Smallholder Tree Growers Income Opportunities from Farm Forestry Products in Western Kenya

Abstract

The study is based on surveys done between September 2005 and January2006 on production, marketing and potential markets for various tree products in western Kenya. The study was aimed at. addressing the inadequate or fragmented information on production, marketing and demand for various tree products grown by smallholder farmers. The study revealed that farm forestry in western Kenya is a multibillion shilling sector business thanks to recent. moratorium on harvesting of trees in public forests and emerging market niches. The emerging markets include increased firewood demand from Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) affiliated tea processing factories that are shifting from use of expensive furnace oil to firewood fired boilers and the recent shift by Pan Paper Mills (PPM) to buy pulpwood and firewood from farms. The potentials of farm forestry products range from firewood, industrial roundwood, charcoal, transmission poles and construction poles. The findings indicate that charcoal traded produced from Acacia mearnsii was 25,200 tonnes per year with a retail value of Ksh 380 million. Industrial firewood demand for industries in· Eldoret and sugar belts is estimated at 44,000 tonnes valued at Ksh 55 million per year. The 19tea factories in the region have combined·demand potenti8.lof360 million tonnes of firewood·with factory gate value of ·360 million per year. The combined intake of firewood and pulpwood by PPM was 500,000 tonnes per year with an estimated value of Ksh 520 million. Power and telecommunication sector annual demand was estimated at 212,000 pieces of sem-iprocessed polewood with an estimated value of Ksh 170 million. Saw log demand by saw mills and mobile bench saws was estimated at' 200,000m3 per year valued at Ksh 300 million. Construction polewood .dominant in Kisumu. at Kondele and Nyalenda are sourced from Vihiga District and has an estimated annual turnover of 42,000 pieces valued at Ksh· 25 million per. year..The .study revealed high potential for.market driven farm forestry sector in western Kenya,Suggestions are made for improved production practices,harvesting and processing technologies and market infrastructure. .