Practical training programs in agro-forestry and kitchen gardens in Ivory Coast and Ghana 

Pro-Natura International is an association that is mobilized to solve social, economic and environmental problems affecting the rural communities of developing countries.

The objective is to provide viable economic alternatives to these populations who live in an environment that is deteriorating. Pro-Natura’s action is based on preserving and restoring natural resources that serve the local economy. The goal is to improve farmers’ living conditions and rebuild biodiversity in the rural milieu, in particular in cacao plantations.

In Ghana and Ivory Coast, Pro-Natura is involved in building the technical and managerial capacities of its local partners. In about 20 villages, it is training over 300 farmers in agro-forestry, an agricultural practice that combines both food crop cultivation and tree planting. Agro-forestry permits them to diversify their sources of income and to rebuilt biodiversity in the areas that are being cultivated.

Concurrently, Pro-natura is initiating farmers into the creation of “super kitchen gardens”. This new market garden concept makes it possible to create an ecological kitchen garden from a kit, capable of feeding a family on a 60 m² plot. Through this intensive organic cultivation method, production is spread out over the year. In addition, this system reduces water consumption and requires very little physical effort.

At the completion of this training and accompaniment program, the farmers will have planted 60,000 trees for many uses and set up 20 super kitchen gardens. This project will indirectly benefit over 1,000 people whose income will be increased by the sale of the market garden production first, then by the sales of products from the forest (fruit, food oils, timber, etc.).

The Air Liquide Foundation is supporting this project by financing agricultural equipment, creating pedagogic supports and purchasing “super kitchen garden” kits for the farmers.