Phase two of Nature Regeneration project launched
World Vision Ghana, an international non-governmental organization, based in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, on Tuesday launched the Talensi Farmer Managed Regeneration (FMNR) Project at Tongo.
The second phase of the scheme, which spans from 2013 to 2017, is being sponsored by Computer Share, an international organisation, through World Vision, Australia.
The project, which ‘seeks to reform trees from living tree stumps, shrubs and seedlings’ is dubbed, “TintuugLebgeTii”
Mr Nobert Akolgo, Area Manager in charge of Development Programme at World Vision in Talensi, said that the project had made progress in terms of asserts creation.
He said that in the short term, an additional 393,410 FMNR trees had created assets worth GH₵1.5million, excluding the value of the tree products.
According to Mr Akolgo, hitherto, crop yield had declined drastically due to low soil fertility while climatic conditions had become severe, adding that the trend had changed currently with the introduction of the nature regeneration project in the district.
“Bush fires were a common dry season occurrence whilethe lack of fodder for animals particularly in the dry season affected animal production…These situations have been abated as there are abundance of fruits in the wet season due to bushfire suppression”, he said.
Mr Akolgo said that soil quality and crop yield had enhanced as a result of improved composting, leaving crop residue on the fields while animal production had increased with the rate of animal theft reducing due to the availability of fodder.
Mr Akolgo said World Vision Ghana would scale-up its sensitization efforts at encouraging the application of FMNR at farms in the district.
He called on government through the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to adopt the initiative as a means of protecting the environment.
Mr Tete Samuel Kwame, Talensi District Engineer, launching the project, commended World Vision for the initiative, and said government had initiated adequate measures to protect the environment.
He called for strict supervision and monitoring of the project in the beneficiary communities.
Mr Benard Okumu, a Climate Change Expert at the Farmer Training Centre in Bolgatanga, told the GNA on the sidelines of the launch that the Upper West, Uppers East and Northern Region were facing poor environmental conditions.
He mentioned bush fires and mining activities, which had completely destroyed the earth cover, exposing it to degradations as some of the challenges.
Mr Okumu called on Government to check activities of surface mining to regenerate the land and restore lost vegetation, to reduce the effects of climate change.
He said A the delay in rains this year in some parts of the north could affect crop yields.
Mr Okumu said: “There is likely to be post-harvest losses since the rains may increase at a time when farmers should be harvesting their crops”
Source: GNA