FMNR TRIP TO KIAMBOGOKO REPORT

Mr. Oyalo, Kongasis FMNR group chairman explaining on FMNR approach- use of pictorial

mode/banner. This is at the Kongasis Training Centre.

Implemented by

A 3 day learning exposure tour was organized for the following participants on Farmer

Managed Natural Resources. Kiambogoko ADP was the destination where they were exposed.

NAME ID. No LOCATION DESIGNATION PHONE

No.

ANN

SOLOMON

LEKIDAYO

21771097 KAMBOE

CLUSTER

CHE 0723088355

ZAKAYO

HASSAN

0023116 LOGLOGO

CLUSTER

CHE 0728121038

JAMES

LEOGUSA

0061257 MERILLE CHW 0724116580

LTTON

LEKISALMAT

26380413 MERILLE ToT

ABEL MUTUGI 22486000 LAISAMIS MoAL officer 0724617840

JOHN

MURUNGI

10795865 LAISAMIS Sub-County

Agricultural

Officer

0712662799

Attached is a training program.

FONSAREP FMNR

Training Programme.doc

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration

(FMNR) is an effective approach to restoring

and improving agricultural, forested and

pasture lands. It is a rapid, low cost and

easily replicated approach. FMNR is based

on encouraging the systematic re-growth of

existing trees or self-sown seeds. It can be

used wherever there are living tree stumps

with the ability to coppice (re-sprout) or seeds in the soil that can germinate. It’s a

system easily managed by farmers hence

Farmer Managed. The project is for the

community by the community for the

community. It’s meant for but not limited to

arid and semi-arid areas.

Kongasis training centre-

FMNR begins by identifying the place/site to regenerate and then selecting the stumps which

will be used.

FMNR in progress, Kongasis Bee hives in Kongasis FMNR training centre

FMNR Foundations

Building FMNR foundations is based on:

God’s word

Building on local knowledge

Training, exchange visits, follow up

User rights/ownership

FMNR to succeed need to be owned by the community, for they understand their set up well.

Leadership and visioning on FMNR

The tree analogue- the group was tasked to discuss this out.

Roots- inputs we need to achieve FMNR

Stem- support we need to roll out FMNR

Branches- expectations, impacts of FMNR

Mr. Zakayo, Loglogo CHE, presenting group discussion on FMNR foundations (picture by Kamadi)

Roots

God’s word

We need the community

Conduct community baraza/mobilization

Community dialogue days

Identify sites for FMNR

Conduct trainings to the target groups

Resources-software skills/

Stem

Support from

Community leadership team

Village land committee

CBOs

CMDRR

Departments of County/Natioal government

Roots:

The input we need to achieve our vision

Stem:

The Support we need to achieve our vision

Branches:

Fruits we want to bear/ change or impact we want to

see or have

NGOs

Institutions-schools

Conflict management Committee

Branches

Improved fodder and pasture for livestock

Controlled soil erosion

Improved soil productivity/fertility

Time saving

Food security-

Ample environment- shade, reduced dust

Clean water

Reduced conflicts over resources Mapping of government departments to support FMNR roll out

The group was tasked to discuss the government departments that, can effectively and directly

support in rolling out FMNR within Laisamis

Department of Agriculture

Kenya Forest Serve

Livestock department

Energy department

NDMA

Kiambogoko Field Training

Kongasis (Kiambogoko) FMNR group was established on 20th March 2013. The group was

supported by World Vision Kiambogoko ADP, funded by the Australian government (DFAT)

on FMNR.

FMNR extension agents took the group, through practical training on FMNR. All the group

members are extension agents, apart from owning an FMNR training center, each individual

practices FMNR on his/her farm. In 2013, the group were 8 in number, and currently, they are

40 members.

Kongasis FMNR team was led by the following:

Benson Oyalo – Kongasis FMNR chairman

Florence- Kongasis FMNR extension agent

Musa- Kongasis FMNR chairman (farmer we visited)

They took us through FMNR theory and practical.

Steps in FMNR

Step 1.

Do not automatically slash all tree growth, but survey your farm noting how many and what

species of trees are present.

Step 2.

Then select the stumps which will be used for regeneration

Step 3.

Select the best five or so stems which will be pruned and cull unwanted ones. In this way, when

a farmer wants wood he/she can cut the stem(s) that are needed and leave the rest to continue

growing

Tools used to prune the trees

The best implement to use is a saw because it provides a clean cut. However, few farmers in

can afford to buy one. In fact, a wide range of commonly owned tools can be used, including

axe, machete, harvesting knife and even hoe. The main requirements are that the tools be

sharp and that cuts are always made in an upward motion, not in a downward motion. The

objective should be to make a clean cut with minimal damage such as stem bruising or splitting,

or stripping of bark. Different tree species may require different pruning techniques, something

that can be determined by farmer experimentation and observation

FMNR is simple technique that can be practiced by everyone. With a little training, women and

men, boys and girls, farmers and herders can practice this simple activity. It really depends on

the community, the culture and who owns the trees and/or who has the right to utilize them.

FMNR is normally practiced in the dry season when labour is more readily available but does

not have to be restricted to a particular season.

Don’ts

When cuts are made downwards, the tree can be easily damaged through splitting or the bark

may be stripped from the stem (right). Excessive damage will set back the plants ability to re-

grow and the wound may become an entry point of insects. Don’t prune too high.

The tree to be pruned is normally divided in three divisions, and the part to be pruned is a

third of the tree i.e. 1 3⁄

If the stems are pruned too high, they may easily be broken by livestock or even strong winds.

Kongasis FMNR group, has gone a step further to engage in bee keeping as an income

generating activity. Currently, they have 10 bee hives of cab hive design supplied by HIVE

Company. HIVE company, specializes in designing of the cabhive, hives, supply of the kits and

training of the farmers. A full kit package of 10 hives, clothing, honey centrifuge and training

costs Ksh.155000. We had an opportunity to taste the honey harvested by the group

FMNR experiences

Extension agents shared some of their experiences on FMNR.

Florence.

“FMNR has changed my life ever since I learnt it. It has opened my visioning and the way I look

at the world. Through FMNR, I am able to get enough firewood for home use and selling. My

children save time, and use the time to do studies since they do not go far to fetch firewood. I

am a farmer, practicing poultry rearing and kitchen gardening. The income I get from selling

firewood, vegetables and chicken has enabled me to keep my children at school, meet daily

needs and more so, I do not depend on my husband. In fact, the conflicts that used to arise

when I ask my husband for money, is no more. For quite some time, our daughters used to be

raped, when they go far looking for firewood, and return late, those cases are no more. We are

very happy, with the way FMNR has transformed us. Thank to World Vision.”

Musa

Musa is a husband to Mary and a father of 4. One of his children in secondary school, 2 in

primary school and one still at home. We made a visit to Musa’s farm, and is one of the farmers

who has rolled out FMNR well in his farm.

“Before I knew of FMNR, I used to work as a casual labour, where I could get a job. By then I

had three cows, and I used to stay away from my family, for even a month. I used to earn little,

yet I work for a long time. When I came to learn about FMNR, everything changed. As you can

see around my farm, it used not to be like this. Those cattle, as I said were three, now I have 6,

10 goats and 8 sheep. Over there is my poultry house, I have 50 chicken. FMNR, has made me

utilize my farm very well. Where these trees are, there is a lot of pasture for my livestock. I

also establish pasture, harvest seeds and sell to other farmers. I have gone a step, further to

plant cassava, vegetables, sugarcane and even eucalyptus trees. I am a business man as well, for I

sell surplus milk, vegetables and poultry. My children are at school, comfortably and I have

enough time with my family. I have also trained my children on FMNR and they are supporting

me very well. However, what I can tell you is that, this process requires patience and

commitment, you have to sacrifice and maintain these natural trees. If I compare plating trees

and FMNR, I confidently choose FMNR since its low cost. I give appreciation to World Vision,

for supporting us on this concept.”

Success of the Kongasis FMNR group

Formation of table banking- hence access loans

Income generating activities e.g. bee keeping, poultry keeping, kitchen garden

Availability of pasture and fodder for livestock hence increased milk production, no

natural resource conflicts

Have an office, well, equipped for running day to day activities

Attendance of show/ exhibitions hence recognition

Draft proposal for funding- proposal in pipelines

Challenges

There is a belief by a few community members that, the agents are paid by World

Vision to do FMNR

Fires and intrusion by some neighbors

PLAN OF ACTION

-FMNR.xlsx

Recommendations

Bottom up approaches on rolling out FMNR since its Farmer oriented i.e. winning

farmers’ first, local leaders

Buildup of movement champions both community and institutions

Need to build synergies and multi-sectorial approaches

Report written by:

Victor Kamadi Bill

Project Officer-Food Security

Laisamis ADP-Marsabit Cluster

World Vision Kenya