Forestry Training & Finance for 800 Farms in Kenya

INTRODUCTION

Drylands Natural Resources Centre (DNRC) once again wishes to share our progress report on forestry training and finance for our now over 900 farmers.  Drylands Natural Resources Centre continues to focus on our main objectives of environmental regeneration, economic development and community regeneration. With the adverse effects of climate change which continue to affect the world. DNRC continues to plant as many trees as possible and have continued to reach many communities and schools to slowly continue counteracting the same. Currently DNRC has cumulatively reached 920 farmers who are in 22 groups which are geographically located. DNRC also partners with schools both primary and secondary and currently working with 22 schools. DNRC approaches are based on permaculture and agro ecology principles which majorly focus on sustainable human settlements. DNRC tree planting approach focuses on propagation of diverse indigenous trees ranging from fodder trees, fruit trees, medicinal trees, firewood, timber, green charcoal among others. Over the last 12 years, DNRC tree nursery has expanded its capacity from 5000 seedlings per year to the current 120,000 seedlings per year. This is because of increasing need to keep planting more trees both by DNRC farmers and the larger drylands region. DNRC outreach team has continued to train the community on importance of environmental regeneration and over 1,000,000 diverse trees have been planted since 2007. The trees which were planted early have matured and are providing ecosystem services like creating micro climates, providing habitants, building soils, mitigating climate change among other services.  Also farmers have started benefiting from selling sustainable timber and non-timber products.

During this reporting quarter, we majorly embarked on seedling issuance since we got quite good March-April rains. We were also busy propagating different tree species so as to meet our annual target of 120,000 diverse seedlings. Our staff also got involved in mobilization and recruiting more farmers as well as training.

Below are detailed activities during the reporting quarter.

DNRC TREE NURSERY

During the reporting quarter, DNRC staff in charge of the nursery embarked on propagating different tree species which include: Acacias, Mangoes, Avocados, guavas, Moringa oleifera, Eucalyptus camandulensis, cypress, casuaries, cashewnuts, Gravelia, senna siemea, citrus, pawpaw, passion among others.  Major activities in the nursery included: watering, potting, disease and pest management and root pruning. During this reporting period, we propagated a total of 53,000 diverse seedlings.

DNRC TRAINING AND OUTREACH PROGRAM

During this reporting period, we were busy issuing seedlings to both farmers and schools where a total of 14700 seedlings were issued and planted by both the farmers and the schools. We also recruited a total of 59 farmers who were sensitized and trained on importance of environmental regeneration as well as woodlot establishment. Continue regenerating the Kamba culture.

CHALLENGES

As the farmers continue to increase, the furthest groups need transport to for seedlings and DNRC Meetings. But we have only one pick up which help with transport but not enough.

Focus for the next quarter.

• Continue propagating more seedlings so as to achieve our target.
• Continue maintaining the tree nursery as we wait for next planting season of October- November rains
• Continue mobilizing and recruiting more farmers to reach our target of 200 for this year.
• Host farmer’s bi annual get together scheduled on 7^th June 2024.

INTRODUCTION

Greetings from Drylands Natural Resources Centre (DNRC) family. We hope your year is off to a good start. DNRC fraternity are all doing great and happy to once again share quarterly report. Drylands Natural Resources Centre has endeavoured to achieve her goals of towards community sustainability through environmental regeneration, economic development and community regeneration over the years since inception in 2007. So far, over 900 smallholder farmers and 20 schools in the drylands of Kenya are working with DNRC. They continue to be continue to be trained through DNRC on different aspects of permaculture / agro ecology and drylands Natural Resources management. Over the years, many diverse and multipurpose trees have been planted and majority grown to maturity and they continue to provide ecosystem services and microclimate to the local communities we work with. Some trees are harvested for their economic goods such as fruits and thus the farmers are slowly starting to build their sustainable livelihoods. Through our joint trainings and communal common labour, the social fabric of the community is more strong and the community is well organized and thus able to understand their challenges better and continue to address them sustainably. DNRC is also keen on promoting regenerative enterprises stemming from  trees we continue to grow. We say thank you so much for your continued support and partnership as we journey towards achieving our dreams. During this reporting quarter, it was our rainy season (October-December rains) so our core activity was planting of trees which was being managed in our major nursery. We were also busy mainly on training farmers on how to plant, issuing them with tree saplings to plant during the rainy season and following up to make sure they plant. Below are detailed activities over the reporting quarter.

TREEE ISSUANCE TO THE FARMERS AND SCHOOLS

During this reporting period, our major activity among others was to issue tree seedlings to the farmers and schools to plant in their farms. Due to the good rains, thanks to Elnino phenomenon, we managed to issue for planting over 60,000 tree seedlings. Majority of the tree species included: Melia vonkensii, Eucalyptus camandulenses, Gravelia rubosta, Senna siemea, Moringa oleifera, Avocado, Mangoes, Balanities egyptica, Guavas, Croton megalocupus, Syzigium guminii, Vanguaria, Snot apple, pawpaw, Tamaridus indica, pomegranade, Acacia xanthopolea,  Cypress, Casurina, Banana Passion, sweet yellow passion, Purple passion, luceana, Cashew nuts, Senna spectabilis,Delbergia, Mulberry, Lemon, Vitex payos, k- apple, Taminalia brownii among others..

ACTUAL TREE PLANTING

Once the farmers and the schools were issued with tree seedlings, DNRC staff journeyed with them to backstop and guide them on how to plant. Over 405 and 20 schools were able to plant over 60,000 trees. Before the trees are planted, DNRC train and outreach personnel had previously made sure the farmers had the holes ready for planting. They also collect records on how many each beneficiary is able to plant and this formed the basis for how many seedlings to issue to each farmer and school.

CHALLENGE

Transport of the seedlings to the farmers’ lands and schools was the major challenge. This is because DNRC has only one double cabin vehicle and was a big challenge to transport over 60,000 seedlings during the rainy season. We continue to appeal for canter for transportation as we continue to expand.

FOCUS FOR THE NEXT QUARTER

• Tree propagation to meet our set target of 100,000 seedlings by end of 2024
• General tree nursery management
• Preparing more tree planting during this coming March-April rains
• Continue training and farmers follow ups