THE WHAT? The Global Shea Alliance is set to implement a pilot project of Resilient Shea Agroforestry Farm Model (RSAFM) in Nigeria. 

THE DETAILS The project will take 20 months and forms part of the Global Alliance Climate Change plus (GCCA+) initiative, led by the European Union. 

The project will be led by four GSA members; Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Salid Agriculture, Shea Origin, and P.R.I. Global Ventures Limited. The RSAFM project is funded by the European Union.

Simballa Sylla, GSA President expressed optimism that the project will contribute to the development of the shea industry.

Laure Kuhn Bruma, GCCA+ West Africa Project Coordinator, said, “We are proud to invest in this project that promotes environmental sustainability. The project on Developing Resilient Shea Agroforestry Farm Model will go a long way to reduce the carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions.
“We look forward to the output and impact of the pilot project on livelihood support for smallholder farmers and beneficiary communities while mitigating environmental impact in the world.”

THE WHY? The project seeks to evaluate the economic and environmental benefits of resilient shea agroforestry farm models among shea producing communities, and improve stakeholder capacity for easy replication in the region.

Sylla continued, “The Resilient Shea Agroforestry Farm Model is a strategic step by the GSA in initiating crucial research to better understand the interaction of shea trees and crops on smallholder farms as a way to increase whole farm income and facilitate investment.”