APS

Province of Passoré
Department of Arbollé
Villages of:

• Yarbila
• Nomboalin
• Ramessoum
• Zoégomdé
• Banounou
• Goubi
• Saâba
• Foulou
• Nonghin
• Ybi
• Gansé
• Gninsou

• Erosion/Desertification of Farming Land
• Training
• Capacity Building
• Applied Research
• Action Research for Education and the Environment (RAF)
• Social Mobilisation
• Communication / Education / Awareness

Creation of a strategy for degraded lands by contributing to the protection of agricultural soils and the restoration of the environment by useful herbaceous species

• Conservation of soil and water through the application of useful herbaceous species
• Sustainable management of the region’s natural resources by well structured, organized, and supported local communities
• Awareness-building on the topic of environmental degradation and the resulting depletion of natural resources through the Action Research for Education and Environment (RAF-E) method

• project execution carried out by the entire population
• village groups are instructed in the organization of community activities
• assistance from partners in development
• assistance from the General Coordination of Programmes and Projects of APS (CGPP)
• assistance from the Departmental Environmental Service
• assistance from the Departmental Agricultural Service
• assistance from Resource People with specialized knowledge

Date de commencement: Septembre 2006
Date de terminaison: Septembre 2009

1. Capacity Building

   Build awareness in the local populations (Awareness by film screenings on land degradation, a theatre-forum on the issue of sustainable management, establishment of local management committees) and training of local leaders and teachers

2. Research, Training, and Action on the Environment Method (RAF-E)

   The selection of 5 hectares of land per village for use with the Research, Training, and Action on the Environment Method (RAF-E)

3. Combined CES-DRS activities
   • establishment of anti-erosive sites
   • fertilizer production
   • rehabilitation of rocky ravines associated with Vetiveria nigritana, introduction of Useful Herbaceous Species
   • planting of vegetables around water reservoirs
   • planting of bushes, soil retaining and wind-breaking plants: Jatropha curacas and Moringa oleifera… etc.
4. Empowerment of local communities

   Self-evaluation with occasional outside assistance

5. Monitoring and evaluation of activities

   Keeping up to date on project progress and making adjustments as necessary

Quantitative results

• 500 hectares have been used for demonstrations, research, and training - 50 hectares per village – setup as anti-erosive sites (S.A.E.), using shrubs, zaï, ½ moons…
• 100 fertilizer-producing ditches per village are contributing to improving soil quality
• 10 mixed village groups have been formed and are ready to conduct reflections and a sharing of experience in order to reduce soil degradation of soils in the 27 other villages of the department
• 500 hectares of dammaged terrain are recuperated using implantable techniques such as the use of vetiver
• 20 hectares of Assisted Natural Regeneration (RNA) land per village are taking part in the overall soil protection strategy
• A nursery is in operation where 50 000 plants are produced annually
• Village nurseries, producing 5 000 plants per village, are installed
• Three education centres containing useful herbaceous species are operational on the site of the Centre for the Promotion of Community Development (CPDC) in Gninsou, the site for Moringa promotion at Yibi, and between the two water reservoirs of the village of Gansé
• A centre for the production of artisanal objects, produced using the by-products of useful herbaceous species, provides additional income for women
• A product supply chain has been created
• A management committee is in place in each village
• A monitoring committee is in place in each village
• An inter-village coordination directs activities

Qualitative results

• An environmental balance is achieved in the 10 villages
• The entire community is engaged in the effort to make these 10 villages an example of success in the restauration of soils using useful herbaceous species such as vetiver, Jatropha curcas, Moringa oleifera, and techniques such as rock fences, ½ moons, zaï, Assisted Natural Regeneration (R.N.A.), fertilizer ditches, …
• The Action Research for Education and Environment (RAF-E) method is well received by all local communities, and especially in the 10 target villages
• A practicing group is established
• A new quality of life in the villages
• The reduction of rural poverty
• Villagers are given hope

• FEM/ONG Programme Micro - Financing, National Coordination
• Departmental Environmental Service of Arbollé
• Departmental Agriculturl Service of Arbollé
• Network of Rural Associations and Groups (RAGMR)
• Association for the Support of Women's Activities (ARAF)
• Inter-Village Structure for Development (RAVIGMANEGRE) - Arbollé

The population is encouraged to provide co-financing for the project through monetary support and support in kind (mostly labour). APS will contribute its experience, as well as considerable material, towards the achievement of the project goals:

Cofinancement de 4 forages équipés de pompes manuelles pour 4 villages déficitaires en eau du projet par MRDF/UK dans le cadre de l’action (arrosage des fosses fumières, étanchement de la soif des braves paysans lors des travaux, pépinières villageoises, productions…) :