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In response to the violence that followed the 2007 Kenyan presidential election, which halted the functioning of community forest associations managed by the Kenya Forest Service, the government developed an emergency plan to protect the Mau Forest and attempted to revive community forest associations as a means of promoting social cohesion.
With FAO’s assistance, members of the community forestry association established 24 farmer field schools and trained more than 800 farmers in viable livelihood options that conserve forest resources.
“People who once fought each other are now learning how to work together to protect the forest, how to prepare nurseries and plant trees, and how to diversify and increase production,” said Takayuki Hagiwara, an FAO official involved in the project.
The project also helped Kenya rebuild its team of certified Farmer Field School master trainers from 2 to 12, and trained a group of extension workers and farmer mentors.
FAO has also launched an innovative mobile phone-based monitoring system that provides farmers with regular real-time updates on the status of Farmer Field Schools, including the attendance and performance of FFS coordinators in Kenya.
Developing group-based micro-enterprises
To encourage farmers to complete the one-year Livelihood and Farm Forestry Field School programme and apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge, the project, in partnership with Equity Bank Kenya, provides loans to graduates to develop group-based microenterprises.
“We want to connect farmers to the formal banking system and formally recognize them as private sector members of the informal sector,” Hagiwara said.
The loan is part of a revolving fund called the Mau Forest Conservation Fund, which is managed by Equity Bank and owned by KFS. This arrangement allows funds to be recycled and farmers who have repaid their loans can borrow again.
However, in order to obtain loans, farmers must present a sound investment plan. Rural InvestmentA software program developed by FAO can help these groups assess the financial feasibility of their plans, including market opportunities. This analysis allows farmers to adjust or even completely revise their plans, especially when a business plan that initially sounds good actually turns out to be a loss-making business in the long run.
Easy to get a loan
The revolving fund gives farmers access to credit from financial institutions – a key achievement of the project, said Esther Muiruri, General Manager of Agribusiness Marketing at Equity Bank. “The project has enabled a largely ‘unbanked’ community to gain access to banking services for the first time through financial literacy training and access to loans for investment in agricultural activities. At the same time, Equity Bank has learned how to finance farm forestry activities.”
In parallel with the launch of the program, Equity Bank established an agent banking business in Kenya, recruiting retail outlets to provide financial services in village shopping centers where farmers can conduct transactions.
Beneficiaries of the FAO project were among the first clients to use agent banking services. Currently, Equity Bank has about 17,000 agents providing banking services to smallholder farmers across the country.
The project also introduced mobile phones to track investments and loan repayments. So far, most loans have been repaid on time. Many groups – and even individual farmers – continue to borrow from Equity Bank to support their businesses.
Active branches
Currently, the Kenya Forest Service has at its disposal feasible methods to promote sustainable livelihood activities among communities surrounding the Mau Forest Complex and involve them in the conservation of the complex’s natural resources.
Year 2014, Forest and Farm FundA multi-donor funding programme hosted by FAO has also been launched in Kenya to promote sustainable forest and farm management activities.
While many beneficiaries were initially hesitant to join the Farmer Field Schools, they created a safe space for discussion and exchange. Working towards a common goal helped rebuild friendships and trust.
Farmers in the project area now earn money through a variety of activities – from growing native species and high-quality fruit trees in woodlands and nurseries to growing vegetables, raising livestock and keeping bees.
According to the project team, the activities supported have not caused damage to the ecosystem, and KFS reports that illegal logging and charcoal production have been significantly reduced since the end of the project.
Now, when farmers discover illegal practices, they “pick up the phone and call forestry officials,” Hagiwara said.
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