The Butiama project’s agroforestry component – which will diversify sources of food and income while increasing forest cover – is well on track.

A major activity for the Butiama Hills project during the first few months of 2024 has been taking care of seedlings in the tree nursery, while waiting for the right time for distribution.

Around 77,000 seedlings have been distributed and planted across 145 households already in the new Butiama Hills project's agroforestry programme, putting us well on track to reach 1600 families by the end of the project.

One farmer from each of the five participating villages in the new Butiama Hills project has been trained as a lead farmer for the agroforestry scheme.

Sitting, from left: Specioza Kifutu, Butiama Hills Project Manager; Sefia Jetha, Project Consultant; Augustino Kilumile, Agroforestry Extensionist.

This assembly meeting in Mwikoro village in May presented the new Butiama Hills restoration project to community members, introducing the livelihoods packages that it will offer.

GRA's Monitoring & Evaluation Officer is seen here interviewing Mr. Lubale James (33) during the survey of 53 households in 5 villages that was carried out at the beginning of the Butiama Hills component of the project.

The new agroforestry team conducting a capacity-building workshop for the nursery staff and community members from participating villages.

“I have benefited a lot from planting these trees," says Kezia N. (62) from Kinesi village, who received 1700 seedlings from the project after taking part in training on the importance of tree planting and its benefits in 2013.

These students from Kitsenga Girls secondary school are selecting seedlings at Utegi nursery.