Durbar of Chief and People of Tongo-Beo Organized By World Vision

A durbar of Chief and people of Tongo-Beo has been organized by World Vision International Ghana, WVI, to herald back the initiator of the Farmer Managed Natural Regenerated FMNR Mr. Tonny Rinaudo and the success chalked by WVI GH at “The Beating Famine Conference 2019 held in Bamako, Mali where WVI Ghana pulled four Awards. 

FMNR is a low cost land restoration technique that combats poverty and hunger among subsistence farmers by increasing food, timber production and resilience to climate extremes. 

The technique involves the organized regrowth and management of trees, and shrubs from felled trees stumps, sprouting root systems or seeds.  

It was initiated by Tony Rinaudo and piloted in the Talensi Area Development Project in four communities including Yameriga, Tongo-Beo, Wakiii and Yinduri, with funding from the Australian Government after the success of both phase one and two. 

World Vision International Ghana WVI GH is a Christian Relief Development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and other communities worldwide to reach their full potentials, by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. 

To achieve this, WV established the FMMR Project in 2009, to work together with the communities to fight against environmental degradation and to build resilience among the people. 

Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Regional Operations Manager Timothy Akanpabadai stated that in a retrospective look that, in times past, there were trickster rules and regulations regarding the environment by authorities and custodians of the land such as chiefs and Tindanas. 

He further indicated that, there were certain woodlot, shrines and forest that were forbidden for just a branch to cut thoughtless felling a tree or burning the bush. Mr. Akanpabadai added by that, our forbears were able to bequeath to this generations a beautiful environment. 

But due to indiscipline and lawlessness, the vegetative cover of the environment has vanished and the rippling effects are the scotching sun and the erratic rainfall which results in food insecurity. 

He texpressed World Vision’s resolve to continue until the whole northern sector and for that matter Ghana as a whole is regreened. 

The Chief of Tongo-beo Naba Bilia Namalten, the Excellence in Land Restoration, male Individual restoration Champion Award Winner stated that, the year of his enskinment, followed the piloting of FMNR and he embraced it as the panacea to the restoration of the environment in his traditional Area. 

Naba Namalten appeal to WV to replicate same in some other communities. The other three were; Land Restoration Award Winner, Individual female category went to Saparkroug Cecilia Topok Excellence in land Restoration innovative Award Yameriga community, World Vision International Ghana took the Excellence in land Restoration, NGO Restoration Supporter Award.