SIAYA COUNTY TREE NURSERIES ADVANCE TREE GROWING AND GREEN LIVELIHOODS UNDER FLLoCA PROGRAMME.

Community and privately managed tree nurseries in Alego Usonga Sub-county, Siaya County, are making a significant contribution to environmental restoration, sustainable livelihoods and Kenya’s national tree-growing agenda through initiatives supported under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme.

The nurseries are helping increase the availability of quality planting materials while creating income-generating opportunities for local communities and strengthening resilience to climate change.

One of the leading initiatives is the Nyapeno Tree Nursery in Central Alego Ward, owned by Fred Owiti. For more than two decades, the nursery has produced a wide range of tree species, including eucalyptus, grafted avocado, apples, mangoes and citrus trees. With a production capacity of up to 70,000 seedlings, the nursery recently recorded the sale of 30,000 seedlings, reflecting the growing demand for quality planting materials as communities embrace tree growing and agroforestry.

In West Alego Ward, the Okiya Women Group, led by Chairperson Christine Odiano, has been operating a community tree nursery since 2019 to support environmental conservation and improve household incomes. The group produces fruit and shade tree species, including grevillea, eucalyptus, mango, avocado and pawpaw, supplying seedlings to farmers while also donating trees to schools and public institutions to increase local tree cover.

Both nurseries have benefited from support provided through the FLLoCA Programme, which has strengthened nursery infrastructure and management. At Nyapeno Tree Nursery, assistance has included fencing, water storage facilities, shade nets, watering equipment and nursery inputs that have significantly improved production and helped address water scarcity challenges. Similar support has enabled the Okiya Women Group to expand its nursery operations and enhance seedling quality through improved management practices.

Technical support from the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) has further strengthened the initiatives through training on nursery establishment, seedling production and sustainable tree nursery management. During recent engagements, both Mr. Owiti and members of the Okiya Women Group were trained on the Jaza Miti digital application, enabling them to register seedlings, monitor tree-growing activities and contribute to Kenya’s national tree-growing campaign. Members of the women’s group also received sensitization on carbon credits and emerging opportunities within carbon markets.

Although the nursery operators continue to face challenges such as limited access to quality seed, low seedling survival rates and shortages of nursery materials, their achievements demonstrate the impact of community-led conservation supported by strategic partnerships and technical capacity building.

The initiatives illustrate how locally led climate action is restoring degraded landscapes, creating sustainable livelihoods, empowering communities and contributing to Kenya’s target of growing 15 billion trees by 2032, while opening new opportunities within the country’s emerging green economy.