Landscape restoration & sustainable livelihood through tree planting on agroforestry farms in Kenya A farmer interview analysis

Abstract

The global south is particularly affected by desertification due to the pressure on the resources of the increasing population and the climate variations. Agroforestry, the plantation of trees on farms, has been recognized for its great diversification potential to restore landscapes, preserve ecosystems and improve the livelihood of the local communities. Although there have been a lot of emphasis on agroforestry projects in the last decades through many incentives or research projects, the establishment on larger scale is still hesitating. The present report is the analysis of interviews that took place in 2017 and 2018 in the Kitui, Machakos and Makueni counties, located East of Nairobi in Kenya, under the leadership of the World Agroforestry Centre. Smallholder farmers received up to 42 tree seedlings to be planted on their farm and have been interviewed 6 to 8 months later. The survival rate of the seedlings was of only 34,5% in 2017 and of 42,1% in 2018. Reasons for mortality are diverse such as pests, diseases, drought/rainfall or poor seedling quality. A special emphasis is given to the socio-economic conditions of the farmers, tree planting date and location, tree management techniques and the seven species of the project, from which only one is indigenous. As trees on farm means additional labour and inputs, farmers need to get a return in form of tree products or services. Incentive measures are needed as trees are also a benefit for the whole society.