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Case Study
CITI ENTREPRENEURS: ENCOURAGING FARM-BASED TREE NURSERIES,
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW, THE MILLENNIUM SEED BANK, UK – KENYA
Description: The project, which ran from 2012 until June ©nKaetnivyeantrfeaersmeeerdsllienagrsning ThiomwotthoycaPreearfcoer
2015, was an extension of phase 2 of KEW’s Useful Plants
Project, which started in 2007 and marked a move from the Engagement approach: Participants were recruited by
solely technical side of seed propagation to a more holistic Mount Kenya University and KEFRI through an interview and
approach that included enterprise development. Project staff applications process, approaching individuals from community
collaborated with the Department of Enterprise Development, groups with which they already had established networks.
Mount Kenya University, Kenya Forestry Research Institute Training materials focused on the practicalities of business and
(KEFRI) and National Museums Kenya and Farm Concern the courses involved visits to other enterprises to ensure they
International (FCI). The partners developed and delivered three were applicable and vocational.
training programmes (one per year) of 20 days each. They
provided business and entrepreneurial skills to farmers, who Audience research: By assessing feedback from participants
were then monitored for a year after the course, supporting through questionnaires, training materials were improved
them in establishing their own native tree nurseries to improve throughout the project. The farmers’ progress through the
their income. The project trained 180 farmers in total, of whom course was determined by a written assessment in the form of a
approximately 50 have so far set up their own enterprises. business plan and the impact of the project has been evaluated
by an external researcher who interviewed farmers and their
Focus of the project: The primary aim of this project was to partners. Evidence of increased income was assessed through
support Kenya in meeting its reforestation goals – Kenya’s forest farmers’ records. In parallel with the project-related evaluation,
cover is targeted to reach 10 per cent by 2030 (Steibert et al., market analysis was led by FCI, looking at how markets are
2012) – in a way that encourages the use of indigenous species developing by, for example, analysing indigenous tree species
rather than the more readily available eucalyptus. The project around Nairobi, assessing what markets there are, and how
developers realized that an effective way to do this was through much profit is to be made. This research was also ongoing.
enterprises, to ensure it will be self-sustaining in the future. In
the process, the project not only improves participants’ lives Funding: The project was funded by the Citi foundation.
by increasing incomes, in a particularly poor area of Kenya, but Currently KEFRI and Mount Kenya University are seeking
also raises individuals’ aspirations by facilitating their visits to other sources of funding to continue the courses.
the university. The issue of social inequality is also addressed by
giving farmers the skills and confidence to negotiate a fair price Challenges: The project has succeeded in producing a source
for their product and ensuring a gender balance in participants. of plants for reforestation efforts in Kenya, however, poor
This project is compatible with KEW’s mission, in which the link infrastructure means that physically getting the material to
between plants and people is so important. where it is needed can be difficult.
Staff from Kenya
Forestry Research
Institute demonstrate tree
climbing for seed collection,
as part of the Citi
©Enterpreneurs training
Timothy Pearce
CARING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY | A MANUAL FOR BOTANIC GARDENS 13
