Promoting Sustainable Livelihood
Promoting Sustainable Livelihood for Rural Women in Oke-Ogun Area of Oyo State.
Oke Ogun area (the North-Western Part) of Oyo state of Nigeria was classified as derived Savannah ecological zone in the 1970s. Men and women were actively engaged in Agro forestry business being in the boundary of Forest zone and the Guinea Savannah belt of the country. Shea Butter Industry was at its peak in the early 1970s. Anecdotal evidence showed that Shea Butter products were exported to Benin, Togo and Ghana at that time.
However, today only a few are in the business due to the depletion of Shea-Butter Tree stands and the labour intensive traditional processing methods. Majority in the area who were previously engaged in Shea Butter Business have changed to an unsustainable Charcoal production business. The production of charcoal has led to aggressive wood lot harvest including highly priced Shea Butter Trees. The results are manifested in depletion of soil nutrients and environmental degradation.
The Project Aim
The project aims at discouraging unsustainable livelihood practice and reactivate the moribund but more sustainable and environmental friendly business in the project area, therefore contributing to Biodiversity enhancement and land reclamation in the project area.
The Project Objectives
Identify the contribution of Charcoal Production to biodiversity loss in the project area, Conduct advocacy campaign to discourage the indiscriminate felling of Trees to produce Charcoal and unsustainable livelihood of charcoal production. Identify women group in the Shea Butter and Charcoal business for empowerment, Install fully mechanized Shea Butter Processing Plants for women groups, Conduct training and workshop on the use and maintenance of Processing Plants, Link women group with industries and international markets, Distribute Shea Butter exotic seedlings to Farmers and Women Group in the project area, Monitor and supervise the cultivation, nurture and maintenance of Shea Butter tree stands.
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