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programme aims to address the issue of poverty by promoting sustainable livelihood practices that reduce dependence on the forest and forest clearing. It is important that livelihoods promoted do not contradict the core values and goals of DIN. Small scale agriculture is a key component of the sustainable livelihoods programme along with agroforestry.
Sustainable livelihood projects that DIN supports include:
Sustainable agriculture
DIN started work in 2004 with local communities in Boki LGA to develop improved, sustainable farming practices, and to increase productivity, profitability and sustainability of existing farmland, as a means of reducing pressure on and reduce encroachment into the primary forests boarding the community farmland.
The farmer capacity development is through a Farmer Field School (FFS) approach developed by The Sustainable Tree Crops Programme (STCP). The FFS is a proven discovery learning approach which brings a group of farmers together to learn experiment approaches, observe the outcomes and decide on which options to adopt. Techniques and approaches include sanitation and pruning, integrated crop and pest management (ICPM), promotion of sustainable agroforest mixes, rational pesticide use and improved post harvest practices.
There are three areas that DIN is focusing under the sustainble agriculture livelihood development. These include:
- Improved Cocoa farming practices
- Improved yielding varieties of Cassava
- Sustainable exploitation and propagation methods of NTFP
DIN works in collaboration with the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in the implementation of the sustainable agriculture programmes.
DIN will be replicating these approaches in more communities in Boki and Akampka LGAs in 2006.
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Livestock rearing and fattening
DIN supports livestock rearing and fattening programmes with womens' groups, particularly goat, sheep and poultry. Those currently engaged in projects have demonstrated that there is real potential for income generation, and it is DIN's aim to replicate these as much as possible across villages where there is an identified need.
Women in Okpazange have shown great interest and are keeping goats using a semi-intensive system of tethering. The group has been able to start a small loan scheme for groups members and other community members from proceeds of the sale fo goats. 
Other groups which have benefited from livestock support are Bebi's women's group, Bakum women's group and Victory finance group in Abo Ogbagante.
The Fulani women's group at Kundeve now have twenty-one sheep. DIN assisted this group with the construction of a secure pen to avoid problems with theft that have plagued previous livestock rearing attempts. The group have donated three of their sheep's offspring to another group of Fulani women help empower them. This very generous decision was made solely by the Kundeve women's group.
The Poultry Womens' Group (Oker Ekow) have continued to raise day old broiler chickens for sale at 8 weeks of age. Prospects for real profits have been raised by the establishment of the Protea Hotel Ranch Resort as a major cash paying customer, reducing the pressure to sell on credit when broilers were mature.
Training in basic animal health is provided to all groups by DIN staff to assist with the effective care of the livestock.
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Beekeeping and honey production
DIN has encouraged honey production using modern bee-keeping technologies. Traditional honey collection involves hunting for hives in the forest often felling trees to reach the hive. Fire is also normally used to kill bees to enable collection of the honey. This destructive system is also very wasteful and inefficient, as only after the bees had been killed could the hunter determine if there was any honeycomb in the hive. The introduction of modern methods of using frame and pot hives to domesticate bees has been widely accepted by many local bee farmers.
It has proven particularly successful on the Plateau's northern slopes and plains, where higher temperatures allow significantly improve colonization of bee hives. DIN has provided equipment such as pot and frame bee hives, bee smokers and bee suits as well as training to bee-farmers.
Local training capacity has also been developed with the training of 3 local farmers as trainers. DIN has recently used these local trainers for new bee-farmer training.
Honey sells for approximately N600 per litre at local markets. This indicates that there is real potential for income from beekeeping activities.
DIN has also facilitated training in bee hive construction with local carpenters, and in the processing of bees wax (into candles) and propolis (commonly used for medicinal purposes and beauty products). Further efforts are now required to develop secondary processing facilities and investigate the potential for improved product packaging and presentation.
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Market gardening
Vegetable production and market gardening are important for food production and security, particularly through the dry season (Nov-March). These have been established by women's groups in Boje, Bashu, Biajua, Abo Ogbagante, Opu and Balep. Market gardens have demonstrated that vegetables can be grown repeatedly a plot of land with little or no input. Due to the success community members, youths and women have been replicating these in their backyards during the dry season.
Agroforestry practises are also encouraged to promote soil conservation, combat erosion and maintain soil productivity. DIN also conducts workshops on composting, organic pesticide preparation and encourages the collection of manures from goat and poultry houses for use on vegetable gardens.
Some of the women's groups are able to make a profit from the gardens through selling their produce at the local market. Therefore, contributing to their financial security as well as their food security.
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Skills training and micro-business development
DIN's skills training and micro-business workshops have targeted women and youth.
Examples of skills workshops include:
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food processing; frying of puff-puff (a local pastry)
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soap making / pomade making
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wax processing and candle making
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production of organic pesticides and manures
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group management
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financial managment and record keeping
Two business development workshops have been conducted using external business consultants. The first from Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO Nigeria) and the second from Winrock International.
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