Stay Trees 2: Trees, Food and Income for Farmers in Kaberamaido
600 smallholder farmers in Kaberamaido growing trees, crops and livestock together for food, income and healthier land
The situation
Smallholder farmers in Kaberamaido grow cassava, sweet potatoes, sorghum, simsim, groundnuts, millet, maize, cowpeas and beans on small plots, using oxen and hand hoes. Harvests are low, and many families face repeated food shortages and low incomes.
Few farmers grow crops only for sale, so they sell their food crops for cash and are left with too little to eat. Declining soil fertility, degraded land and erratic weather make harvests unpredictable, and relying on one or two crops leaves families exposed to drought, pests and falling prices.
Crops, trees and livestock together
Farmers rotate cereals such as maize, sorghum and millet with beans, cowpeas and groundnuts over two years. Multipurpose trees such as Calliandra, Gliricidia, Grevillea, mango and avocado grow along boundaries and between crops, and goats, pigs, rabbits and poultry turn crop residues into manure.
Income all year round
Vegetables, mushrooms and eggs bring cash within six months. Cereals, pulses, honey and livestock follow within 18 months, and mature trees give fruit, poles, timber and fuelwood for years to come.
What are we doing?
Raise
30 community nurseries, one for each farmer group, raise tree seedlings chosen by the farmers. Every member receives at least two kinds of agroforestry tree.
Plant
50,000 trees are planted on farms and degraded land. Each tree is geo-tagged and checked at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months.
Train
30 farmer field schools, 15 demonstration plots and Key Farmer Trainers teach composting, mulching, contour farming and natural pest control.
Market
Groups bulk and sell together, certify their organic produce through Participatory Guarantee Systems, and save through village savings groups.
What will we achieve?
Over 18 months, from January 2026 to June 2027, the project aims to improve the lives of 600 smallholder farmers in Kaberamaido while restoring their land. We will report results here as the project progresses. We aim to see:
- crop yields 30–50% higher across the main staples
- at least 80% of farmers using three or more climate-smart practices
- 50,000 trees growing on farms, with at least 70% surviving after 18 months
- farm incomes up by 30%, with every group linked to buyers
- 30 farmer groups certified for organic produce and 30 savings groups active
Our project partners
Funding partners
Government partners
- Kaberamaido District Local Government (forestry, agriculture and natural resources offices)
Community partners
- Key Farmer Trainers and 30 farmer groups in 3 sub-counties
