By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The Twelve Northern States that attended a 5-day training on value chain development for non timber forest products (NTFPs) organized by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO UN) have developed workplans on how to implement the process.
Participants for the training were drawn from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states comprising ACReSAL PCs and FAO Desk Officers, Two Community Interests Groups and Two Focal NGOs under the ACReSAL operations.
The participants made their presentations highlighting the various non timber forest products in their and how to harness them to serve as sources of income and employment generation for the people.
Dr Andrew Ilo, FAO Technical Expert who facilitated the presentations commemded the participants for the useful contributions during the course of the training assuring them the FAO UN will in collaboration with ACReSAL, look into the workplan for its implementation by the various states government.
He stressed that the Challenges in Monitoring and Evaluation for NTFPs include Common Challenges of Data collection difficulties in remote areas, Limited resources and technical capacity as well as Ensuring stakeholder participation.
He then disclosed that some of the Solutions include Using technology for remote data collection, Building local capacity through training and Engaging stakeholders throughout the M&E process.
Andrew Ilo then recommended that Sustainable harvesting practice should be encouraged by involving grassroot communities while Strict law should be enforced as well as awareness on in-situ and ex-situ conservation.
Other recommendations are Initiation on research, domestication and cultivation. development, Regular monitoring and evaluation should be done to stop illegal trading stressing that NTFPs Action Plan is needed on major/vulnerable species.
According to him, the Best Practices in M&E for NTFPs involves Regular and systematic data collection, Engaging local communities and stakeholders, Transparent reporting and sharing of findings, Adaptive management based on M&E results and Continuous capacity building for M&E teams.
The FAO Technical Expert pointed out that Social Impact include Community Benefits as M&E assesses the social impact of NTFP initiatives on local communities, ensuring that benefits are equitably distributed and that community livelihoods are improved.
The Stakeholder Engagement facilitates better communication and involvement of stakeholders by providing transparent and accountable project reporting.
Policy Development involved Informed Decision Making as M&E generates data that inform policy decisions, ensuring that policies are based on accurate and curent information.
On Risk Management he emphasized Identifying Risks as M&E helps identify potential risks and threats to NTFP projects, allowing for timely mitigation measures.
On Mitigating Negative Impacts, Continuous evaluation helps in implementing strategies to mitigate any negative impacts on both the environment and local communities.
While speaking on the Importance of M&E for NTFPs, he said that it involves Sustainability Assessment of Resource Management which helps track the availability and health of NTFPs, ensuring that harvesting practices do not lead to resource depletion and that ecosystems remain balanced.
Economic Efficiency include Market Analysis which provides valuable data on market trends and demands, helping to optimize production and marketing strategies to enhance profitability.
The Project Performance include Goal Achievement which tracks the progress of NTFP projects against their set goals and objectives, ensuring that project activities align with desired outcomes.
Adaptive Management ensures that by identifying challenges and successes, M&E allows for adaptive management practices, making it possible to adjust strategies to improve project performance
The Social Impact include Community Benefits as M&E assesses the social impact of NTFP initiatives on local communities, ensuring that benefits are equitably distributed and that community livelihoods are improved.
For Stakeholder Engagement, it facilitates better communication and involvement of stakeholders by providing transparent and accountable project reporting
Some of the participants at the training who spoke to Journalists expressed commendation to FAO UN and ACReSAL for organizing the training which they said had exposed them to development processes of harnessing non timber forest products for employment generations and revenue generation.
They however urged FAO and ACReSAL to make a convincing presentation to the various states government in order to enable them key into the various workplans developed for the good of the people of the states.