Indigenous Tree Nurseries Reviving Agroforestry in Lower Eastern Kenya

A grassroots agroforestry campaign in Kitui, Makueni, and Machakos counties is making headlines with the establishment of over 150 community-run indigenous tree nurseries. Spearheaded by local farmer cooperatives and supported by NGOs such as Green Belt Africa and AgroEco Kenya, the initiative is restoring degraded landscapes and diversifying rural incomes.

The nurseries propagate climate-resilient species such as:

• Melia volkensii – drought-tolerant hardwood with pest-repelling properties
• Faidherbia albida – nitrogen-fixing tree that improves crop yields
• Moringa oleifera – known for its medicinal and nutritional benefits

🌳 Benefits of Community Agroforestry:

• Enhances soil fertility and moisture retention
• Provides shade and windbreaks for intercropped crops
• Reduces dependency on external farm inputs through natural nutrient cycling
• Generates income via sale of fruits, seeds, and seedlings

Training programs are being conducted on compost-based potting, organic pest control, and tree spacing to ensure long-term success. Additionally, the nurseries are now being linked to county government tree planting drives and carbon offset programs that offer potential revenue streams for participating farmers.

With rising climate stress, agroforestry is proving to be one of the most sustainable tools for building resilience and restoring ecological balance in semi-arid parts of Kenya.