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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Senegalese Farmers Plant Their Way to Sustainable Livelihoods with Half a Million Trees
Trees for the Future graduates 265 farmers from Forest Garden program
Dakar, Senegal (November 28, 2018) – 265 farming families have successfully revitalized their degraded lands through sustainable farming practices and the Forest Garden Approach, increasing their incomes on average by 400%.
This month, Trees for the Future (TREES) graduated the first two groups of farmers to go through a four-year regenerative agriculture program that teaches farmers to utilize agroforestry practices to drastically increase yields and incomes.
“[Trees for the Future] has given me knowledge, encouragement and also advice,” said Ibrahim Sall, a graduating farmer in Kaffrine. “[Trees for the Future] never gave up. I earned something here because of you, so really I am happy to be graduated.”
Farmers like Ibrahim planted more than 2,500 trees per acre and more than 12 types of vegetables, capturing consistent yields and paydays. In total, the farmers planted a combined half a million trees.
“This is an incredible accomplishment for these farmers and for sustainable farming methods,” says TREES Executive Director John Leary. “In 2013, we made a conscious decision to go beyond reforestation efforts and implement efficient and effective practices capable of changing lives. Graduating these 250 farmers this week is proof that what we’re doing is working.”
The graduations were community-wide celebrations held in Kaffrine and Koungheul, complete with speeches from local leaders, theatrical performances, music and dancing.
Trees for the Future has planted more than 158 million trees since 1989. In the past five years, TREES has formed partnerships with 1,000s of farming families, benefiting more than 40,000 people across six countries in East and West Africa.
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Trees for the Future is working to end hunger and poverty for smallholder farmers through revitalizing degraded lands. Learn more about Trees for the Future and see their latest data in the TREES 2018 Impact Report.