Tarbiyya Tatali

Assisted Natural Soil Re-generation

Marie-Françoise — 2021-07-10T17:50:31Z

Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) is a simple and cheap method allowing re-foresting without planting trees: gardeners identify and select the better tree shoots in their fields and get rid of other sprouts. They regularly attend to the selected saplings to strengthen the soil's productivity and consequently secure a range of products (wood, fruit…). ANR has been used in Dankassari for a few years.

It allows for a rational management of wood resources. Clashes are less acute between local timber users for cooking, and environmental agents wanting to forbid that custom.

To develop it, the following activities are proposed by the district supervisor:

Training monitors to develop soil Assisted Natural Regeneration.
It consists of training 14 monitors from various areas of the rural district for two periods of three days and five days, both in theory and practice and then monitoring their activity and regularly bringing them together for exchanges on good methods. The training session includes field visits and practice.
Producing forest saplings to favor biological diversity in fields: it will take place in two plant nurseries located at Dankassari's Town Hall and in the Marake Rogo market gardening: 9000 saplings have been planted in each of the two years and shared among willing residents for their fields or concessions: thorn bushes, neem, moringa, baobab. Moringa plants, fast growing even in arid soil, and with highly nutritive leaves allow for both essential nutrients and financial income, as they sell easily.

On both sites, a local supervisor will be in charge of implementation.

Course of activities}} } A mission to set up ANR village committees was carried out from 26 to 28/10/2021 in fourteen villages of the Rural Commune of Dankassari: Askia, Faya, Gougui, Lougou, Bawada Guida, Tougana, Tani, Koukoki, Guizara, Kolmey, Kamrey Arawa, Kamrey, Bawada Dagi and Goubey.
The purpose of the mission is to set up, at the level of each of the fourteen villages, a committee responsible for the local management of forest resources in the developed areas (fields, plantation sites). A village assembly was held at the level of each locality to choose volunteers to form the ANR committee, a choice of brigadiers, and a supervisor.
After explanations on assisted natural regeneration, the role of the brigadiers and that of the supervisor, the composition of the committee, the mission set up an office, and five members responsible for monitoring the management of forest resources. in the soil of the village. After this explanation, the populations of each locality proceeded to the choice of the members of their committee. The list of names of the members of the committees set up in the various villages was appended. These are all volunteers.

Then the training of the fourteen supervisors took place. The theoretical phase took place from November 1 to 5, 2021, and the practical phase from November 6 to 10, 2021. This training allowed the supervisors to have notions on the technical standards of assisted natural regeneration (maintenance of releases and young shoots), the advantages and constraints of ANR, the method of data collection, fertilizers and their modes of use, and the different roles that trees play in our lives (ecological, economic and social).

Seventy volunteer brigadiers are at work in a total of fourteen villages.

Monitoring and training reinforcement

In May 2023, the communal environment manager received a motorcycle, enhancing his presence on the ground for the development of Assisted Natural Regeneration (RNA).

On May 20, 2023, additional training was conducted for the fourteen facilitators. The practical phase included sessions on improved clearing, tree maintenance, identification, marking, and protection of young wildings. Facilitators also received training on techniques for recovering degraded agricultural lands and appropriate organic fertilization methods based on the type of work.

Following the training, a field mission was conducted in the rural commune of Dankassari from May 22 to 25, 2023.
The mission comprised communal officials and a representative from the RAEDD. The visited villages included: Askia, Faya, Lougou, Bawada Guida, Tougana, Gougui, Tanni, Koukoki-Kaya, Chanono, Bawada Dagi, Goubey, Kolmey, Kamrey-Arawa, and Kamrey Koré.
In each village, a village assembly was held at the village chief's residence. These assemblies gathered members of the RNA management committee, the RNA facilitator, and the people who practice it. The role of the facilitator and data reporting were discussed. The discussions were very enriching, focusing on RNA techniques, encountered difficulties, and the functioning of the village RNA committee. After the village assembly, visits to several RNA fields were conducted to assess the level of adoption and correct the deficiencies noted.

Market Gardening in Dankassari

Marie-Françoise — 2017-08-16T23:20:01Z

The Marake Rogo site.

It belongs to the 11 sites identified by the survey conducted thanks to MAE.
Created in 2008, the gardening site was acquired by the community following the loan of 8 ha. Presently, the surface used covers 5 ha, and the number of users amounts to 80, 2/3 being women. The gardeners are members of the “Tachi Da Kanka' group. The purchase of plots in the site is managed by the group's General Assembly. They grow mainly lettuce (twice), cabbage (twice), potatoes, tomatoes, peppers. The whole production is self-consumed. Crops are often threatened by parasite attacks. Generally, parasites are grasshopper and insect larvae; gardeners use ash to repel them. Water catchment works consist in four wells (roughly 10m deep), which haven't yet been successfully tapped. Water distribution is done Dankassari in buckets and hand sprinklers. The site has a wire-netting fence.

Project

Funded within the program ‘Progressing toward the Sustainable Development Goals in Dankassari villages', it aims at:

Compliance with property legislation proved by official documents from the rural commune COFOB (Property Local Commission).
Water access, provision of pumping equipment, creation of a catchment - basin and of water storage and supply equipment for a new well.
Training course for male and female gardeners to strengthen their organizational and technical skills.
Support for inputs.
Periodic follow-up and supervision.

As part of the "Sustainable development in Dankassari" program, the site was equipped with a solar pump at the end of 2019 and three training sessions have taken place. The first session on processing and conserving produce took was held from January 21^st to 23^rd.The second training session on community life was held on January 25^th and 26^th.The third training session on marketing lasted three days and took place from November 30^th to December 2^nd 2020. Each session concerned 60 participants, 40 women and 20 men. The coach was the communal supervisor of Dankassari agriculture, together with a RAEDD representative.

Food reserves in the villages

Marie-Françoise — 2013-01-03T07:45:55Z

The objective is to store part of the harvest in a warehouse of the village; the Association pays for to build up stocks. The cereals are sold by the peasants after the harvest at market price. Later on, when the granaries are empty, the cereal bank sells back cereals to the peasants of the village at market price (higher than the price paid at the harvest season). These sales allow rebuilding and even increasing the stock during the following season. The generated profits coming from the differential in price are kept by the village rather than bringing profits to traders.
In 2006 a cereal bank was created at Lougou, also at Gaouna and Guezanaya, two villages at the north of Arewa (AECIN) as well as Angoual Saoulo and Goofat (Amis du Niger).

A management committee is needed to effectively run the cereal bank without external help and RAEDD provides the training of the members of the committee.

In 2010 two new cereal banks were established with help from the city of Cesson, in Koujac and Dadin Kooua, in the Dankassari district.

In 2016, following an appraisal of cereal banks and mills, a training plan was drafted for all the Cereal Bank Management Commitees in Dankassari. The Koujak and Dadin Kooua cereal banks have been upgraded, one that was superfluous in Lougou was transferred to Faya and a new one was installed in Douzou.

On that occasion the cereal banks of Gaouna and Guézanaya (Matankari commune) have been upgraded and Management Committees have been trained.

In 2021, cereal storage was created at Garin Aggour and at Koumtchi in Dankassari district. Each cereal store staff received training sessions for their COGES and steady follow up from RAEDD.

At the beginning of 2022, three villages in the commune of Dankassari which were in significant deficit of food production during the 2021 harvest were identified for the establishment of new cereal banks; these are the villages of Angoual Kassa, Lillato and Nakigaza Dechi, with a total population of 3000 inhabitants. Crowd made it possible to finance the cereal banks of Angoual Kassa and Lillato. In 2023, funding from the MEAE also made it possible to finance the cereal bank of Nakigaza Dechi and to construct quality buildings for the cereal banks of Angoual Kassa, Lillato, Nakigaza Déchi and Saourin Kaihi.

Four villages in the municipality of Matankari also benefited from the purchase of bags of cereals for their cereal banks. These are Gaouna, Guézangna, Doumé and Baringo.

Fourteen cereal banks have been set up, ten in the commune of Dankassari and four in the commune of Matankari. RAEDD continues to ensure their proper functioning by visiting them regularly. This was particularly crucial in 2024, given the soaring prices. The cereal banks enabled the population to access supplies at prices lower than market rates. RAEDD has proposed that the proceeds from sales be paid into a joint account at the Mutuelle de Dogondoutchi.

Réserve de mil

Food relief

Marie-Françoise — 2013-01-03T07:32:31Z

In July 2010, the Stromme Foundation and RAEDD distributed one thousand 35-kg bags of millet in the villages of the Dogon Doutchi district where the Gateway Classes and Saving to Move Ahead projects are implemented. After consulting the population concerned, the following priorities were defined : breast-feeding mothers, highly vulnerable families, Gateway class pupils and women participating to the Saving to Move Ahead
programme.

Floods

In 2016, heavy rains hit the Dankassari rural community.

On August 26^th 2016, 198,3 hectares of fields were flooded, as well as 4 market gardening areas (Kamrey, Houga, Mailo, Dankassari), four wells were damaged (three double-use wells for animals and villagers, one villager well). This amounted to 131 heads of families concerned, i.e. 1477 persons.

Following on a suggestion from RAEDD, AESCD and AECIN decided to support those families who lost their whole crops, by providing them with 50 sacks of 100kg.

Distribution aux mères allaitant

Tree and Moringa Nursery

Marie-Françoise — 2012-12-31T21:35:56Z

In the period 2009-2018, 40 000 trees have been planted in the Dankassari rural community (thanks to the decentralized community Cesson Dankassari) in public areas (markets, schools, health centers), or by citizens in their land grant or their fields.

The main tree species are senegal acacia (gum tree), moringa, neem, and baobab.

The gum tree is used as a border for fields and grazing areas, thus limiting conflicts between producers in the management of property. It produces gum arabic.
Moringa is a fast-growing sapling, even in an arid land, its leaves are extremely rich in essential nutriments.

Marketing Arabic gum and moringa leaves generates a highly valued income.

Thanks to the support of CG35, the school garden of Dogontapki will benefit from a moringa nursery: this fast-growing shrub, even in arid areas, has leaves that are rich in necessary nutriments.

Another moringa nursery will be linked to the school garden created in a Matankari village, thanks to the support of the Total Foundation.

The action is maintained in the rural commune of Dankassari. In 2019, 10,000 saplings were produced by 2 nurseries.

In Dankassari village, 6000 saplings :

acacia senegal: 3000
neem: 1000
moringa: 1000
baobab: 1000

In the village of Marake-Rogo: 4000 saplings

acacia senegal : 3000
moringa: 1000

In 2020, 10,000 plants were grown in the same site. All the acacia plants from Marake Rogo were planted along the wire fence of the garden site. The remaining plants (moringa, acacias, grown in Dankassari, baobab, and nem were handed over to willing villagers.

An evaluation of tree planting since 2009 was published in Magazine number 13 and an exhibition Trees for a Better Life was created.

In 2021, a total of 18,000 plants were produced at the 2 sites of Maraké Rogo and Dankassari, thanks to funding from AESCD. A third nursery was established in the commune of Dankassari, at Kaoura Lahama, initiated by a resident. The three nurseries in Maraké Rogo, Dankassari, and Kaoura Lahama were supported in 2022 and 2023.

To fertilize the soil while contributing to the development of the local economy, AECIN launched a project at the end of 2020 to construct a nursery in Maraké Bagagi (commune of Matankari). Thanks to collaborative funding, this nursery was established in 2021 and has allowed the maturation of 4,500 trees per year. These plants were then donated for planting within the commune.
This nursery remains operational, partially funded by AECIN's resources.

In 2023, a free distribution of plants from the three nurseries in Dankassari and the nursery in Maraké Bagagi for the commune of Matankari took place on August 3^rd, National Tree Day. The 16,000 plants distributed were mainly moringa, mango, acacia seyal, and neem trees.

In 2024, the nursery in Marake Bagagi remained funded by AECIN's own resources. Instead of distributing the plants to beneficiaries as done previously, a new approach was tested: selling the plants at low prices to help sustain the nursery and reduce costs. Although planting began late, the effort was successful. Several species are present, moringa being the most in demand by the population. Unfortunately, heavy rainfall flooded the nursery, but some plants were sold just before the flooding.

The floods in the summer of 2024 convinced us of the importance of continuing to support nurseries. A crowdfunding campaign organized by AECIN will allow the reconstruction of the destroyed nursery in Marake-Bagagi (municipality of Matankarà) and the restarting, in Kaoura Lahama and Marake Rogo (municipality of Dankassari), of two other nurseries. The goal is to plant 13,500 trees in 2025 (4,500 per nursery) by combining the following species: Acacia Senegal, Moringa, Neem and Baobab.

Spirulina Project

Marie-Françoise — 2008-04-11T21:00:00Z

Spirulina

Spirulina is a micro-algae that grows naturally in certain alkaline lakes of warm countries. It can also be grown in water with remarkable efficiency. It is consumed dried. Its exceptional contents in proteins, amino acids, vitamins (A = Bétacarotène, B12), gamma-linoleic acid and trace elements (iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium,… ..), make it an excellent food supplement that can strengthen the immune system of the body. With 1 or 2 grams per day a child suffering from severe or medium malnutrition can be cured in 5 to 6 weeks.

Antenna Technology Partnership

Antenna Technologies, an NGO whose main objective is the fight against malnutrition, decided to develop the culture of spirulina in the developing countries. Tarbiyya Tatali (RAEDD) has volunteered to be a partner in this project.
Tarbiyya Tatali is committed to delivering 20% of the production of spiruline to health services in charge nof fighting malnutrition. The rest can be sold.

Construction of aquaculture basins and starting production

The site has been chosen, electricity and water made available, tanks, toilets and buildings constructed, and spirulina sown in tanks. A person is responsible for stirring the tanks of spirulina every hour every day. Spirulina has been put under cultivation at the beginning of the summer 2007 and began production. The Staff responsible for the care of malnourished children in Dogon Doutchi greatly appreciate the effectiveness of spirulina, which shortens the hospital stay of the numerous children in Niger.

The search for economic stability

Extension of tanks

The production now exceeds 30 kilos per year. But spiruline is costly, and locals are not used to it. Spiruline can become a major factor of food security, particularly for mothers and young children. Aids have been found to assist in distributing it in integrated health centers, particularly in the town of Dankassari.

The production amounted to 30 kilos per month during summer 2011.

The situation in November 2011.

The spiruline farm has reached an average output of 42 kilos per month over the past 15 months. Eight kilos are delivered every month to the Dogon Douchi Hospital as humanitarian aid to fight malnutrition. The sales amount to 28 kilos, namely 16kgs sold by RAEDD in Niger and 12kgs pertaining to aid programs (Monaco Red Cross, Antenna Technologies, fund raised by AECIN). The stock has risen to 175 kilos, and the farm has not been able to pay its employees every month (six months' salary owed now). Antenna Technologie, with the support of AECIN, is joining a pro-active drive for the commercialization of spiruline in Niamey. A second project involves creating a partnership with the Mother and Child's Health Fund implemented by the First Lady.

The situation in 2012.

Despite efforts to increase sales of spiruline in Niger, by engaging a sales agent, subsidizing the sales price, campaigning for donations and subsidies in France, the stock has risen to 250 kilos in 2012 and the spiruline farm workers'overdue salaries have accumulated.

Following the appointment of a doctor in each community of the Dogon Doutchi department, sales at subsidized price are now going to develop. Malnourished children will get spiruline treatment for 0.8 euro per child, while the cost price is at 2 euro.

The situation in 2013-2014.

Sales through chemists'shops in Niger and a few exceptional sales in France have resulted in diversification and improvement of the situation, the stock fell to 170 kilos in the summer of 2013, but some wages are still unpaid.

In 2014 the wage situation has been improving, with 55 kilos in stock: sales have diversified, sales at aided price have been increasing, and 80 kilos have been donated to the National Out-Patient Treatment Center, which coordinates Aids patients' follow-up treatment (thanks to a donation from AECIN's own funds).

The situation in 2014-2016

All outstanding wages have now been paid. A policy of price-aided distribution, through rural communities' integrated health centers, now makes spiruline widely available. This is financed by AECIN's funds.

The situation in 2017-2018

Setting up Antenna Technology Niger has improved commercial delivery in Niamey. Aided price delivery remains low. Humanitarian donations have been resumed for Dogondoutchi Hospital. And rehabilitation works as well as solar energy equipment have been carried out at the farm, through financing from the Niger Water Supply Society.

The situation in 2020

Although AECIN no longer contributes to the spiruline farm, it keeps contact with the activity through the farm's monthly report. The farm yielded 156 kg in 2020 (against 328 in 2019). Out of this production, 46 kg were supplied to the Dogondoutchi hospital and 45 kgs were supplied to the Niamey nutrition center and to a NGO in Zinder. The future of the spiruline farm rests on securing perennial markets.

Shutdown of the farm in 2021

As it hasn't been possible to find a long-term economic solution, the farm closed its activities in 2021.

Construction d'un bassin à la ferme de spiruline

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