Gayaza Smallholder Fruit-Tree Growing and Community Forestry Project
Sustainable Livelihoods International Uganda (SLINT-Uganda) has launched a "Fruit Tree Growing and Community Forestry Project" with the establishment of a community tree nursery at Butikiro village, Gayaza sub-county, Kiboga District.
The objective of the project is to improve the livelihoods of local people and contribute to conservation of the environment by promoting fruit tree growing and community forestry. The mission is: "planting trees for healthier populations and a better environment".
The project will encourage and assist local people to plant different types of fruit trees, including avocado, mango and guava as well as other tree species for forest products (firewood, timber, fodder and non-timber products) and services in the area. The primary target of the project is to establish at least two community tree nurseries to raise and plant over 12,000 tree seedlings per year for two years.
The project will:
- assist farmers to access improved tree seeds and other inputs,
- support training activities in nursery establishment and tree management,
- produce and disseminate awareness materials and
- provide technical advice and extension services to farmers.
The project responds to the national government policy goal to promote tree-growing on farms in order to increase farm incomes, improve food security, boost land productivity and alleviate pressures on natural forests. Trees and forests are disappearing at unprecedented rates in many rural areas in Uganda resulting in shortage of tree products (e.g. firewood) and adverse environmental effects including, soil erosion, land degradation, disruption of water supplies, climate change and loss of biodiversity. Fruit-tree growing and community forestry are relatively low-cost and convenient activities that allow farmers to contribute to addressing these challenges.