Info about the Northern Togo Reforestation and Gardening
The main objective of this project is to develop a sustainable, year round gardening and reforestation facility in a village in Northern Togo. In an area where water is scarce, soil is poor, and deforestation is progressing rapidly each year, access to vegetables and tree seedlings is limited, but is in great demand. Eager to collaborate and create new means for improvement, community members from a local farmer’s cooperative that practices agricultural development, have designed a project that will represent the first true shift towards improving agricultural and environmental practices in the village. As a committee of local volunteers, the cooperative is dedicated to finding better and more sustainable ways to provide for their families and improve the quality of life in a place where it is much needed.
The two main components of the project will be vegetable and tree seedling production. The organization will produce vegetables and raise tree seedlings that that will be sold within the community and the profits will be reinvested into the project. A share of the tree seedlings will be used by the cooperative to implement agro forestry techniques on their communal farm. Agro forestry is the integration of trees and non-tree crops on the same piece of land providing sustainable, long-term productive systems. Because this village suffers from deforestation and soil degradation, this approach has great potential for success in improving field-crop production.
Through technical training, building a well, and providing the seeds and tools necessary, the Peace Corps Partnership Program will enable this organization to develop a facility that provides access to vegetables and tree seedlings as well as demonstrates achievement through community action
