Smallholder farmers in East Africa are hit hardest by the effects on climate change. One of Vi Agroforestry most important tasks is to provide trainings and advice on how smallholder farmers can adapt to climate change. By employing Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management methods, the farmers can continue to develop their farming methods, despite drought and flooding, and ensure the families access to food. Sustainable agriculture based on agroforestry, growing trees among crops, is multi-functional and diversified and based on agroecological methods adapted to the specific ecosystem.
Vi Agroforestry teaches agroforestry and sustainable farming methods to small-scale farmers according to the Sustainable Agricultural Land Management (SALM) methodology.
SALM is a methodology that helps farmers adapt to climate change, reduce vulnerability, increase resilience and increase harvests and incomes. In addition, it leads to increased biodiversity. SALM encompasses several different sustainable farming methods. This includes agroforestry (planting of trees and crops), composting, cover crops and sustainable energy. As the method builds up organic matter in the soil, it also increases the resistance to climate impact, such as drought and rainfall, and helps to store more carbon in the soil. Tree planting also contributes to wood, fruit, animal feed and shade. An important part of SALM is the training and implementation of sustainable water use, which contributes to reduced vulnerability and increased resilience.
Learn more about Agroforestry
A complex term but an excellent method for creating a better environment and reducing poverty. Agroforestry is the deliberate growing of trees alongside crops and/or livestock so that all parties can benefit from each other. Agroforestry increases biodiversity, soil humidity and fertility, enabling diversified food production and increased yields. The trees prevent soil erosion and bid carbon dioxide – agroforestry provides productivity and mitigates the impact of climate change. The trees provide shade, feed for the animals, compost material – and, in fact, also moisture to the soil. An agroforestry tree contributes with more water than it consumes. Agroforestry helps to recreate a natural ecosystem. It results in a bigger harvest, a better climate and increased resistance to the effects of climate change.
