Project Donor: Embassy of the Government of The Netherlands
Project Implementor: ILO-PROSPECTS Kenya through KEFRI
Principal Investigator: Elyas Hassan Mohamed - Senior Research Scientist
Co-Investigators: Amina Maalim, Sylvia Mwalewa, Albert Luvanda, Joram Kagombe and Betty Prissy.
Introduction
Prosopis julifrora is xerophytic and adapted to many soil types under a wide range of moisture conditions. The value of the tree lies in its exceptional tolerance of drought and marginal soils. It tolerates strongly saline soils and seasonal waterlogging. It is sometimes said to dry out the soil and compete with grasses, particularly in dry areas. It was not until 2008, when the Kenyan Minister for Agriculture declared Prosopis juliflora a noxious weed. Invasion by Prosopis juliflora since 1980s adversely affected ameliorated environments such as riverine environment, urban settlements, farmlands and rangelands. It is also den for wildlife pests and predators, negatively affected transport flow.
In addition, the species provides multiple products and services especially for the poor – income through fodder, poles for construction and burials, firewood, charcoal, honey while controlling soil erosion. Therefore there is a great need for an intervention through creation of green jobs for enhanced livelihoods while conserving the natural ecosystems.
Project Objectives
Enhance livelihood and build resilience of host communities and refugees through sustainable use of forest products thereby creating decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods.
Restore degraded lands: To restore at least 500 acres of Prosopis-infested farmland and grazing areas.
Create green jobs: To create and generate 1,240 jobs for youth, women, and vulnerable groups through Prosopis removal and value addition.
Develop value chains: Strengthen value addition for Prosopis-based products like charcoal, animal feed, cosmetics, and walking sticks.
Build community capacity: Equip communities with skills for sustainable Prosopis management and utilization.
Project Impact
Building resilient communities that live in harmony with natural habitat by deriving their daily livelihood.
Immediate Income
Improved Community Resilience
Restored 576 acres of degraded land for agriculture and grazing, leading to improved soil quality, increased agricultural productivity, and enhanced biodiversity.
Supported local economies through 2,484 green jobs, including direct employment in restoration activities, value addition activities and indirect jobs in related sectors, providing stable income and reducing poverty.
Enhanced livelihoods
Generated over Ksh 1.47 million in revenue from Prosopis products, including charcoal, furniture, and animal feed, contributing to the local economy and providing additional income sources for households.
Strengthened household income through sustainable income-generating activities, reducing dependency on unsustainable practices and improving overall living standards.
Capacity Building
Trained 120 individuals in value chains, enhancing entrepreneurship and product quality, leading to the development of high-quality Prosopis products and increased market competitiveness.
Facilitated inter-community knowledge sharing through exchange visits, promoting the dissemination of best practices and fostering collaboration among different community groups.
Immediate Objectives - Outcome
Support local communities (groups and individuals), to exploit the economic benefits of Prosopis julifrora through management, harvesting, value addition and manufacturing using pro-employment and local resource-based approaches.
Project Activities.
Demographic and Ecological Distribution of Prosopis julifrora.
About the Project Intervention
This intervention is a multi-institutional collaborative effort between KEFRI and partners with support from ILO PROSPECTS and the embassy of the Government of Netherlands by using the Employment Intensive Investment Programming (EIIP) to address the ecological and socio-economic challenges posed by Mathenge in Garissa and Tana River Counties.
Specifically to:
Restore natural ecosystems through exploitation, management, harvesting, value addition and use to minimize the adverse impacts of the abundant invasive Prosopis Juliflora in Garissa and Tana River Counties. The use of Mathenge will reduce pressure on indigenous vegetation.
The project creates immediate decent and productive jobs and sustainable livelihoods for communities.
Mainstream the potential of Mathenge by out and upscaling its value chain, technologies and innovations.
Project Sites
Our Project Photos
Click on the photo to view more or on the video to play.
