Smallholder fruit tree production experiences of recent developments in Kenya and Eastern Africa.
Eckert M. van
Author Affiliation: ICRAF - HOUSE, United Nations Avenue, GIGIRI 521001, GTZ - ITFSP - P.O. Box 47051, Nairobi, Kenya.
Acta Horticulturae : 77-84
Abstract : Stakeholder consultation process workshops, which have been conducted by ITFSP [Integration of Tree Crops into Farming Systems Project] since 1995 to analyse the constraints in the smallholder tree crop sub-sector in eastern and southern Africa, showed that tree extension activities of non-governmental organizations, government and development institutions mainly focused on tree planting for fuel, fodder, soil fertility, environmental and conservation purposes. Few considerations were given to direct benefits from subsistence- and market-oriented smallholder fruit tree production. Established nurseries in rural areas often could not be sustained due to the lack of farmers' demand for the forestry or agroforestry seedlings produced, low prices and the wrong species mix with trees, which farmers were unwilling to pay for. The new farmer trainer training approach is described, and experiences with the introduction of tree propagation, improvement and tree product processing technologies are discussed. An economic analysis of mango drying in the 1996/97 season, and analyses of tree enterprises in the high potential areas of Nyeri, and the low potential areas of Nzeluni, Mwingi are presented.