Drill Ranch native tree, fruit & vegetable nursery

The project nursery was conceived to encourage new, sustainable agricultural alternatives to rampant, forest-consumptive, banana cash cropping typical of the area. The idea was to demonstrate that valued native non-timber and timber species can be cultivated to replant farms and degraded areas, to encourage planting of domestic fruit trees in villages, and to prove that common kitchen-garden vegetables can grow under partial canopy shade. It is intended to inspire emulation and is very popular with local visitors!

The nursery produces:

• 7 native, over-harvested timber species: ebony, iroko, mimusops, etc.
• 12 native, commercially valuable, non-timber trees: bush mango, bitter kola, chewing stick, etc.
• 13 domestic fruit species: tangerine, soursop, star apple, coconut, etc.
• 6 kitchen garden vegetables: peppers, eggplants, tomatoes, etc.

“Afang” cultivation:

Gnetum africanus is a small, slow-growing, forest liana and probably the most valuable NTFP in the region. “Afang” (salad leaf) has become rare in many parts of Cross River State while demand continues to soar. Most afang now sold in Nigeria is imported from Cameroon, which will rapidly lead to over-exploitation there to satisfy the large Nigerian market. Afang grows under full forest canopy and our nursery is the first place in Nigeria where it is cultivated from cuttings.

Our first Nurseryman spent 3 months at the Limbe Botanic Garden in Cameroon to learn afang cultivation techniques. Pandrillus nursery staffs have conducted afang cultivation training courses for interested farmers in Boki.

Pius Abang in the Afang section.

Seedlings for Sale!

No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used in the nursery. Compost is made on site. In 2002 the nursery recorded a profit by selling tree seedlings to the Forestry Commission and donor agencies! Trees are available for sale to visitors, and are also donated to local schools and some farmers on request.