Case Study: TREE NURSERIES ENTERPRISE
Chianapok received a loan to develop
her dawadawa processing into a
business. With this loan she was able to
buy a large quantity of locust beans (the
raw material for dawadawa), and was
able to produce enough to last until the
next harvest. She takes her dawadawa
to the market twice a week to sell,
making a little bit of money every time.
She now makes enough money from her
business that she has been able to open
a savings account and can put aside
some money for her family’s future.
Poverty is the biggest problem facing
our families, so I see improving women’s
income and farming techniques as a
way to reduce the suffering. I am very
optimistic.
The project has bought many benefits
to Chianapok and her village. As well
as increased income, there are more
communal fruit trees which help protect
the environment and improve long-term
food availability.
In the past when trees were abundant
people took them for granted, no one
imagined they could ever finish; so they
failed to protect the trees. Today we
know the value of the trees, but they are
now scarce – that’s why we are planting
trees today.
ing techniques, Burkina Faso
Women being trained in tree graft
More and more women are becoming
involved in running tree nurseries in
their communities. TREE AID helps
women develop skills, knowledge
and confidence in nursery production
techniques and provides basic tools
and materials they could otherwise
not afford. Equipment may be no more
sophisticated a watering can or bit of
fencing, but can make all the difference
to the trees surviving.
Chianapok Atinyansa is 55, and lives
in the village of Kanwasa in Ghana
with her six children. She became
involved with TREE AID after hearing
about a community tree project at an
agricultural forum for farmers to discuss
protecting the natural environment.
Before her involvement in the project
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Chianapok earned money by chopping
firewood, farming crops and processing
dawadawa - a traditional food made
from fermented locust beans that is rich
in protein and minerals. She struggled to
feed her family and generate enough
money for her family’s basic living
needs.
But thanks to the project she now works
as a nursery assistant in her community
and has learnt new skills. Here she
prepares seed pots, plants and waters
seedlings and ensures the orchard
storage tanks are regularly filled with
water. She has learnt how to prepare soil
and make compost, and has adopted
these soil management techniques at
home in order to improve their farming,
where she is successfully growing
mango seedlings.
o seedlings in Kanwasa, Ghana
Chianapok with some of her mang
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