Session 1.6. Needs and approaches for diversification

Training Workshop on Allanblackia Domestication, 23 to 27 Oct 2006

 

The World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

 

Ian Dawson

Overview

• Why is diversification important?• How can it be brought about and what has been done

to date?

• What are some of the gaps to be addressed?

Why is diversification important?

• ???

Why is diversification important?

Diversification may bring the following benefits:

• Project supply chain stability• Efficient resource use (financial and knowledge)• Better environmental management

Why is diversification important? Project supply chain stability

Need to prevent collapse in the supply chain 

Key issues to aid stability:

1. Number of buyers (niche markets, alternative products)

Advantages: spreads risk, markets more sensitive to availability of product (c.f. ‘masting’)Disadvantages: lack of stringency and transparency

Why is diversification important? Project supply chain stability

Supply chain viability, based on the presence of a single or multiple buyers for seed

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Why is diversification important? Project supply chain stability

Key issues to aid stability:

2. Species diversification

Bring additional species and products into market (and therefore germplasm) supply chains

‘Even out’ (c.f. ‘masting’) and enhance farmer incomes

Some species and products that can be harvested more quickly than Allanblackia

Species with ‘complementary’ production characteristics

Why is diversification important? Project supply chain stability

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Why is diversification important? Efficient resource use

The Allanblackia initiative is developing both physical infrastructure and knowledge capacity in both germplasm and market supply chains. For example:

• Nursery capacity to supply planting material for farmers• Collection points through which harvested Allanblackia seed can reach

industry• Training of communities in harvesting seed, establishing market supply

chains, collecting germplasm, establishing nurseries• Training national/international industry in handling a new tree product

This provides a basic ‘template’ on which activities for other species can efficiently by built

Why is diversification important? Better environmental management

The Novella Project has important implications for biodiversity and the wider environment

Some impacts for biodiversity are likely to be positive, others negative. For example:

• Positive: planted Allanblackia is a corridor between forest fragments• Negative: the Allanblackia market may create a tendency toward

monoculture in farm systems

  Diversification is a way of enhancing positive impacts, ameliorating or preventing negative impacts

Why is diversification important? Better environmental management

Corridors: forest distribution at Amani…!

Diversification: how can it be brought about?

• ???

Diversification: how can it be brought about? What has been done?

Elements of best practice for species diversification:

• Bring other species into the germplasm supply chain (Tanzania)• Incorporate Allanblackia into village-level IFT domestication strategies

(Cameroon and Nigeria)Facilitates fast adoption, is flexible

• Use Allanblackia to ‘drive’ wider participatory forest management strategies

  Allanblackia can drive the process of diversification (Tanzania), or be one of the ‘extra’ trees incorporated into ongoing activities (Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana)

A ‘biodiversity’ project proposal is currently being developed

Diversification: what are some of the gaps to be addressed?

Gaps include in:

• Proper species prioritisationMarket-led and farmer driven… Especially in Ghana and Tanzania

• Understanding the roles of germplasm availability and markets in diversificationIs it access to germplasm or the presence of suitable markets for tree products that determines the range of tree species planted by farmers?

• Wider application of the village-level domestication approachEspecially in Ghana and Tanzania

• Evaluating the value of the Allanblackia agri-business as a driver of wider PFMAre the incentives for communities enough? Price sensitivity analysis

Conclusion

Diversification of the Allanblackia agri-business should represent a win-win situation in which:

• the stability and success of the Allanblackia oil industry itself• improved and more stable revenues for communities; and • positive impacts for biodiversity

… are all promoted

Although some elements of best practice are in place, there remain many unanswered questions.

AnnexSchematic of the Novella Project with primary opportunities for biodiversity interventions

Wild Allanblackia

- forest - farm remnants + regenerants

Planted Allanblackia

- on-farm- forest enrichment

Allanblackia oil

- in the market

Germplasm supply chain

Oil market supply chain

> Domestication- Germplasm collection and selection- Germination and propagation- Nursery production and delivery to farmers

> Seed oil collection- Best practice on-farm tree management- Best practice harvesting guidelines> Market delivery- Purchase through product network- Processing and export

Activities undertaken for additional species, building on Novella Project physical and knowledge capacity

Additional species chosen through priority setting

Additional species planted

Additional products brought to market

Activities undertaken for other species and products, building on Novella Project physical and knowledge capacity. Emphasise use and further development of best practice management guidelines (for harvesting and on-farm management of Allanblackia and associated flora and fauna)

A range of products developed

Develop incentives for planting additional species, and incentives for more general participatory forest management, both building on the Allanblackia agribusiness

Ensure supply chains develop in tandem, both for Allanblackia and other species (generally, hold back on harvesting, emphasise domestication?)

> Economic and policy analyses (incentives)

> Distribution/inventory/description> Ecology research