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In a bid to support the farming population of Mmockbie, a forest adjacent community to the proposed Tofala Wildlife Hill Sanctuary, the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) has set up a 35000 capacity nursery to raise and distribute seedlings of some Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). Some of the seedlings include Cola sp (atara), Garcinia kola (bitter kola), Citrus sinensis (sweet orange), Persea avocado (pear) and (Plums). The objective of setting up this NTFP nursery is to help reduce the people’s dependence on the forest thus provide a safe place for the different endangered wildlife species in this forest including the critically endangered cross river gorilla.
The NGO has also supported the planting of environmentally friendly trees around all the water catchments in this community which has been suffering from acute water shortages due to exposed catchments. In April this year 3000 seedlings of Acacia angutissima and Calliandra calyoptus were transplanted into the main water catchment of this community and a 10.000 capacity nursery has been set up to continue to support the water catchments.
The establishment of this new 35000 NTFP nursery has been received with a lot of joy. According to Chief Fominot, the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs of the village, this is a laudable initiative. “The produce from these trees will greatly aid the members of this community, 95% of whom are farmers. It will generate income for their families and also ensure household food security”. He said. In the days ahead, the farmers of this community will be trained on methods vegetative propagation of tree species thanks to a giant Non-mist propagator that has also been set up. They will also be schooled on how and why to raise and incorporate nitrogenous trees species into their farms so as to increase soil fertility and hence farm produce.
It would be recalled that two of such nurseries have been set up in Folepi and Nkong, all villages bordering the proposed sanctuary. Additionally, in Nkong demonstration sites have also been set up that incorporate nitrogenous trees into farmer’s fields.
By Limbi Blessing Tata