The project was completed. In the nine established groups that have already carried out agroforestry and conservation work, there is now a structured planting of their fields. Groups who have a good supply of fodder from previous conservation work or in areas where seasonal crops frequently fail due to lack of rainful, but have plentiful supplies of drought-resistant fodder-crops, form an effective working model for other communities in the area.
Lesson-learned are: presently most farmers only plant subsistance-crops for their own consumption such as maize, rice and cassave. The transition to the planting of marketable crops to receive a money income is difficult for many farmers to attain.
Crops such as vanilla, castor, potatoes, grapes, cashew, candle-nut, cacoa, soya and mung beans can be grown in TTU, but due to risk-aversity and the non-existence of marketing channels are not. This is a long-term process that could be succesfully achieved only if the project activities receive assistance from sponsors (expert advice, finacial assitance, technical assistance, etc.) could also be a long-term committment. This process may take 5-10 years, i.e. the time needed until crops could be harvested, a local commercial unit is established, and market secured.
In the meantime, other activities during the dry season (generally a period of low activity), additional income could be attained by bio-intensive vegetable production in areas were water was available, or by carrying out non-agricultural home-industry activities such as weaving are traditionally carried out by the women during th dry-season. Other possibilities are wood-carving, leather work and basket-weaving.
YTM is now facing a new challenge. i.e. how to continue their project post-GEF SGP assistance. Although local/internal contribution is quite significant, external assistance woul certainly be appreciated by YTM.