Agriculture and Economic Development

At ACES, we believe that agriculture is not just a means of food production but a key driver for economic development. It generates local employment, boosts income, and supports ancillary industries like processing and retail. Sustainable farming practices can also enhance the resilience of communities to climate change and market fluctuations. Moreover, agriculture can foster community cohesion, preserving local traditions and promoting a sense of shared responsibility for land and resources. Ultimately, agriculture can be a powerful tool for community empowerment and prosperity.

A. Sustainable agriculture. ACES promotes sustainable agricultural activities with local communities and indigenous peoples which involves adopting and promoting traditional farming practices that respect the land, use resources responsibly, and maintain biodiversity. We believe that communities often possess generations of knowledge about the local ecosystem, from the best planting and harvesting seasons to the natural pest-control methods. The integration of their wisdom with modern sustainable practices like agroecology, apiculture, and agroforestry, and the transformation of agricultural products such as Cassava can yield productive and resilient agricultural systems. In this context, there is a mutual exchange of knowledge and skills that empower the local and indigenous communities, preserving their cultural heritage while bolstering food security and climate resilience.

B. Local Economic Development: At ACES, we believe communities surrounding Protected Areas deserve conservation incentives for being the immediate guardians of their forests and associated wildlife.  On this basis, ACES strives to provide social amenities including the construction of schools, research centers, solar panels, and providing access to portable water through borehole construction. 

C. Sustainable Finance Mechanism: ACES supports the establishment of cooperatives and puts in place a simple and easy-to-understand cash flow mechanism geared towards improving the social standards of the indigenous population and local communities.