system. The trees will protect the cisterns and riparian zones from erosion, increase agricultural output, and create fodder.
Members of the cooperative have gained experience and understanding in implementing an alley cropping agro forestry system from seed to tree. They have gained an understanding of the amount of labor involved, how to install the system, when to plant, and what species to use. The cooperative will become a source for alley cropping seeds, and has contact with a seed supplier. All of these experiences can be passed on to other farmers in the area.
There should be very limited cost to sustaining the project in the future. Now that the trees have established themselves there will be very limited labor associated with the trees. Members of the cooperative have visited a functioning alley cropping field and therefore have enough experience to maintain the fields. If there were to be some sort of crisis, the members have contact with a seed supplier in a nearby city. The group is able to access co-op funds to pay for seeds. The cooperative has increased their field production capacity exponentially. Through implementing new farming techniques and transforming their farm, the cooperative members now have a better understanding of agricultural science, (i.e. soil quality and sustainability.)
We again wish to thank Six Senses Resorts & Spas for providing the funding for this project.
