Forestry Training & Finance for 800 Farms in Kenya

INTRODUCTION

We hope this reports finds all of us well. Drylands Natural Resources Centre (DNRC) wish to share with us our progress report for the last three months on forestry training and finance. We have continued to work with our 800 small scale farmers and 12 schools towards achieving our goals of Community regeneration, economic empowerment and environmental regeneration. Despite the prolonged covid -19 protocols, we managed to reach most of our farmers in smaller groups and mostly at individual level. In a small way, we continue to mitigate and adapt to climate change, through diverse tree planting among the 800 small holder farmers. The trees also continue to create micro climates and slowly build the soils as through their litter. DNRC since inception has focused on this and continues to plant as many trees as possible with the community both for environmental regeneration, economic improvement and community strengthening. Many trees grown by the farmers are mature and farmers continue to benefit from them through firewood from prunings, poles and timber. Other mature trees such as moringa continue to produce seeds which farmers sell for income. As the farmers work together in tree planting and other activities, they are getting closer, more caring and thus more strengthened sense of community. During this reporting quarter, the following activities were achieved: farmer’s trainings and follow ups, farmers get together party, propagation and maintenance of seedlings and farmer’s tree saplings issuance. Below are the detailed activities during this reporting quarter.

DNRC TREE NURSERY PROGRAM

During the three month period, DNRC tree nursery personnel were busy maintaining the already propagated seedlings which included: Mangoes, paw paws, guavas, mulberry, zygium, avocado, eucalyptus, gravellia, and leucena, citrus, croton, Terminalia brownii, Terminalia indica, banalities, banana passion, sweet yellow passion, kigelia, acacia polyantha and Jerusalem thorn. Over 50, 000 of these diverse tree seedlings where issued to the farmers, schools and over 10,000 seedlings sold to none members but coming from the larger community. The team also worked in soil potting to start propagation for the New Year 2022 target.

DNRC TRAININGS AND OUTREACH PROGRAM

DNRC outreach personnel continued to train farmers mostly on forest establishment and expansion for both new and old farmers respectively. They also worked on tree seedlings issuance to the farmers for the October-December rains. They also did farmers follows and on farm trainings.

BI-ANNUAL FARMERS’ PARTY

Every year DNRC hosts two bi-annual parties for the farmers to strengthen social fabric and celebrate their achievements. The farmers contribute for the meals and selected few from each of the 15 groups come to cook and serve the rest of the farmers. After the meal, they share experiences as they dance local music and perform skits and poems related to tree planting. This year’s bi-annual party was held during this quarter and went on very well.

CHALLENGES

The biggest challenge was water because the rains were delayed and the river we scoop sand to fetch the water became impossible to scoop further and had to purchase water for the tree nursery which was very expensive.

FOCUS FOR NEXT QUARTER

• Continue propagating more seedlings to meet 2022 target of 80,000 seedlings
• Tree seedling watering and maintenance.
• Farmers trainings and follow ups

INTRODUCTION

We hope this report finds all of us well and safe from the Covid-19 pandemic. We are happy to share with us our quarterly progress report on forestry training and finance project. Despite the setbacks of covid-19, DNRC has managed to continue with her activities. Thanks to you all for making this possible through your generous donations through GlobalGiving. In the last 3 months, DNRC continued to work with our 800 smallholder farmers and 12 schools mainly on trainings and follows up, summit meetings, sourcing of moringa seeds and leaves from our farmers for sale to different customers including export and propagation of diverse different tree species in our tree nursery. These saplings are planned to be issued to our farmers and schools during this October-December rains.

Note our community engagement is a long term one for we believe development is continuous and doesn’t have to have timeline. Our long term objectives of environmental regeneration, community strengthening and economic development and sustainability guide our work. Our tree program meet these objectives. For example the many trees we have continued to grow; the older ones have formed canopies and continue to increase in biomass for different uses like timber. The leaves they shade continue to improve the soil biology and the vegetation cover has reduced soil erosion and increased water retention.

As the community continue to train and plant trees together, they are strengthening social fabric and thus strengthening the community togetherness which has a long term effects on our future projects successes. Once you get social aspect right, it becomes easy to implement any project.

In terms of our economic development, the older trees and especially moringa, farmers and schools are harvesting the seeds and leaves for sale. Also from prunnings farmers are benefiting from sale of firewood for those who got excess. Firewood was one of the main reason we started tree planting program and now our farmers are firewood secure and selling extra for income. Below are detailed activities achieved during this reporting period.

DNRC TREE NURSERY PROGRAM

During the reporting quarter, the nursery staff were busy propagating different tree seedlings and maintenance of the already germinated ones. A total of 27,000 tree seedlings were propagated and included and not limited to: Moringa oleifera, citrus, mangoes, avocados, acacias, sena siemea, balanites, crotons and leucena. This year we had targeted 80,000 seedlings and so far we have about 72,000 diverse tree species which will be ready for issuance when the rains start this month.

OUTREACH AND TRAINING PROGRAM

During this reporting quarter, the outreach staff were majorly involved in trainings and follow ups to make sure farmers are ready for planting more trees. All the 14 groups were visited and were trained in whole farm design and dryland strategies and especially in hole preparations. We also held 6 summit meetings for updates, party preparations and new projects deliberations. Summit comprises of leaders of the 14 groups and teachers representative who meet with DNRC management and training and outreach team to guide smooth running of our activities. We were also able to source 1000kg of moringa seeds for sale during the quarter.

CHALLENGES

Water remains a major challenge especially during the dry seasons

NEXT QUARTER

• Famers annual get together
• Tree seedlings issuance
• Farmers follow ups on the planted tree seedlings

Links:

• DNRC website