SII TRAINING WORKSHOP ON ALLANBLACKIA DOMESTICATION THE PERSPECTIVE OF NURSERY OPERATORS GHANA EXPERIENCE BY HENNEH SAMUEL INTERNATIONAL TREE SEED CENTRE (ITSC) 25 TH OCTOBER 2006 NAIROBI - KENYA

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION  OBJECTIVES OF THE CENTER  METHOD OF AB FRUITS COLLECTION  RAISING OF AB SEEDLINGS IN THE NURSERY  POTTING OF AB SEEDLINGS  MANAGEMENT OF GERMINATION BEDS AND AB SEEDLINGS  RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

OBJECTIVES OF ITSC To produce high quality tree seeds by establishing seed orchards To raise improved quality tree seedlings to enhance national afforestration programme To provide consultancy services for small and large tree plantation developers

METHOD OF AB FRUITS COLLECTION  Unilever played an important role for providing ITSC with the GPS information of the AB trees for the collection  Collections were carried out in two regions – Ashanti and Western  Focal men were selected from the communities who did purchasing of AB fruits for ITSC  With the help from the focal men ITSC staff selected AB trees. These trees were marked.  The focal men bought fruits only from the selected trees and packed them at a central point.  Staff of ITSC collected the AB fruits and transported them to it’s central nursery.  Collection started in February and ended at the end of March

RAISING OF AB SEEDLINGS  CONSTRUCTION OF GERMINATION BEDS  110 BEDS WERE CONSTRUCTED ( Measuring 1.2m * 10m)  1 part of river sand and 2 parts of forest top soil were mixed and spread over the top of each germination bed(About 5cm high)  AB fruits were opened and their seeds removed, washed in fresh water and sown on germination beds. The seeds were covered with the same soil mixture.  A shade net of 50% was used to provide shade.  POTTING OF AB SEEDLINGS  After complete germination, AB seedlings were pricked out and transplanted into polybags of sizes ( 10cm *25 cm) The composition of the soil media was made up of 1 part of top soil collected from under the AB tree. 1 part of river sand and 2 parts of forest top soil  MANAGEMENT OF AB SEEDLINGS  Watering was carried out early in the mornings (6 a.m – 10 a.m) and late in the afternoons (3pm-6pm) no watering was done during raining days  Weeds were removed from the beds  Organic mulch was used to cover the surface of the beds to control weeds and prevent evaporation of water from the surface of beds

RAISING OF AB SEEDLINGS  RESULTS In all 26,300 pods were collected 600,000 seeds were sown First germination was recorded in three months. 30,000 seedlings have been potted  CONCLUSION Finding a lasting solution to shorten the long germination period of AB will be a welcoming news to all THANK YOU