Every year on May 22, the International Day for Biodiversity is celebrated: an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of biological diversity and to promote its conservation. For the year 2023, the theme is “From agreement to action: rebuilding biodiversity”. This day highlights the urgency of taking concrete action to preserve our precious biodiversity, which is facing many challenges.
Agroforestry is a means of preservation
The agroforestry project for the respectful cultivation of cocoa in Togo, located in the plateau region, in Kpalimé, aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of the families of producers while restoring and preserving the biodiversity and the ecosystem of the region. .
In this region of Togo, 80% of the population depends on agriculture. This region is conducive to the development of agroforestry. Food crops such as maize, yams, cassava and rice, as well as cash crops such as coffee, cocoa and cotton, play an essential role in the daily lives of the inhabitants. Despite the fertility of the soil and a favorable climate, farming is faced with many obstacles, in particular the lack of equipment, financial means and knowledge of agronomy.
Tay Komi is one of the cocoa farmers supported by the Morija program: “This project allowed me to discover sustainable farming techniques and apply them to my plantations. After a year, the results are there”.
The region’s ecosystem is severely degraded due to unsustainable agricultural practices, such as excessive use of chemical fertilizers and deforestation. These human activities have a negative impact on local biodiversity, leading to the disappearance of animal and plant species, the destruction of natural habitats and soil degradation.
It is in this context that the Morija agroforestry project takes on its full meaning. This old but often neglected method of exploitation, for the benefit of modern agriculture, associates the planting of fertilizer trees with the cultivation of food and fruit on a single piece of land. Not only is this approach inexpensive, but it also offers many environmental and economic benefits.
Agroforestry stabilizes soils, reducing erosion and degradation. The planted trees provide additional shade and nutrients to the crops, which improves their yield. In addition, the diversity of plant species promotes the natural regeneration of soils and provides a suitable habitat for a variety of animals and insects, thus contributing to the preservation of local biodiversity.
Support our Agroforestry project by donating to our Rural Development projects
