Sowing Resilience: Planting One Million Fruit Trees for Kilifi's Future

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 Kilifi County, situated along the Kenyan coastline, grapples with several challenges, including malnutrition among school children and unpredictable rainfall patterns that hinder agriculture and livestock keeping. The issue of malnutrition stems from limited access to nutritious fruits in the diets of school-going children in Kilifi. Additionally, rampant deforestation has significantly affected the region's agricultural sector and water resources, leading to irregular rainfall patterns.

Magarini Kilifi

Magarini Kilifi

According to the World Forest Watch, Kilifi had 173kha of tree cover in 2010, covering 14% of its land area. However, by 2022, it lost 590 ha of tree cover, equivalent to 180 kt of CO2 emissions. This alarming trend indicates that none of the 400 schools in Kilifi county have a tree cover exceeding 10%.

Reports from the National Center for Biotechnology Information highlight Kilifi County's high rates of undernutrition, with one in five under-5 children being underweight. The increasing unpredictability of rainfall over the past four years has further impacted household milk production, a key indicator of nutrition security.

Media publications emphasize the rising levels of malnutrition in Kilifi, with approximately 70% of households facing food insecurity. The potential consequences include starvation and long-term effects such as slower brain development and weakened immunity in surviving children.

Dry farm in Ganze Kilifi

These challenges deeply affect Kilifi County, which boasts over 400 primary and secondary schools. To address these issues, Onemilliontrees4kilifi has initiated a project to plant one million trees in these schools. Schools in the Kilifi region offer vast land, water supply, and a young generation eager to engage in tree planting activities. By educating students, the project simultaneously reaches the surrounding communities, impacting approximately 350 families for each school with a population of 400 learners.

The innovative solution involves planting grafted fruit trees, including Mango, Passion, Oranges, and Pixies. These fruit trees not only provide a sustainable source of nutrition but also contribute to the region's environmental resilience by enhancing local tree

Shomani Girls Principal, preparing a place to plant a passion fruit

Shomani Girls Malindi

Planting 2500 fruit trees on four acres of land in each of the 400 schools will significantly contribute to the county's fruit production. Excess fruits will be utilized in the construction of a juice processing plant in Magarini, creating employment and establishing a market for the surplus fruits.

The benefits of this initiative extend to improved nutrition for school children, restoration of Kilifi County's lost weather patterns, increased awareness of tree planting and environmental conservation, and enhanced local climate resilience through a substantial increase in tree cover.



Kakuyuni Boys in Action

By planting one million fruit trees in Kilifi County, we can address a myriad of problems afflicting the region. Join us in making this noble idea a reality

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