SIAYA, Kenya, Dec 8 (IPS) – Morris Onyango has been trying for years to reforest his degraded land on the banks of the Nzoia River, in Siaya County, 430 kilometers from the Kenyan capital Nairobi. But each time he planted trees on his farm, his efforts bore little fruit as the floodwaters washed away not only his tree seedlings but also the fertile topsoil on his land.
“The land became unproductive and barren. I tried to reclaim the land through reforestation, but the survival rate of the trees was too low,” Onyango said.
Siaya County has a forest cover of 5.23 percent and ranks 44the from the 47 counties of Kenya. Judy Ogeche, a scientist from Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), says the degraded forest and tree cover in the province and the lack of forests in the gazette have discouraged the integration of tree and crop farming.
“Communities here do not see growing trees as a lucrative business. Some myths and beliefs discourage tree growing. For example, some people believe that growing trees Terminalia mentalis (often known as the Panga Uzazi) tree attracts death,” says Ogeche.
According to Ogeche, another challenge is gender inequality in land ownership, with men owning most of the available land and deciding what to plant.
“We have many women who are interested in restoring tree cover, but their husbands do not allow it,” says Ogeche.
Across Africa, reforestation projects are struggling to survive beyond the seedling stage. However, in parts of Kenya, a groundbreaking digital innovation is transforming the landscape by enabling rural farmers to earn a living while restoring degraded lands with native trees.
Technology and reforestation
In an effort to restore lost biodiversity and improve tree cover in Kenya, Alliance Bioversity International and CIAT, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), launched the My Farm Trees Projecta blockchain-based platform that provides subsistence farmers with guidance on seed selection, planting and post-planting care, ensuring seedlings survive and thrive in harsh conditions.
Implemented in Siaya, Turkana and Laikipia provinces, MFT emphasizes genetically robust native species that support biodiversity, improve soil health and provide long-term ecological and economic benefits.
Ogeche noted that the My Farm Trees project has motivated communities in Siaya to grow trees.
“They get free seedlings and learn how to plant and care for them, and as the trees grow they get paid,” she said.
To be able to supply the right seedlings, the project collaborates with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) and private tree nurseries in the respective counties.
For farmers like Onyango, the My Farm Trees Project provided them with the much-needed solution to their degraded lands and soils
“The project has given me 175 seedlings of different trees, which I planted along the riverbank. The trees have helped me reclaim my land, prevent erosion and get paid for taking care of my own trees,” says Onyango.
How it works
In the My Farm Trees project, participating farmers are registered on the MyGeo farm App, which allows them to track seedlings from planting to growing. Farmers can track and report progress via the app.
Francis Oduor, the national project coordinator, said that since the rollout of the project, more than 1,300 farmers have been registered on the MyGeo Tree App and over 100,000 seedlings have been planted in the three provinces.
“The project is particularly interested in using native trees for landscape restoration, which are native to specific areas, and in increasing genetic diversity,” says Oduor.
Oduor explains that My Farm Trees uses monitoring, verification and incentives to empower local communities to become leaders and stewards of tree planting projects that deliver immediate, short-term benefits.
“The project focuses not only on payments to farmers, but also on the long-term benefits of restored landscapes for improved agricultural productivity, water regulation and climate resilience,” Oduor said.
To ensure the use of indigenous varieties and ensure the production of quality tree seedlings, the project team is working with KEFRI to provide technical support to local tree nursery operators.
Lawrence Ogoda, a tree nursery operator, is one of the beneficiaries of the project. He is trained in collecting seeds, growing seedlings and keeping records.
“Through the MyGeo Tree and MyGeo Nursery Apps I can collect data and monitor progress in seed collection, propagation and development on the nurseries.”
Before Caroline Awuor joined the My Farm Trees project, she had not paid much attention to growing trees. She received 110 seedlings, of which 104 successfully survived and earned her financial incentives.
“The majority of these are fruit trees, including mangoes, avocados and jackfruit, while there are also some timber trees. In addition to the incentives from the project, I also earn money by selling the fruit,” she says.
Caroline plans to plant another 1,000 tree seedlings on her land, strategically located near the Nzoia River.
According to Joshua Schneck, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Portfolio Manager for Global Programs at IUCN, My Farm Trees is an innovative project focused on sustainable transformation.
The impact
In Kenya, My Farm Tree has supported 3,404 farmers, 56 percent of whom are women. A total of 210,520 trees have been planted, with a survival rate of more than 60 percent after the first year, restoring 1,250 hectares of land in Siaya, Turkana and Laikipia provinces.
The program has released KES 26 million (approximately US$200,000) in digital payments, directly benefiting 1,517 farmers. In addition, 13 local nurseries have been strengthened in collaboration with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute.
The project, which is also being implemented in Cameroon, has resulted in the restoration of 1,403 hectares of forest land, with more than 145,000 seedlings planted and 2,200 farmers registered on the platform. The project has also led to the restoration of 423 community lands and 315 sacred groves, with $130,000 in incentives distributed to farmers.
Oduor noted that the My Farm Trees project provides a scalable blueprint for forest restoration by combining science and Blockchain technology in tree selection, post-planting support and incentives for farmers, giving it global relevance.
“MFT is a scalable model that aligns with climate action, poverty reduction and ecosystem restoration. This approach supports the goals of the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration,” said Oduor.
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