KVDA rolls out 3.5 million seedlings drive in Kerio Valley

Kenya’s KVDA begins large-scale tree and fruit seedling distribution to restore degraded Kerio Valley landscapes, curb landslides, enhance food security and strengthen community resilience against climate change impacts growing sustainably.

The Kerio Valley Development Authority has launched a major environmental rehabilitation campaign aimed at restoring degraded landscapes across the Kerio Valley region, as part of broader efforts to tackle climate change and prevent recurring disasters.

Speaking during an inspection of the Kimwarer tree nursery, KVDA Acting Managing Director Moses Kipchumba said the authority plans to raise more than 3.5 million assorted fruit and tree seedlings during the current financial year. The seedlings will be produced in 16 nurseries spread across seven counties and distributed to farmers for planting during the ongoing long rains season.

Kipchumba, who was accompanied by board chairperson Mark Chesergon, said the initiative also supports the Presidential Directive to grow 15 billion trees by 2032. He noted that KVDA has already planted over one million assorted fruit and tree seedlings against a target of 1.5 million for the year.

The Kerio Valley region has been grappling with environmental challenges including land degradation caused by human activity, deforestation, landslides and the growing effects of climate change. In response, KVDA is working with partners such as the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme to scale up interventions. These include distributing seedlings and educating communities on environmental conservation.

Kipchumba said the authority is currently distributing more than 400,000 fruit tree seedlings and 500,000 tree seedlings across the region. Beneficiaries include farmers, schools through a school greening programme and community groups. The fruit trees include coffee, mango and avocado, aimed at improving nutrition and generating income, while other tree species are intended for ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation.

“We have launched the assorted seedlings distribution and tree growing campaign targeting 1.5 million assorted fruit trees, 1.7 million assorted tree seedlings, 300,000 certified coffee seedlings, 100,000 tea seedlings,” he said.

He explained that farmers in highland areas will receive coffee, tea and avocado seedlings, while those in lower parts of the valley will focus on mango farming due to favourable climatic conditions.

Kipchumba said the initiative is expected to restore degraded areas, especially along the fragile Kerio escarpments which are prone to landslides. He added that it will also boost food security, improve nutrition and create income opportunities through fruit production.

He praised the authority’s technical approach, which involves selecting locally adapted tree species to improve survival rates, alongside training farmers on proper planting, maintenance and protection of seedlings.

He reaffirmed KVDA’s commitment to working with other agencies to strengthen conservation efforts in the region. According to him, the programme will increase tree cover, improve air quality, enhance household nutrition and build climate resilience.

“Recently, we have had problems with the Kerio Valley, especially the so-called hanging valleys or the escarpments prone to landslides like the case of Chesongoch, where we lost many lives and property and as long as we don’t do anything in terms conserving environment, we will continue to experience the same disaster,” Kipchumba said.

He warned that continued human activities such as farming on steep slopes, logging and excavation are worsening soil degradation and increasing the risk of landslides.

Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority regulates such activities under the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act of 1999, which provides controls on farming in slope areas to prevent soil erosion, landslides and degradation of water catchment zones.

Kipchumba called for coordinated action to protect mountainous and hilly areas in Kerio, promote reforestation and afforestation and restrict farming on fragile slopes.

Chesergon said the campaign has been timed to coincide with the onset of the rainy season, which offers ideal conditions for planting and improving seedling survival rates.

He added that KVDA is supporting the entire value chain, from seed production and nursery management to distribution and value addition. He cited the authority’s mango processing factory in Tot, Elgeyo Marakwet County, which buys produce from farmers and promotes mango farming.

“We are happy as a government that we have doubled our production of mango and today we are issuing and launching about 30,000 seedlings to be distributed to farmers to grow as we build capacity with them to boost the livelihood in the region,” he said.

Farmers welcomed the initiative, saying it provides access to certified seedlings that were previously difficult to obtain due to financial constraints and limited knowledge.

Stakeholders also praised the programme, noting that it aligns with Kenya’s target of achieving at least 10 percent tree cover and contributes to the national goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. It also supports the National Climate Change Action Plan through community-based adaptation and mitigation efforts.

By promoting agroforestry and restoring degraded land, KVDA is contributing to Kenya’s commitments under the Paris Agreement through increased carbon sequestration. The initiative also supports the environmental sustainability pillar of Kenya Vision 2030 and enhances protection of water catchment areas.

Through community-led tree planting efforts, the programme further advances the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy, which aims to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems across the country.

This post is republished from KENYA NEWS AGENCY.