Articles
Artemisia development in Togo
Article number
1462_25
Pages
173 – 176
Language
English
Abstract
This document details the history of a seed bank for Artemisia in Togo, by the Togolese NGLe Ronier, an association dedicated to sustainable development in Togo since 2001. Artemisia annua was introduced as an antimalarial remedy in 2010 and seed enabling cultivation experiments in 2012. A. annua suppositories proved to treat successfully the author’s child with hydrocephalus, seizures, and malaria attacks.
A documentary film on A. annua cultivation techniques produced with the assistance of Belgian agricultural engineers, helped train IDAY-TOGO members.
Planting started with centralised seed distribution.
In 2015, progress was shared with IDAY members in Burkina Faso under a training session organized by Maison de l’Artemisia, and steps were taken with national authorities to promote Artemisia. A pilot project in schools showed positive results in treating malaria with A. annua. Further collaboration and seed production occurred, with contributions to pharmacognostic studies.
A seed bank project addressed the crucial issue of seed preservation in Togo. A. annua is a demanding plant, necessitating careful adaptation and cultivation practices for successful growth in the African equatorial climate.
The seed bank aims to secure a sustainable supply of high-quality, climate-adapted seeds, essential for the long-term success of Artemisia’s use.
LeRonier operates in close association with Associations for the Promotion of Traditional Medicine (AMPT) and Action et Initiatives pour le Développement Sanitaire et Social au Togo (AIDSS-TOGO), a health structure managed by a health worker who has monitored the impacts.
Future development of Artemisia as an essential complement to combat malaria in Africa will depend first and foremost of the capacity to convince WHO to lift its opposition to the wide spread of the plants against the deadly disease.
A documentary film on A. annua cultivation techniques produced with the assistance of Belgian agricultural engineers, helped train IDAY-TOGO members.
Planting started with centralised seed distribution.
In 2015, progress was shared with IDAY members in Burkina Faso under a training session organized by Maison de l’Artemisia, and steps were taken with national authorities to promote Artemisia. A pilot project in schools showed positive results in treating malaria with A. annua. Further collaboration and seed production occurred, with contributions to pharmacognostic studies.
A seed bank project addressed the crucial issue of seed preservation in Togo. A. annua is a demanding plant, necessitating careful adaptation and cultivation practices for successful growth in the African equatorial climate.
The seed bank aims to secure a sustainable supply of high-quality, climate-adapted seeds, essential for the long-term success of Artemisia’s use.
LeRonier operates in close association with Associations for the Promotion of Traditional Medicine (AMPT) and Action et Initiatives pour le Développement Sanitaire et Social au Togo (AIDSS-TOGO), a health structure managed by a health worker who has monitored the impacts.
Future development of Artemisia as an essential complement to combat malaria in Africa will depend first and foremost of the capacity to convince WHO to lift its opposition to the wide spread of the plants against the deadly disease.
Publication
Authors
D.K. Amouzou
Keywords
anti-malarial, Artemisia annua, Artemisia afra, Artemisia suppository, Artemisia seed bank
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