There is need to promote non-timber forest products in order to reduce depletion of forests.

The call was made yesterday by various officials during a meeting that brought together Food and Agriculture Organisation (Fao officials, government as well as farmers from Kigali at FAO head office in Kacyiru.

The Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) project aims at creating sustainable livelihoods for people by providing alternative employment and improving food security, according to officials..The project, according to FAO officials, will be achieved through sensitising the public about the uses of forests and other benefits from forests, other than timber.

Non-timber products include honey, mushroom, bamboo, among others.

Dr Otto Vianney Muhinda, FAO assistant representative in charge of the programme, said the project will help people neighbouring forests to engage in the production of non-timber forest products.

"We are working with the Ministry of Natural Resources in order to improve the legislation in the country by ensuring that the NTFP are also protected.”

The project is being piloted in Nyaruguru and Gatsibo districts in the Southern and Eastern provinces, respectively.

It is part of a wider project being implemented in five countries namely; Rwanda, Burundi, Sao Tome, Chad and Equatorial Guinea.

The three-year project will cost Euro3 million for the five countries. Rwanda is set to receive Euro600,000 and part of the money has already been disbursed. The project is funded by the African Development Fund.

Farmers, who also exhibited their products during the meeting, welcomed the project, saying it would help them boost their financial status.

"We are optimistic the project will help transform our lives and fight malnutrition among our children,” said Catherine Mukandamage, a bee keeper from Gatsibo District.

Farmers said they face difficulties in the transportation of their products since their cooperatives are yet to be registered.

Felix Rurangwa, the director of Forestry Extension Natural Eco-system at the Ministry of Natural Resources, commended FAO for rolling out the project, adding they would work closely to ensure that farmers benefit from non-timber projects without harming the protected forests.

"These communities should own this project and use it as an alternative source of income, instead of abusing the park by illegally cutting down trees,” he said.

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