C/River Set to Harness Aquatic Value chain, Mangrove Forest preservation

By: Iloke, Egbe

In its desire to support the lives of rural farmers in Cross River State and to improve the traditional agricultural practices within the Southern Senatorial District, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in partnership with the Government of United Kingdom has organized a 2 Day workshop tagged Train-the-Trainers workshop for fish farmers in the mangrove.

The workshop which was held at Axari Hotels Calabar recently with structured training approach aimed at impacting the right knowledge to facilitators that will serve as extension workers to give rural farmers the needed practical technical supporter on how to harness the potentials in the mangrove as well as suggest better was to manage the resources.

In his lectures, the Chief Technical Adviser of the project, Prof. Adebayo Shittu, explained that the programme focuses on farmers within Calabar South, Calabar Municipal, Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Odukpani Local Government Areas with the aim of training people that will become positive change agents among the farmers while mainstreaming gender in all components of the interventions which includes Food, Nutrition and climate adaptability.

He stressed that the project is promoting hotspot diversity in the country by stepping down the training to rural women, adding that, by March 2024, there will be further training for 50 communities on livelihood support for vulnerable persons to provide them with alternatives to livelihood as deliberate effort to reduce pressure on the Forest and wildlife.

According to Prof. Shittu some of the ongoing work includes Train-the-Trainers workshop, Business School and Domitra Clubs, addressing Gender Concerns,  procurement for office, seedlings of indigenous trees, installation of fish processing machines for women at Esuk Mba, Aqua Esuk Iyamba, others communities to benefit are Ikang, Edigidem, Henshaw Town, Anantigha and Creek Town with each unit having the capacity to process 50 tones of fish per day.

The project Advisor maintained that plans are focusing on integrated mangrove ecosystem management plan, training on geographic information system and provision of 500 special stoves to old women in 5 Local Government Areas.

Continuing he said, the project will also capture the training on alternative nature-based livelihood promoted among mangrove and fishery Development including public private partnership to capitalize investments in alternative based livelihood and value chain development in target communities as well as formation of Institutional framework and knowledge sharing.

Participants were exposed to Farmers Field Schools approach, Domitra Clubs and concepts like Climate Smart Agriculture, Climate Smart Fisheries and Climate Smart Forestry divulge touching on life circle of some crops.

Apart from the target trainees, the workshop was also attended by representatives Ministries, Departments and Agencies including Local Government Councils, Nongovernmental Organizations and Faith-based Organizations to ensure a holistic, practicable and implementable framework development.