Of the 70 conference participants from 30 countries who attended the IPALAC Conference on "Combating Desertification with Plants" held between November 1-5, 18 from 15 African countries - most of them tree scientists and directors of NGOs - partook in the course held during the last three weeks of November and sponsored by MASHAV, UNESCO and the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Africa Division called "Trees for Arid Lands."
The underlying logic of utilizing trees as the backbone in semi-arid and arid zones is that once they are established, trees are less sensitive than annual crops to the vicissitudes of the weather, as annual crops require rainfall throughout their growing season. Adoption of multipurpose trees in agroforestry systems, it is believed, holds the potential for making a significant contribution to sustainable development, particularly in Africa.
The first element in the course was seeing a broad range of potential tree crops. Eight days of field trips from the Sea of Galilee down to Eilat were designed to provide maximum exposure to tree plantations - many already commercial operations, of species that Israel has found to be useful in its own arid and semi-arid zones.
The different species of trees that course participants encountered on field trips were based on several different kinds of tree crops - crops meaning not just fruit trees but species that produce windbreaks, firewood and shade. The fruit trees they encountered in trips across Israel ranged from dates and olives and figs to citrus (oranges, tangerines, pommelos), papaya, mangoes, avocado, guava and grapes. Some, like pomegranates, for instance, are considered "exotic" varieties in terms of Africa. In addition, there are varieties, such as ber, that are native only to certain areas of Africa and unknown in other arid regions. Lastly, there are species that are known in Africa, but Israel has some varieties that are particularly suited for arid and semi-arid zones.
The second element of the course was brainstorming. Participants shared their impressions, knowledge and experience in dynamic discussions. Participants described what they face back home, examining what they saw and how it might or might not be of value in their own setting.
"The roundtables focussed on defining the problems in Africa, what is common, and what kind of direction of research and development are needed, or are possible," clarified Dr. Sam Mendlinger, a senior researcher in plant genetics and germ plasm at the Ben-Gurion University's Institute of Agriculture and Applied Biology, who headed the course together with Professor Dov Pasternak, an expert in plant physiology and irrigation. In essence, they say, the course sets up a platform for the participants to chart their own course.
Sam Mendlinger noted that the importance of "having time to think" was no less important than the cross-fertilization of gathering together people from different geographical regions of the continent. "It allows people to remove themselves from the stresses and exigencies of daily work and personal affairs and for three weeks do nothing else than think and discuss things with people who have comparable problems. In that sense, the tree course was almost a 'retreat' of sorts," he says.
Among the fruits of such discussion was formulation of a list of some 27 factors that must be taken into consideration in introducing a new crop - not just infrastructure, education risk-management and marketing needs and so forth, but also questions of gender (i.e., in Africa, vegetables, for instance, are traditionally grown by women, not men) and other culturally-tied factors (for example, the importance of creating dishes based on new products that will appeal to local palates, creating a market). "This is the first step in developing an integrated model to successfully introduce new tree crops," explains Mendlinger.
The last part of the course was devoted to an intensive crash course geared to help participants plant more than the "seeds of knowledge" they were bringing back: Each participant went home with plant materials - seeds and seedlings for the next stage on IPALAC's long-term agenda. For this reason, in the closing days of the course participants were given an overview of theory and hands-on practice in seed collection and germinability; treatment of seeds including both those that germinate easily and problematic seeds that require special handling, and sowing science; vegetative propagation, rooting conditions and grafting techniques. The 15 to 20 species of plant material each graduate took back - crated and air freighted at IPALAC's expense (via a grant from the Brach Family Foundation) - will be tested not only in research stations, but in farmers' fields from the start.
Sam Mendlinger stressed that the course is but the first stage of a larger, overall project: The "starter kits" of seeds of tree species will allow the graduates to begin experimenting as soon as they get back, to evaluate whether the species can be of economic benefit to farmers in their spheres. Moreover, in addition to encouraging participants to remain in contact via e-mail, periodic newsletters, booklets and so forth tied to Israeli know-how or their own findings, IPALAC plans to also conduct periodic on site gatherings (in Africa) among course graduates - geared for more discussion and specialized courses into specific crops such as citrus or dates.
Mendlinger outlined the long-term objectives: "Graduates will continue to share input, what has been successful, what has not, what models of operation were employed in order to jointly develop a model or models of how to introduce new trees to semi-arid zones in Africa. The ultimate aim is not simply to put trees out in the desert, but to develop effective new industries, where success will be measured in the amount of money the farmer makes," he concluded. IPALAC, for its part, will have played a core role as a facilitator in developing long-lasting reciprocal relationships among African agriculturalists to enhance this process.
What they had to say
When Shalom's reporter visited the Tree Course, a number of participants shared their impressions and their plans when they return home.
Paul Elokaokich from Uganda, a government forest officer with the Lands & Water Division of the Forest Department, revealed that his region receives 700 mm of rain in the wet season. Consequently, he was particularly struck by what Israel has succeeded in doing in areas with a mere 200 mm of rainfall. He hopes to examine more intensive investment and better application of both natural and human resources - farming during the dry season by introducing a regime of simple irrigation techniques and hearty plant species, changes that won't require significant capital investments. Of particular interest is citrus, such as pommelo and tangerines, and possibly mango.
Alioune Diouf from Senegal, currently working in Ghana in tropical overseas fruit export with a commercial firm, says that while he is familiar with growing grapes and saw some new varieties he would like to investigate, date palms were of particular interest to him. While there are date palms in the Sahel, he has encountered new varieties with superior fruit in Israel that he hopes to introduce at home, coupled with acquisition of drip irrigation. There is water, but there was not a delivery system to effectively manage the water, he stresses. Luckily, drip irrigation technology is within the means of the commercial operation for which he works. Moreover, discussing problems of drought among acacia trees in the north with other participants, he found more drought-resistant varieties among colleagues from Chad who were also attending the course.
Ashia Petersen from South Africa is a vegetation ecologist at the Kirstenbosch Research Center associated with the national botanical gardens, a facility that engages in research in the field on desertification, climate change and so forth. The farming community of 150 households on 2,000 hectares with which she works as a scientific officer engages mainly in grazing livestock on range land and vegetable cropping, but there is talk of planning introduction of trees both as a source of income that is not as arduous as cropping and as a way to alleviate demand on existing vegetation used for fuel.
Debasaye Senbeto from Ethiopia, manager of the Tigrai Forestry Plantation Project - an NGO that plants species such as pine in degraded areas of the region - found particularly hearty drought-resistant pine and eucalyptus species in Israel that he hopes to introduce into his country. Moreover, the option of fruit trees that have more economic value is an exciting prospect - particularly the potential for citrus, grapes and possibly olives, he says. For Debasaye Senbeto, the opportunity to visit Israel enabled him to observe another kind of "rooting" process - that of Ethiopian Jewish new immigrants in Israel, including a number of personal acquaintances.