Ex-situ cultivation of NTFP's

Eru' is a tropical rainforest vine consumed by people living in the Mount Cameroon region. Large quantities are exported to Nigeria and to some European countries. It is all harvested from the wild using unsustainable methods. To satisfy demand, harvesting pressure has increased pushing the species into 'commercial extinction'. A cultivation technique has been developed, field-tested and some pilot farmers trained. CENDEP, a People's Organisation has expertise on eru domestication and trains farmers in the forest regions of Cameroon. Adoption of the technology remains quite low due to: lack of technical knowledge on the cultivation technique, lack of nursery materials and lack of eru vines in some villages. Only the rich can afford to cultivate it now. This project aims at providing technical know how and material support to poor farmers in order to encourage the conservation of this resource through on-farm cultivation (conservation through cultivation) and sustainable management of the remnant populations through sustainable harvesting. Incomes of the poor farmers will be improved and conservation of this vegetable ensured. The main activities to be carried out are: sensitisation of farmer organisation, village training workshops, technical support visits, farmer exchange visits and impact assessment. The main results expected from this project are: (1) training of at least 500 farmers, 4 agricultural extension workers and 4 local NGOs on eru domestication techniques, (2) production and planting of at least 50,000 eru seedlings, (3) sensitisation of at least 4 neighbouring communities, (4) establish at least four pilot community farms in the Mount Cameroon region, (5) conservation of the remaining wild populations of eru (Gnetum spp) through sustainable harvesting techniques and ex-situ cultivation.

This project has been implemented successfully. CENDEP (Centre for Nursery Development And Eru Propagation) trained local community members (50% women) on ex-situ cultivation of Gnetum Spp through the organisation of seven training workshops, 63 technical support visits, four exchange visits and an open field day. Seven eru demonstration farms were established, and 14,000 seedlings have been raised and distributed. Forest management institutions received local administration’s support that enabled firmer control of the forest resources by the local population. Change in livelihood is yet to occur but it is believed this project has set enabling conditions to reduce poverty in the project area.