CommunityConservation Inititiative, CCI-Kenya. Muliru Farmers Profile.

Muliru Farmers

Muliru Farmers Conservation Group

The following information is taken from a recorded interview with Thomas Mmasi, Chairman of Muliru Farmers, during December 2004.

Background

“I am Thomas Mmasi, a small-scale farmer who has never had any other type of employment. I only started farming, and have been doing so since 1965 up to the present day. Also, I learned about agro-forestry and forest conservation of our rain forest. There was a time when I started a group to help conserve the forest because I could not conserve the forest alone. So, I started a group which can help to conserve the forest. We are 30 members, 10 men and 20 women. Now, mostly the majority were widowers who are very weak in their living (have very little to sustain them).

Maliru Farmers Conservation Group is a community group situated in Kakamega district, Shinyalu Division, Virembe sub-location near Kakamega Forest Station at Isecheno. The was group started in 1997 and is organized by people living around Kakamega forest. The group is registered as a self-help group with the Ministry of Social Services.

The main aim of the group is to conserve the forest, which is a rain forest.

ACTIVITIES –

We started with several activities

tree nurseries

agro-forestry

rearing of livestock, local animals, not big breeds

In 2000 some new crops were started by ICIPE, which are:

1) Ocimum kilimandscharicum

2) Ocimum swave

3) Lipy v-gambensis

We also started planting

4) Mondia

5) Mullberry

6) and working with bee hives

SHORT HISTORY OF Ocimum kilimandscharicum

Ocimum is a natural plant in the area

2a) It was being used traditionally as a medicine for flu, colds, insect bites, but not in the form of oil.

2b) This Ocimum also attracts bees and that’s why we had some beehives in our area

2c) Also Ocimum is a soil and water conservation plant

2d) it can be harvested three times per year and in this way is income generating

2e) it can also be planted in a very small plot, so for small-scale farmers with small plots, a plant like Ocimum is ideal

2f) it’s labour is not expensive

2g) it is a self-employment crop or plant, harvested three times per year, so it can bring employment to yourself

2h) We use it as wood. After harvesting, the remaining sticks are used as firewood, we don’t throw them away. Also it is used as a compost.

2i) it can be inter-cropped with other plants such as Mondia, which is also a medicinal plant.

OUTGROWERS –

We have more than 10 groups along the forest who are dealing with conservation but our proposal is to extend up to the district level as well as internationally.

Now, through the effort we have made and partnership with ICIPE, we were brought a distillery machine by UNDP which is now doing the work. ICIPE has trained nine youth to distill the natural oil….”

Thomas’s interview can be read in full by clicking here Muliru Farmers Project Profile (pdf)

Latest News & Updates

In September & November 2010

Muliru Farmers CG were awarded two prestigious global awards—

“Equator Prize” & “SEED Award” to recognise & celebrate their outstanding community efforts towards biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction. More info can be found on this pdf document.

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Also see Muliru Farmers Ocimum kilmandcsharicum Enterprise Project (pdf file) for more background information, including production and yields of essential oils .

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Request for assistance.

(from a phone call with Thomas Mmasi, Chairman, Muliru Farmers Conservation Group on 16/8/06).

Since Thomas’s interview during December 2004, the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group are now in the process of building a new drying banda which is helping to ease certain aspects of ‘Naturub’ production.

Demand for Muliru Farmer’s ‘Naturub’ product is now very high & the group would like to be able to increase production to cope with this strong demand. However, Thomas has informed us that the group still has a problem with a shortage of local water supplies & lack of lighting facilities which is hampering the amount of time when the distillery can be in operation. Muliru Farmers are therefore needing outside funding & practical assistance to help improve local water catchment/bore-hole facilities at the distillery & also to assist with the provision of electric/solar lighting at the distillery building.

Please contact Thomas at the above address if you or your organisation are able to help.