This document discusses an agroforestry farming system in Niger that uses multi-purpose Australian acacia trees to improve food security, incomes, and resilience to climate change. The Farmer Managed Agroforestry Farming System (FMAFS) integrates acacia trees, soil improvement techniques, and annual/perennial crops. Research shows FMAFS farms have higher yields, economic benefits, and more diverse incomes than control farms. The system regenerates trees, improves soil fertility, and provides food, fuel, and building materials. Researchers argue this approach could help transform degraded lands and address challenges of climate change across Africa's drylands.

1. Serving In Mission
Edible,multi-purpose Australian
acacias for Agroforestry farming
systems in Africa’s dry lands.
Peter Cunningham, Salifou Yaou & Tony
Rinaudo
SIM, World Vision Niger & Australia
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2. Global food
crises
2008…
•
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Africa: Hardest hit continent
Reduced crop yields –Sub Sahara > 20%
Sahelian region : Millet/Sorghum –15% by
2030
•
• Food security < 11% rainfed land bySIM

3. Serving In Mission
Semi-arid tropics: 450 mm
rainfall p.a.
Growing season: June-Sept
Maradi region
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4. Challenges
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• Climate change
• Frequent famines
•
Chronic
malnutrition
• Hunger
• Poor health
• Food security?
• General security
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5. Serving In Mission
The Farmer Managed Agroforestry Farming
System (FMAFS)
An integrated agroforestry farming system
to overcome the main limitations to
farming
Soil & water erosion
- Low soil fertility
- Mono-culture cropping
- Lack of biodiversity
- Poor income generation & distribution
- Drought
-
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6. Farmer Managed Agroforestry Farming System
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FMNR
Multi-purpose acacias +
Other Agroforestry trees +
Annual/Perennial crops +
Soil amelioration
(CRM, compost, NPK microdosing)
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7. FMAFS Farm layoutServing In Mission
(½ ha)
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8. v
e
r
e
Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration of trees (FMNR)
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L
a
n
d
Crop Residue Mulching
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9. Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration
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50 % of Nigers farmland reforested in last 25 yrs
“One of the great success stories in the field of
climate change and agriculture”
“the single largest environmental transformation
in Africa”
Mark Hertsgaard- environment writer
SIM

10. Serving In Mission
Sustainable firewood
Multi-purpose
acacias
Tools
Mulch
A. tumida
Reclamation of degraded landsICRISAT
Poles/Timber
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11. A. colei seed
pods
HumanIn food
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var Ileocarpa
Acacia flour- 60% yield
21- 24% Protein,
50% Carbohydrate
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12. Serving In Mission
Traditional foods cooked with 25% acacia flour
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13. Acacia based food products
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Kunu- “Weaning
formula”
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Millet
Sorghum
Peanut
Soy bean
Sesame
Moringa
Acacia 15%
Boabab pulp
Salt
Sugar
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14. FMAFS Demonstrations In Mission
Serving
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15. Promotion & In Mission
adoption
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Training courses
Village visits, tours/dialogue
Followup
Radio broadcasts
Open days
Acacia seed market
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16. Mean average annual crop and wood production
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from FMAFS vs control farms in the Maradi
district, Niger (2006-2009)
FMAFS
Component
FMAFS
(kg/ha)
Control
(kg/ha)
Millet
173
149
77
10
FMNR wood
167
-
Acacia wood
142
-
Acacia seed
20
-
Other crops
(Sorghum,
cowpeas, hibiscus, peanuts)
All data in kg/ha. 7 FMAFS (1/2 – 1 ha). Mean of 3-4
yrs
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17. Mean average annual economicServing In Mission
benefits from
FMAFS vs control farms in the Maradi district,
Niger (2006-2009)
FMAFS
Component
FMAFS
(cfa)
Control
(cfa)
% Increase
Millet
43,250
37,250
14
Other crops
23,100
3,000
87
40,250
103
(Sorghum, cowpeas,
hibiscus, peanuts)
FMNR wood
6,680
Acacia wood
2,850
Acacia seed
5,760
Total benefits
81,630
All data in kg/ha. 7 FMAFS (1/2 – 1 ha). Mean of 3-4
yrs
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18. Proportion of farm income derived from the
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components of FMAFS vs control farms in the
Maradi district, Niger (2006-2009) %
FMAFS
Component
FMAFS
Control
Millet
53
92.5
Other crops
28
7.5
(Sorghum, cowpeas,
hibiscus, peanuts)
(81.5)
FMNR wood
8
Acacia wood
3.5
Acacia seed
7
Total
100
100
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19. c
½ ha FMAFS Demonstration: Mission
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Magajin Kware
a
c
i
a
f
i
r
e
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20. c
a
c
i
a
Acacia colei
3 yrs - Feb 2009
f
i
r
e
Acacia In Mission
Serving torulosa
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21. c
a
c
i
a
f
i
r
Acacia prunings e
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Acacia leaf compost
May-June 2009
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22. c
a
c
i
FMNR a
Weeding
f
i
r
e
October Mission
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CRM
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23. Component research: acacia species,
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domestication, silviculture
Acacia tumida
Acacia
torulosa
Acacia colei
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24. Acacia torulosa
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High seed yield
Ease of thrashing
4 yrs
Coppicing/
Pollarding
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25. Acacia tumida var Kulparn Danja (20
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months)
Provenance trials 2004... Within provenance selections 2008...
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26. Silvicultural
requirements
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Spacing, pruning
A. colei & torulosa. 10 yrs.
(4 prunings) 10x10 m spacing
Farming system
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27. Expanding the impact- Niger Edible
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Acacia Network (NEAN)
Third edible Acacia
roundtable meeting
March 2012, Maradi
Niger, Ghana, Senegal
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28. Main benefits of the FMAFS
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Simple, flexible, teachable, transferable
Begins with what the farmers know:
- FMNR
- Acacias
- Traditional crops
Biodiversity
Every Acacia tree produces multiple benefits
Land protection & restoration
Increased soil fertility
Income generation & distribution
Minimal problems from grazing animals
Overcomes faminesResilience
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29. Conclusions Serving In Mission
• Multi-purpose Australian acacias can be used to
enrich FMNR in dryland agroforestry farming systems
(FMAFS)- “Beyond FMNR”
• FMAFS in Niger can significantly improve farm
economics, resilience and adaptation to Climate change
• R&D gaps are in need of further work & funding
• Multi-purpose Australian acacias may have an
important role in a “New Green Revolution” in Africas
drylands? (Reclamation of degraded lands)
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30. Serving In Mission
Mun gode
(Thankyou)
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31. Acacia seed for Human food:
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Principles
• Nutrious with cereal compliment
amino acids limited)
(certain
• Protein suppliment
• No more than 25% Acacia flour mix
• Seed preparation: No roasting, seed cost
removed 0.6 mm seive. Flour meal
• Incorporate into local recipies
• Local seed processing technologies at
village level
• Potential for various food stuffs- Kunnu,
Nutrition mixes, Famine foods
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32. The need for a new Green revolution
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for Africa’s drylands
Based on widespread cultivation of new crops
adapted to low soil fertility & lower and more
variable rainfall
Edible multi-purpose Acacias
• Drought tolerant
• Adapted to low soil fertility
• <Soil erosion >Soil fertility
• Mulch
• Windbreaks
• Timber products- building, fencing
• Restoration of degraded lands
• Fodder
• Honey production?
• Human food
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33. Serving In Mission
The Sahelian region of West Africa
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