Forest Garden Approach Will Help Increase Food Security
The Cameroon Desk Program Coordinator for Trees for the Future in USA, Ben Addlestone, has said the introduction and consolidation of the forest garden approach amongst farmers in Cameroon is a veritable way to increase food security.
By Regina Fonjia Leke
Addlestone was speaking in Buea, South West region, at the Trees for the Future office on January 17, after a two-week visit to farms practising agro-forestry in the West, South West and North West Regions.
“The forest garden is not a very new technique. We want to use the alley cropping system that we are already doing to improve soil fertility, but include other species of trees such as fruit and medicinal trees as well as animals to increase the diversity of the farms so that if one crop is affected, they can feed or sell the other,” Addlestone said.
He said this will definitely increase food security and farmers’ opportunity to boost their income. “It will equally increase sustainable land use, by increasing the diversity of trees, it will help land to be used more sustainably,” Addlestone said.
Speaking about his trip, Addlestone said one of the main objectives was to monitor the progress of Trees for the Future Cameroon.
“Most of the farms I saw were very good and most of the farmers were already practising forest garden in one way or the other. I think to bring that to the next level where farmers can really generate income from the technology, will be a very easy thing to do,” Addlestone said.
Accompanied by the Cameroon Country Director, Louis Nkembi, and the Program Assistant, Neba Kingsly, Addlestone said the experience this year was better than last year.
“First, this year was longer than last year and we saw a lot of farms and we travelled in a lot of different directions and I think that the experience was better than last year because we saw some incredible farmers practising real improved agro-forestry techniques and we saw a huge spectrum of topographies, rural conditions and farmers.”
Commenting on the trend of the Cameroon Program, Addlestone said, “I went to all the new farms this year and equally the old farms and putting all together I think the project is a step in the right direction with new farmers saying if they commit to it, in three years time, they will see real benefits.”
“We just intend to keep growing, seeing what the community needs in terms of agro-forestry and being able to give the community,” he added.
He thanked all the staff of Trees for the Future Cameroon for a job well done and also extended words of gratitude to the management of ERuDeF for their support to Trees for the Future Cameroon.
