Forestry Training & Finance for 800 Farms in Kenya

Introduction

Receive greetings from DNRC family. We continue to appreciate and thank you for your continued support through GlobalGiving. We continue to promote sustainable development of resources of the dryland regions of Kenya in order to bring about improved livelihoods of the marginalized communities and people living. We are doing this through tree planting for income, environmental protection and social wellbeing’s of the 500 plus farmers (households) we are working with. Thank you again. Wishing you well, all of you in whatever you do. The following activities took place during this quarter in our different departments.

The Tree Nursery.

During the quarter, 10,850 seedlings were propagated; making the accumulated seedlings so far in the nursery to be 61,850.The following are the dominant species currently in the nursery: A.polycantha, A. xanthopolea, A.tortilis, Faudhebia albida, Senna seamea, Markhamia lutea, CrotonTamaridus, Neem, Leacena, Grevellia, Mango, Eucalyptus, Cypress, Guava, Lemon, Moringa, Sazygium, Tree tomato, Passion, Pawpaw, Avocado, Melia, Ornamentals, Balanities.

Besides propagating, major activity during this quarter water watering and maintaining the existing tree seedlings in the nursery. This is dry season so fetching water for the nursery was a major activity and we were making many trips with our donkeys (see the attached picture).These seedlings continue to be maintained in the nursery till Oct. – Dec. rains when the farmers will be issued to plant in their individual farms.

Farmer’s training/ outreach program.

We continued to train the farmers and visiting their farms to see how they are preparing their land and digging holes in preparation of planting trees during the coming Oct-Dec. rains. More effort was put into the new group and the new school who joined our program. They had to be taken through our agroforestry training module and also the vision and mission of the organization so that as we work with them, they are well oriented. The accumulated farmers now working with DNRC is 550 farmers (households).These families are next to each other so as they plant the trees, the impact is huge due to closeness to each other.

Challenges

• Water scarcity and high demand for our expanding nursery especially during the driest months of the year.

Focus for the next quarter

• Maintain the tree nursery and continue propagate seedlings target.
• Farmers’ follow- ups in their individual farms.
• Issuing and planting of the tree seedlings during the rainy season in Oct-Nov.

INTRODUCTION

Greetings from Drylands Natural Resources Centre (DNRC) family. We continue to say thank you so much for your continued and generous support you continue to accord our projects. Your support is enabling us to work with now 500 families (5,000 people) in the drylands of Kenya to improve their economical status, improve their environment and strengthen their social fabric as the work together. We are realizing positive impacts since we started up to now. The first trees are big enough and have formed canopy and the microclimate is improving. The farmers are saying now the region is raining more and its cooler compared to when the project had not started.

 As we prune the branches as part of the management of the bigger trees, the families have enough firewood and extra to sell for income. Moringa trees we planted are big enough to produce seeds and leaves for income. The farmers are bringing the leaves at DNRC for processing into the powder and hence making money. We are on the process of looking for ways to start extracting moringa oil for domestic use and sale for income. Some of the fruit trees have started producing like the papaws and so the food and nutrition insecurity is slowly being addressed. As the environment and economical aspects improve, the farmers are slowly realizing that when alone you can realize little but together you realize more. As you support us, we also encourage in case you get a chance, you visit us to see the positive impacts and we build more relationships. The following are more details of the activities which took place during the quarter.

Tree Nursery Program

The goal of this year is to propagate 60,000 plus tree seedlings of different varieties and uses .We plan to plant at least 30 different species for biodiversity, wildlife and diversified income opportunities. During this quarter, we have propagated 45000 seedlings. We also continued the normal activities in the nursery including sowing, transplanting and soil preparation and maintaining the already existing tender seedlings.

Farmers training/outreach program

During the quarter, DNRC training and outreach staff was involved in training the groups on tree management as well as recruiting more farmers. She management to mobilize and recruit 50 more new farmers and we are in the process of inducting them to our programs.

Farmers bi-annual get together.

 To strengthen and build the community, we have included in our programs farmers day where they come, eat, dance and share their experiences. On, 10th June 2016, we had our get-together which went on very well with over farmers attending and the area government officials joining us. The occasion was full of celebrations as the farmers presented educational skits, poems and songs with tree planting themes.

 Main Challenge

We have the challenge of transport of our extension officer and also an extra staff to be able to effectively train and reach the now 500 farmers.

 Focus for next quarter

 To continue propagating more tree seedlings to meet our year target of 60,000.

To train the newly recruited farmers and the others on tree management and planting