Annex 6: Field excursions

A) Feedback on the field trip to the Aberdares region

Participants assessed that the trip was interesting and they saw plenty of agricultural activity going on in the area. They saw patches of secondary forest on the Aberdares and on the Kikuyu escarpment. In the area, much eucalyptus is grown and the wood, which is used for curing tea, is sold at Kenya shillings 2000-3000/m³ (USD 25-35). This can contribute significantly to improved farm household income.

A very sharp graduation between the tea plantations and farms was also noticed. Participants were informed that the quality of tea from private plantations was superior to that from government areas. Apparently the extension activities in the buffer zone have had a positive impact on the quality of tea.

The potential for on-farm forestry is promising as evidenced by the quality of tree plantations on private farms. Nevertheless, evidence of SF exists as seen from regeneration of croton species. Poverty is evident: farms are parcelled out in tiny sizes coupled with high population that is not matched with farm production. Market and value adding of NTFPs was evident from the last farmer the group visited.

There are local initiatives (as outlined below) for tree farming, as was explained in two plantation sites visited, and in combination with agroforestry systems and improved livestock raising.

Kamuchege biotech tree farming-a community initiative

This is a short text presented by David Mwangi Njuru to the participants during the field trip.

Introduction

Kamuchege sub-location has about 1500 households with a population of about 6000 people. Several farming activities are carried out that include planting tea, coffee, maize, beans, trees (several species) and keeping dairy goats and poultry. Farming is characterized by traditional systems making it more of a routine than a business venture. Events in the last decade and population pressure have forced farmers to look at farming more as a business enterprise. However, the ground cover in terms of trees was still very low and the situation is getting worse.

Strategy

The current tree farming initiative in the area is a result of a workshop I attended on market-oriented agroforestry, which was organized by ICRAF in Kisumu on 29 and 30 January 2002. I started by sensitizing the farmers through their self-help groups, churches and at individual level. This involved informing them about the advantages of the new blue gum trees. Those who were interested purchased seedling. Seedlings were sought from Karura Station and transported free of charge to the farmers who had paid for them. This has continued for the last three months and planting has been prompt.

Results

Participants were informed that under their programme the following farmers had so far benefited:

Name	No. of trees planted	Remarks
Anthony Mburu	166	Eucalyptus grandis
Benson Kinuthia Kihanya	150	Clones and E. grandis. Urgently wants to plant two acres
Councillor Nganga	20	E. grandis
David Thairu	10	E. grandis
Edward Gachuiri	50	E. grandis
Francis Maina	15	E. grandis
Hildah Wanjiku	10	E. grandis
Jedidah Ngugi	16	E. grandis
Keneth Kairu	700	E. grandis
Keziah Kimani	10	E. grandis
Keziah Wangui	20	E. grandis
Kibata Kairu and Nyokabi	1560	E. grandis and grevillea
Kihanya Mwaura	1200	Extensionist (clone)
Kimani Kago	20	E. grandis
Margret Wanjiru	8	E. grandis
Mary Wairimu Wataku	10	E. grandis
Mary Wanjiku	300	Clones and E. grandis replaced coffee
Mary Wanjiru Kamau	10	E. grandis
Mburu Richard	150*	Clones and E. grandis came to Karura
Migwi Gatura	420	E. grandis and clones (a lot of mature grevillea)
Mrs Joyce Kairu	240	Clones and E. grandis
Muiruri Njuru	1050	Clones (replaced coffee)
Mwangi Njuru	350	E. grandis and clones
Ndungu Njueni	48	Has requested more planting material
Nganga Appolo	166	E. grandis. Urgently requires to plant three acres
Nyina wa Boy	18	E. grandis
Nyumu Njoroge	333	E. grandis
Pastor Thumbi	50	Clones
Regina Gathoni	20	E. grandis
Wanjiku Gakomo	10	E. grandis

Main remarks and comments during field trip:

• The average age of most farmers in the region is about 45 years.
• All the women who were sensitized about tree planting had to consult their husbands first.
• Young farmers who do not own the land are hesitant to plant trees.
• The cash requirement by farmers needed to acquire plant material was very limirted.

Constraints which were detected to be interfering with the normal activities of tree planting by the farmers in the region:

• Lack of proper definition of property boundaries; there is a need to provide farmers planting trees with current information on who owns what and where so that neighbours may work in peace.
• Deficient institutional capacity: there is a need to strengthen regional institutional capacity at group level so that there may be proper delivery from all stakeholders. It is important to train group members in basic tree-farming techniques. The community may meet the cost granted that members start producing their own planting material.
• Limited credit access: this should be extended to all farmers in order to be able to plant woodlots that over a few years can generate some income for the family as well as re-investment. Otherwise, women will remain marginalized, as most do not have any income of their own the way men do. Such a credit scheme could be managed by the formal group using the local proven Grameen approach.
• Destigmatizing the fear of gum trees: most farmers in the region are skeptic about planting gum trees and are concerned with the dangers associated with growing them. This fear may be reduced by relevant training; practical presentations and field visits where farmers may see how other neighbours are managing gum trees.
• Promotion and awareness creation: these activities of enhancing tree farming as a business rather than just tree planting can take place with interested persons who frequently visit schools, churches and farmers' groups.
• In the long term, tree farming should be considered as an entry point to rural development through which other related biotech interventions can be incorporated. In doing so, farmers could have a variety of options to pick from. The ideal situation should be such that tree farmers become an integrated rural entrepreneur's network.
• A core element towards achieving sustainability of a "tree enterprise" is to provide farmers with a complete training and development package such as: training, production system, marketing and use, organization, development and strengthening the group approach.

Opportunities for further development detected during the field trip

• The region is close to market sites like Nairobi (where there is a large market for building material), KTDA (liberalized now), adequate infrastructure.
• Shortage of firewood means there is a ready market for this product.
• Poor coffee prices and other agricultural products means that farmers can turn to tree farming for a living.
• Women's acceptance of the technology will help empower them economically.

This is a brief report of recent initiatives in tree farming in Kamuchege sub-location where the potential is very high. If so much can be achieved at individual and community efforts, how much more could be done if the process were well planned and coordinated?

B) Feedback on the field trip to Embu

The group visited the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute's (KARI) regional office in Embu, which is responsible for 10 districts in charge of addressing the following issues affecting the region:

• Increasing poverty alleviation.
• Decline in soil fertility.
• Management on steep lands.
• Deficient provision of fuel/fodder.
• Problem with communal land management.
• Provision of fuel and fodder and diversification of economic activities using agroforestry technologies on farms with the use of high value trees such as Calliandra spp. and Grevillea spp.

Summary of issues discussed during the field trip:

Land tenure: land is privately owned, so community land as such is non-existent. As a consequence, community re-afforestation programmes are not carried out properly because of scarcity of land. New settlers have also moved out from high to low potential areas. They have encountered problems that lead to land conflicts. This indicates that there is an imminent need to review the land policy in order that such problems and conflicts may be solved.

Sharing of benefits and costs: one of the farmers interviewed said that he did not receive any form of assistance from the government despite the fact that the latter had programmes through which services such as training and marketing can be accessed and, when done so, farmers have formed cooperatives.

There is a shortfall in the national policy regarding planting trees and eventually harvesting them. As of now, the uncertainty about planting or not planting trees lies in the fact that farmers have no "tree planted, tree harvested" guarantee. The present practice is that if a farmer plants trees, he/she has to secure permission from the "local chief" to harvest them.