Creative locals use fruit project to protect forest

On the vast slopes of Mt Eburu that borders Eburu forest ecosystem in Naivasha, lush green tree tomatoes and plum trees dot farms at five villages.

Here, 42 fruit farmers teamed up four years ago to initiated a project — Eburu Fruit Farmers — that seeks to boost their incomes and also conserve Eburu Forest. Eburu Fruit Farmers, a CBO initially brought together 72 members who ventured into farming fruits after Eburu forest was fenced off to curb illegal activities like logging.

“After fencing off Eburu Forest, as farmers we came together with the support of Rhino Ark, a conservation organisation to start fruit farming,” says Lydiah Nyota, the group chair.

Best practice

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They plant tomato tree fruits and plums which they sell to the neighbouring Gilgil and Naivasha towns. At the moment, the active members own 6,000 fruit trees.

“We harvest four times a month and collectively take the produce to the market. In a month a farmer can get Sh29,000. With that income, villagers have no reason to encroach the forest and cut off trees,” Mrs Nyota says. The farmers, through linkages to extension officers and experts from Rhino Ark, are taught how to tend to the fruits and control pests and diseases.

“The experts visit two to three times a month whenever we are experiencing any challenge. Fruits like tomato trees are sensitive especially in areas like Eburu where water is a challenge. The experts help us overcome these odds,” Mr Philip Kiriba, a tomato tree farmer says.

Value addition

Kiriba has 144 fruit trees in his quarter acre farm and he says business is good and he has big plans to make more money.

“Depending on the season, I can harvest four times a month and sell a kilo of tomato tree fruits at Sh300. I have zoned another two acres to venture into value addition,” Mr Kiriba says.

Daniel Maina, who farms plums, has also started making fruit jam in small portions which he sells in shops in Eburu and Gilgil towns. “It is a project I want to upscale and team up with other farmers in Eburu,” he says.

To increase their income, the group, has also started poultry keeping six months old. The farmers, through partnership with Rhino Ark and Kenchic collectively keep Kenbro breed and have two incubators with a capacity of 180 and 528.

“While individuals have to plant fruit trees in their own farms, for the poultry project, we do it collectively in one member’s house,” David Maina, a farmer explains. According to Joseph Motong’u, Rhino Ark Community Manager, the project has yielded positive results since it was initiated after the completion of the 43.3 kilometre fence around Eburu forest following years of intense degradation. “This project is a win win. It has reduced human-wildlife conflict. We are able to conserve the critically endangered bongos and also give the farmers a sustainable source of income.”