This project is already funded!
Background & challenges
In East Africa, most of the coffee production is provided by small scale farmers weakened by coffee prices’ variations, difficult weather conditions and a high cost of inputs. Climate change has major consequences on this essential livelihood source: the Climate Institute forecasts a 50% drop of global coffee production and a 50% reduction in surfaces prone to coffee cultivation by 2050.
In Kenya, the region where the cooperative implements the project (Rift Valley Province, Kericho County) has been largely deforested and most coffee is produced in full sun. There is a strong potential for planting within and around existing parcels as well as in new coffee parcels. Community land and river banks could also receive tree plantations in a riparian model, to promote the restoration of ecosystem services (water, humidity, biodiversity).
Thanks to this project, more than 2,750 smallholder farmers will be trained, over 520,000 trees (including coffee trees) will be planted and more than 11,400 beneficiaries will take advantage of its impacts.
Project type
Agroforestry
Beneficiaries
2,750 smallholder farmers and their families
Number of trees
522,500 trees planted over 4 years, of which 365,750 (173,250 agroforestry trees and 192,500 coffee trees) are expected to remain over time
Species planted
Erythrina abyssinica, Muiri (Prunus africana), Warburgia ugandensis, Premna maxima, Milicia excelsa, Muhuru (Vitex kenyensis), Mutundo (Cordyla africana), Mukoigo (Bridelia micrantha), Mobet (Markhamia lutea), Reberwet (Syzygium cumini), Persea americana, Calliandra Calothyrsus
Partners
PUR Projet and the Kenyan farmers’ cooperative Cherara
Works timeline
- May-October 2020: training of the cooperative in the project methodology
- September-October 2020: nursery setup
- October 2020: preparatory meetings with producers and training of local technicians in Good Agricultural Practices training modules
- October 2020: pre-registrations (registration of producers interested in the project and visits to their plots)
- November – December 2020: producers’ training in Good Agricultural Practices (soil management, water conservation, shade management, tree pruning, disease management, harvesting, etc.)
- February – March 2021: distribution of seedlings (trees and coffee trees) to growers and plantation
- 2020-2021: distribution of two hundreds cookstoves
- November – December 2021: monitoring #1 (six months after planting)
- April – May 2023: monitoring #2 (two years after planting)
The calendar may be slightly anticipated for planting waves in consecutive years (2022-2024), especially for nursering and training. Years 2025-2029 will be fully dedicated to the monitoring visits.
A special training in women empowerment issues will take place in 2020-2021.
Planting partners
PUR Projet helps companies to restore the ecosystems on which they depend, while enabling local communities to improve their living conditions through long-term projects. Through agroforestry, land conservation and sustainable agricultural practices, PUR Projet helps companies strengthen and secure their supply chains. As a social enterprise, PUR Projet reinvests its profits in the development of innovative projects, encouraging local entrepreneurial initiatives for a responsible, positive and virtuous economy.
The Cherara cooperative, officially created in 1995 with 78 members, counts 677 active members today. 60% of them own less than 2 hectares of coffee land. They are highly dependent on coffee production for the livelihoods, the second cash crop in the region being maize. The cooperative is currently not supported by any external organisation, giving our project a strong additionality.
Budget
The total funds raised amount to €2,099,059 . The price for planting a lasting tree is €5.74 and breaks down as follows:
- Seedlings, plants, transportation and farmers’ incentives – 13%
- Trainings – 11.5%
- Cookstoves – 0.5%
- Field supervision and technical management – 42%
- Project coordination and communication – 25%
- A Tree for You collection, follow-up and communication expenses – 8.20%
In the context of its Climate-Environment “Total Foundation” program, Fondation Total’s philanthropy support includes a large scale agroforestry program in Kenya and Ethiopia. The program is deployed over a 10-year span by A Tree for You, which leverages its partner PUR Projet’s experience and know-how for field implementation.
