Clean development mechanism & carbon finance

      

   Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) that industrialized countries – who are responsible for the vast majority of emissions that cause climate change – should take the first steps towards sustainable energy consumption, use of clean technologies and sustainable land management practices, which are needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change. CDM allows developed countries to generate ‘carbon credits’ (Certified Emission Reductions, CERs) in developing countries

   Agriculture Technology Transfer Society (ATTS) in association with Core CarbonX Solutions Private Limited is launching a small scale Programme of Activities (POA) which involves the installation of Domestic Biogas plants for the households in Sudan under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Under the POA the small scale projects under the above mentioned category will be developed. The first CDM Programme of Activity (CPA) has been proposed at North Kordofan under the POA. The POA and CPA intend to reduce the amount of fuel wood and agriculture residues used for cooking with cleaner biogas and also reduce methane emissions from the animal manure and will contribute strongly to the sustainable development of the rural households involved in the project.The POA and CPAs would contribute to the global efforts towards combating global warming. In order to understand the concerns and opinions of the local stakeholders a consultation meeting was held at Policeman Headquarter Hall on 21 March 2013 at 9.00 AM.

   The first milestone concerning a questionnaire was completed. The project documentation was delivered to the designated national authority (DNA) at the higher council for environment and natural resources for the issuance of letter of approval. Next milestone will deal with validation and verification.

ATTS agroforestry project: Planting Moringa and Jatrofa

    ATTS is advocating for a moringa/ jatrofa agroforestry, model which has proven to be successful to address the challenges of:, alleviating poverty, securing livelihoods and economically empowering women, in a successful partnership with local communities, academic, private sectors and national financial institutions.

   The pilot project utilized an area of 3 feddans in Khartoum North, 5km North of the capital City of Khartoum with the aim to be replicated in other states of Sudan utilizing a microfinance investment. The pilot project initially planted an area of 3 feddans (1 feddan = 0.42 ha). The area is enough to be managed by one family and would fulfil their need of cereal and vegetable consumption.

Moringa trees were planted along side ridges of the watering canals together with the vegetables and main cereal crops, preferred at each particular location. Jatrofa is used as a life fence.  Moringa is a multipurpose tree known for nitrogen fixing, grows best in dry sandy soil and is drought resistant; it provides shade, nutritious food, medicine and oil for cooking and other products and can even purify and clarify water. The leaves are harvested to be sold as green tea and the stripped branches as animal fodder together with seed pods. The seeds are also sold to private sector, or crushed and sold as oil used for cooking and the cakes as animal feed. The model also includes provision of livestock and continuous supply of water. Jatrofa is used as biodiesel, lighting and soap making. Implementation in rural areas will target groups of ten families on 30 feddans where a well will be drilled and shared by ten families who are asked to be comanised in a farmer association. The project is linked with the Central Bank microfinance in support of the intervention.

Effective microorganism (EM) technology

ATTS is advocating for effective microorganism (EM) technology . EM is a combination of various beneficial, naturally occurring, microcomanisms mostly used or found in food.

Functions:

     Fixation of atmospheric nitrogen

     Buffering capacity of soil pH

     Solublization of insoluble nutrients into soluble ones to be uptake by the plant

     Decomposition of comanic wastes and residues

     Suppression of soil-borne pathogens

      Degradation of toxicants including pesticides

      Production of antibiotic and other proactive compounds

     Get rid of bad odour in animal housing

     When fermented with animal food used to increase intake

     When added to drinking water of poultry improves eggs quality and quantity

Experiments done using EM in agriculture (2008- 2010)

 2008: 1- Tomato in Elsagai (Khartoum North).
2- Sun Flower and Zea maize in Zad Alkhier (Wad Raawa).
2009:
1- Land Escape in Dal Khartoum.
2- Galia Melon (Seeliat Shemal).
3- Green Beans (Dabak).
4- Potato (Elkhoglab).

2010:

      1- Ground Nuts (Fool Sudani) in Gazera and Elmanagel.
      2- Dorah (Scomhum) in Gazera and Elmanagel.
      3- Tomato in Elmanagel.

Observations

1-     Decrease in harvesting time by about 30% - 40%.

2-     Increase in the total yield by almost 100%.

3-    Upgrading  quality ,increase in  size, product is more healthy and as a result

shelf life is extended

4- Increase in the total contents of the product and free from infectious diseases 

Assessment of Food Security Status in Juba Counties.

    The objective of this study is to collect baseline information on food security issues that will help policy makers to implement interventions and develop polices to achieve food security the rural areas of Central Equatoria State.

The rural areas will be grouped into three divisions (north, south and west of Juba town).The required information is contained in a comprehensive questionnaire covering all aspects of food security. A total of 90 persons will be interviewed in each rural division.

The questionnaire is made up of four sections. The first section yields general, demographic & socioeconomic information. Section two is designed to yield information on food issues at household level. Food samples will be collected for chemical analysis and bacteriological tests. The third section provides information on the sources of food, genetic makeup, systems of production, size of production, production technologies, food storage and constraints of production. Quantitative data (weights of small ruminants) will be collected. The fourth section yields information on natural resources.

The data will be processed using the SAS program (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). The results will be presented in form of tables and graphs. The results will be discussed and recommendations will be drawn. The outcome of this research project will be used to propose technical interventions, policies and to develop early warning systems to improve food security situation in rural areas of Central Equatoria State.

Introduction of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica f. inermis) to stop sand movement and provide alternative livestock feed source in Nahr an Nil State.

Overall objective of action

This action attempts to utilize untapped feed sources such as cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica f. inermis) to stop sand movement and provide alternative livestock feed source in Nahr an Nil State .

 

Target groups

Small livestock holders in rural and suburban areas of Nahr an state.

 

Final beneficiaries

1. Small livestock holders in Nahr an Nil.

2. Forestry department in Nahr an Nil state.

3. Pasture and Forage department in Nahr an Nil state.

4. Bodies concerned with desertification and environmental safety in Nahr an Nil state.

5. Veterinary authority in Nahr an Nil state.

 

Relevance of the action

Livestock keeping is a common means of generating income and securing food to families in Nahr an Nil state. However, it is challenged by acute shortages in feed supplies because of the state has poor natural grazing base as lies in a desert area with less than ? mm of annual rainfall .Thee state main agricultural land, which is the sole supplier of livestock feed, lies along the banks of the River Nile and is subjected to considerable reduction in size because of sand infringement. This action will grow cactus in areas that are continuously threatened by sand movement to stop sand movement and the same time provide untapped feed source (cactus parts ) for feeding livestock .Cactus fruit may be consumed by humans and may be sold to provide extra income to small livestock owners. in Nahr an Nil State.

Capacity building of livestock owners in Kassala state in the utilization of non-conventional feeds in animal nutrition.

Overall objective of action

This action attempts to utilize untapped feed sources such as uneaten and wasted organic mass composed parts of the Banana plant, pruned and fallen parts of fruit trees in addition to dead parts of Dom (Hyphaene thebaica) tree for feeding livestock in some parts of Kassala state especially in the dry season.

 

Target groups

Small livestock holders in rural and suburban areas of Kassala locality and Humashkoraib locality.

 

Final beneficiaries

1. Small livestock holders in Kassala and Humashkoraib localities of Kassala sate.

2. Owners of orchards for growing bananas and citrus fruits.

3. Forestry department in Kassala state.

4. Pasture and Forage department in Kassala state.

4. Bodies concerned with environmental safety in Kassala state.

5. Veterinary authority in Kassala state.

 

Relevance of the action

Livestock keeping is a common means of generating income and securing food to families in Kassala state. However, it is challenged by shortages in conventional feed supplies, notably, in the dry season. This action attempts to utilize untapped feed sources for feeding livestock in some parts of Kassala State especially in the dry season.

Capacity building of workers in slaughterhouses of Khartoum state

Overall objectives of action

Meat is viewed as a vehicle for many human food-borne diseases .A contemporary risk-based approach to meat hygiene requires that hygiene measures should be applied at those points in the food chain where they will be of greatest value in reducing food-borne risks to consumers. Abattoir workers represent potential source of meat contamination. They should be trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work. The provision of adequate hygiene training of abattoir workers is the responsibility of the operator. Unfortunately workers in slaughterhouses of Khartoum state did not receive any kind of vocational training in meat hygiene, improperly dressed and have poor perception of their role in securing meat safety. The objective of this action is to provide workers in slaughterhouses of Khartoum state with knowledge that improves their perception of meat, environment and personal safety; and to encourage and facilitate the development of skills that increase their professional and technical standing.