Farmer field schools in Ethiopia are helping to introduce commercial tree enterprises that benefit communities and the environment.

The Ethiopian Herald reports on a project supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which is seeing farmers grow vegetables, fruit orchards (including mango and papaya) and fodder grasses. Through field schools, the farmers learn how to incroporate trees which they want to grow and which are suitable to their agro-ecological zone into their day-to-day farming practices.

Still in its early stages, the project is already having results in promoting agroforestry, crop production and increasing the capacity of farmers. Future efforts will focus on coping with the impacts of climate change through conserving natural resources.

Read the full story: FFS: Farmers experience sharing session