Agroforestry
Bare ground is vulnerable – Plant Trees and gain an income
What is Agroforestry?
Agroforestry is the land management system where trees and shrubs are integrated into crop and animal farming systems to create economic, social and environmental benefits.
Agroforestry provides opportunities for landowners – both commercial and small-scale farmers, for better productivity and profitability but is particularly crucial to smallholder farmers and other rural groups because it enhance their food supply, income and health.


Agroforestry is farming in 3D
and it works because – trees above ground protect crops and animals against the elements and roots reach deep into the ground to cycle. Therefore, Agroforestry can solve many problems concerning intensive farming.
Benefits of Agroforestry
Protect soil, animals, crops, and homes from extreme weather
Improve water quality
Control runoff and soil erosion, thereby reducing loss of water, soil material, organic matter and nutrients
Create jobs and income
Produce products – new products add to the financial diversity and flexibility of the farming enterprise like fibre, bioenergy, wood, medicinal/botanical and floral products, etc.
Supports sustainable production of food
Improves pollinator habitat
Provide protection against wind – crops and livestock protected from the damaging effects of wind are more productive

Gmelina arborea (White teak)
Extremely fast-growing, large deciduous tree, 30 m tall, straight trunk, Leaves are a good fodder and cattle eat the fruit, Flowers produce abundant nectar, which produces high-quality honey, produces good-quality pulp for paper, wood is yellowish- to reddish-white, valuable general-purpose wood because of its dimensional stability, saws easily and has only slight blunting effects on tools, used for making furniture, plywood core stock, mine, props, matches and timber for light construction, wood burns well and makes a good fuel and charcoal, Excellent choice for large-scale reforestation programmes
1 m tree K80
1.5 m tree K140
2 m tree K200

Suitable to grow in most soil types, also tolerant of swampy soils. The wood weathers well and is resistant to borers and termites.
1 m tree K80
1.5 m tree K140
2 m tree K200

Mulberry tree
Very easy to grow, fruit is very nutritious with many medicinal properties and can be eaten fresh out of hand or to make jams, pies, tarts, puddings, Silvopasture, Leaves are highly palatable and digestible, an excellent protein-rich fodder for livestock and can be used as supplements replacing concentrates for dairy cattle, it increase milk production of lactating goats, cows, sheep and rabbits, and improve livestock productivity.
Full sun, will thrive in degraded soils but prefers compost-rich, well-drained soil, very drought tolerant, fast growing, resistant to all major pest and diseases.
1 m tree K80
1.5 m tree K140
2 m tree K200

Ochroma pyramidale (Balsa Tree)
Balsa is a pioneer species that thrives on abandoned land, recommended for the recovery of degraded areas and soil improvements. Fast leaf turnover increases the soil organic matter content. The flowers provide abundant food for bats, birds and several insects. The seed fibre is used as stuffing for mattresses and cushions. In aeronautic modelling, Balsa Wood is very much in demand as it is a perfect wood that can easily withstand crash landings and does not cause any major damage. Valued as a component of full-sized light wooden airplanes.
1 m tree K80
1.5 m tree K140
2 m tree K200

Paulownia produce woody biomass for renewable energy, bioethanol, biogas, novel bioplastics, pellets, timber chips and charcoal, protects soil from erosion, wood is used to make furniture, doors, gift boxes, bowls, toys, clogs, handicrafts, musical instruments, used for construction lumber, insulation, plywood and veneer, planes and ship construction, biochar, and leaves are used for fertilizer (green manure), new trees grow from the stumps of felled trees
1 m tree K80
1.5 m tree K140
2 m tree K200

Soft-wooded, loosely-branching, nitrogen-fixing tree, Young leaves, seedpods and flowers are edible and loaded with nutrients including protein, minerals and vitamins, flowers are eaten raw in salads, boiled, deep-fried, or used in curries, soups, and stews, young leaves and shoots in salad, stews, or as potherbs and young pods boiled and sautéed.
Full sun, Average water, Any soil, nitrogen fixing, 6 to 8 m tall, Deciduous, Fast growing, Non-invasive roots, Important agroforestry species for food, green manure, forage, valued fodder for cattle and goats, particularly for dry season feeding, ideal for rehabilitating eroded hills, wood is a major source of pulp for use in making paper
1 m tree K80
1.5 m tree K140
2 m tree K200

Drought tolerant. Fairly good resistance to termites and other timber pests.
1 m tree K80
1.5 m tree K140
2 m tree K200