Stakeholders learn more on agro-forestry models |04 May 2016

Farmers, representatives of key ministries concerned by the development of agro-forestry, agriculture extension officers as well as other stakeholders have taken part in a training session to learn more on the different agro-forestry models being adopted on farms on Praslin and Val d’Andorre selected to pilot the project here.

The session held yesterday was a follow-up to the market analysis training which took place last week.

It was aimed at equipping farmers and technical officers to choose the right products, to make good market choices, to develop and enhance their marketing skills and techniques and to develop sustainable agro-forestry strategy and business plan.

Yesterday’s session was also to present to the stakeholders the findings of the analysis and the method that will be adopted to support local farmers in organising small enterprises with business plans for marketing both their agro-forestry and other produce on their farms.

Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Wallace Cosgrow launched the session yesterday in the presence of key officials from his ministry and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA).

Agro-forestry is a land use management system in agriculture whereby fruit trees or spices are grown around or among crops or pastureland. It mixes these in agricultural and forestry technologies to create more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy, and sustainable land-use systems.

A project receiving the support of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to pilot agro-forestry here was launched last year and a five-member team from the FAO is currently in the country to assess the agro-forestry models being adopted on the two pilot sites on Praslin and Val d’Andorre.

Seven farms are involved in the pilot project.

Dr Rene Czudek, the technical officer leading five-member FAO mission, gave an overview of the project which is a two-year project where the FAO provides technical expertise to help government set up the legislative framework and build the capacity of national stakeholders and institutions involved in the development and promotion of agro-forestry.

“Seychelles has really great potential for agro-forestry development which would increase and diversify local food productions and reduce dependence on imports,” Dr Czudek said.

He noted that the project has generated great interest among local farmers and following the visits the FAO team conducted on the selected farms, Dr Czudek expressed satisfaction from what they have observed and said they are really encouraged by local farmers’ interest and have assured them of the FAO continued  help and support.

Dr Czudek pointed out that what they have observed is that there are not many obstacles to carry out agro-forestry here which several farmers are doing in their own way but there is a need for it to be clearly defined through specific legislations, for land use zone plans to be enacted, as well as the need to have in place formal agreements between key ministries and agencies to better support the development of agro-forestry.

During the session yesterday there was also a presentation of different agro-forestry models being adopted by the farmers in the pilot project – four at Val d’Andorre and three on Praslin.

Tessa Rassool, a farmer from Val d’Andorre, has adopted the model – agro-forestry under dense forest cover for agro-tourism and biodiversity.

Ms Rassool shared her experience to everyone present at yesterday’s session.

“We are really excited to learn new techniques. We have a garden and farm for 10 years where we rear animal and produce fruits and vegetables. We are eager to develop and I believe the training we are getting is a gift to help us produce more, develop further and combine everything we plan to do in one package and I am really looking forward to be able to do that,” she said.