Nyandarua farmer’s retirement plan: cypress plantation and agroforestry

Samwel Kamau, a farmer in Nyandarua, poses for a photo at his tree farm. He’s among 1,300 farmers in the area who were trained in tree farming and given seedlings by WWF-Kenya under the Lake Naivasha Basin Reforestation Project (LNBRP). PHOTO | OBI OWINO |WWF-KENYA

In Thindi, a quiet outpost in Kinangop, Nyandarua County, Samuel Kamau has curved two acres of cypress plantation, for his retirement plans.

On the undulating piece of land, the trees stand in perfect harmony, meticulously spaced and trimmed to allow just the ideal sunlight to filter through to the lush grass below.Here, Kamau tends to his flock of sheep, bred for their coveted wool.

Now in its fifth year, Kamau’s woodlot, overlooking the majestic Aberdare Ranges, stands as a cornerstone of his retirement plan, yielding substantial short-term gains.

While acknowledging that his first venture didn’t go well due to inexperience, the farmer said he has confidence in his current enterprise.

“The biggest setback in my initial plantation was that I did not do the correct spacing which in turn reduced the timber sizes,” Kamau recounted.

“But through training by WWF-Kenya and the Kenya Forest Service, I have mastered the art of spacing and nurturing trees to maturity.”

A team of coordinators trained under the LNBRP Project to support smallholder farmers in Lake Naivasha Basin pose for a photo during a ceremony held in November 2023.

Kamau cleverly intercrops his trees with oats, peas, and maize, ensuring a steady supply of fodder and additional income from crop sales.

His farm is part of the Lake Naivasha Basin Reforestation Project (LNBRP), a WWF-Kenya carbon credit initiative supported by COOP Switzerland.

Covering 1,150 hectares, this project collaborates with 1,300 smallholder farmers to combat climate change and boost tree cover.

The sheep that Kamau keeps for their wool. PHOTO | OBI OWINO | WWF-KENYA

“This project seemed perfect for my retirement plans,” Kamau reflects. “I wanted something that wouldn’t demand excessive time or resources.”

Having previously dabbled in tree growing in 2002, Kamau found the current venture more enticing, especially with the integration of agroforestry practices.

Samwel Kamau in his two-acre woodlot in Kinangop. PHOTO | OBI OWINO | WWF-KENYA

“The agroforestry approach transformed the landscape, maximizing productivity while nurturing the woodlot,” said Kamau. “And it still provides ample grazing space for my sheep.”

Through Kamau’s story, the project not only promises environmental benefits but also serves as a blueprint for sustainable ventures in farming communities.

By the end of the first phase of the project, 2017–2024, the project aims to generate a minimum of 73,000 Gold Standard Verified CO2 certificates.

By Obi Owino — Communications Officer, WWF-Kenya