Growing out of poverty: tree cultivation in West and Central Africa for home use and markets

The tree-based farming systems in the humid tropics of West and Central Africa are providing the majority of agricultural export revenues, but fluctuation of world market prices for cocoa, coffee, oil palm and rubber is causing high vulnerability, often resulting in serious macro-economic effects. Therefore, innovative strategies are needed for poverty reduction and environmental sustainability. Since 1999, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), has been developing a participatory approach to domestication of indigenous trees. Over the years, considerable capacity and knowledge were developed by a range of stakeholders for sustaining the development, dissemination and better marketing of indigenous trees and their products in the region. Against this background, the research project “ Growing Out of Poverty ” focused on facilitating the development of productive and diverse agroforestry systems to enhance the livelihood of resource-poor rural farmers. Assessment of project performance suggests that tree domestication can truly make a difference in poor rural areas. This technology also provides a significant contribution to important issues such a s deforestation, environmental degradation, poverty alleviation, etc.

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