Forestry Training & Finance for 800 Farms in Kenya

INTRODUCTION

Drylands Natural Resource Centre (DNRC) wish to share our sincere new year greetings with all of us. As a an organization, this new we continue to remain focused on her primary objectives of environmental , social and economical regeneration which a pillars to sustainable development. Over the past 14 years, the organization has and continues to have noticeable impacts. The diverse trees have created micro climates and extended canopy thus reducing water loss and increased litter thus leading to increased crop productivity and production.Our over 800 smallholders farmers continue to benefit in different ways like pruning trees for firewood, selling both Moringa leaves and seeds, selling extra fruits, timber, fodder among others. During this reporting period,DNRC focused mainly on propagating diverse seedlings in the tree nursery, maintaining them and later issuing them to the farmers. We also engaged in the farmer’s trainings, farmer’s biannual meeting and issuance.In total, 10400 different tree seedlings were propagated and 10 training sections done during this reporting period. Below are detailed activities during the reporting quarter.

DNRC TREE NURSERY

During the reporting period, DNRC staff in charge of the tree nursery majorly focused on propagating different tree species to meet the year’s target of 100,000 different trees seedlings. The following different tree species were propagated during this period: Melia vonkensii, passion, pawpaw, eucalyptus, Cyprus, Casuarina, Mangoes, Gravelia, Senna siemea, Senna spectabilies, citrus, mapera, nzambarau, Avocado, Neem, Moringa, custrered apple, pomegranate among others. A total of 104000 diverse seedlings were propagated and maintained in the nursery for issuance and selling to the larger community. Other key activitiesdone in the nursery during this period include: Potting,Intergrated Pest and Disease Control watering, weeding, arranging of pots as well as root pruning and seedling issuance to the farmers during the rain season. 

TRAINING AND OUTREACH

During the reporting period, the personnel in charge of farmers trainings and follows up focused were mainly training farmers on tree pruning,hole preparation, recruiting new farmers to join DNRC, best tree planting site identification among others.The personnel were also majorly involved with planning farmers get together party which took place on 5^th December 2025. Issuance was also a major activity were more than 22,000 different tree seedlings were issued to the farmers and about 3,000 seedlings issued to the schools we work with.

CHALLENGES

During the reporting quarter, major challenge was delayed and minimal rains making farmers not to plant a lot of trees as expected.

Plan for the next quarter.

•  Farmers follow ups.
•  Training farmers and preparing them to plant more trees during the short rains (March- April)
•  To propagate more tree seedlings 

INTRODUCTION

DNRC is a locally registered NGO working in the drylands of Kenya.We support over 800 smallholders farmers to plant different drylands multipurpose trees for both socioeconomic and environmental benefits.We are glad to share with us the quarterly report on the progress of this project of training and financing DNRC farmers to plant trees. DNRC propagates over 100,000 diverse tree species to be planted by over 800 smallholders farmers in the dry parts of Kenya.When the trees are being propagated and managed in the nursery, DNRC training and outreach team are busy training farmers on forestry and specifically proper tree planting and management.When the rains come then the farmers are issued with different tree species to plant in their individual farms and are followed up for successful implementation of the same.

 During the reporting quarter, DNRC staff were majorly involved in the components of this project including tree nursery activities and trainings and outreach activities.Below are more details of the activities achieved during this reporting period.

DNRC TREE NURSERY

During this reporting quarter, DNRC staff responsible for tree nursery were busy propagating different tree species in readiness for planting by our farmers during November-December rains. A total of 30,194 tree species were propagated during this reporting quarter. These propagated trees are over 30 different species for DNRC emphasis a lot on biodiversity. Other activities in the nursery were potting, integrated pest and diseases management, transplanting, root pruning and watering.

TRAINING AND OUTREACH

During this reporting quarter, the training and outreach personnel team were busy mobilizing and training farmer groups on issues on forestry and recruitment of new farmers.The team was also busy sensitizing farmers to start preparing their holes for planting additional tree seedlings for the upcoming November-December rains.More than 500 farmers were trained and or followed up

CHALLENGES

Due to June-July cold weather, we experienced some seedlings being affected by powdery mildew but were able to manage

Water also remains a challenge due to the fact that we are working in the drylands where water is a scarce resource.

PLAN FOR THE NEXT QUARTER

•  To continue with more tree seedlings propagation
•  To manage the tree nursery activities
•  To continue farmers trainings on forestry and follow ups
•  Preparations for tree seedlings issuance during November-December rains