case studies undp: muliru farmers conservation group, kenya

7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATION GROUP, Kenya

1/23

Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities

Kenya

MULIRU FARMERSCONSERVATION GROUP

Empowered live

Resilient nations

Empowered live

Resilient nations


2/23

UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES

Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo

or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth

their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practitione

themselves guiding the narrative.

To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing seri

that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmentconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succe

to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models

replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power o Local Action: Lessons rom 10 Years

the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.

Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.

EditorsEditor-in-Chie: Joseph CorcoranManaging Editor: Oliver Hughes

Contributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding

Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe

Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,

Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu

DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Par

Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.

AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, and in particular the guidance and inpu

o James Ligare. All photo credits courtesy o Muliru Farmers Conservation Group. Maps courtesy o CIA World Factbook and Wikipedi

Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, Kenya. Equator Initiative Case Study Series. New Yo

NY.
http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdf


3/23

PROJECT SUMMARYMuliru Farmers Conservation Group is a community-

based organization located near Kakamega Forest in

western Kenya. The group generates income through the

commercial cultivation and secondary processing o an

indigenous medicinal plant, to produce the Naturub brand

o medicinal products.

The enterprise reduces pressure on the biodiverse Kakamega

Forest by oering an alternative to the exploitation o orest

resources, while the commercialization o the medicinal

plant has heightened local appreciation o the value o theorests biodiversity. Over hal o the project participants

are women and 40 per cent o participants rely entirely

this initiative or their income. A portion o the enterprises

revenues are invested in orest conservation and biodiversity

research.

KEY FACTS

EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2010

FOUNDED: 1997

LOCATION: Western Province, Kenya

BENEFICIARIES: 360 households

BIODIVERSITY: Kakamega Forest

3

MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATIONGROUPKenya

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background and Context 4

Key Activities and Innovations 5

Biodiversity Impacts 7

Socioeconomic Impacts 7

Sustainability 9

Replication 9

Partners 10


4/23

4

Kakamega Forest is the last surviving rainorest in Kenya. Locatedn the countrys Western Province, it is home to a unique variety o

cosystems and diversity o ora and auna. The orest is a cornerstone

local livelihoods, income and wellbeing. The orest provides

mber, uel wood, odder, building materials, and medicinal plants.

t contains watersheds that provide surrounding communities with

resh water, and sustains what is in essence a natural resource-based

ocal economy. Like many orest ecosystems, however, Kakamega is

nder threat rom population growth, local economic pressure, and

xtractive industries. The orest is being pushed beyond its natural

mits and is steadily being degraded. Human population density

round the orest is as high as 1,200 people per square kilometer.

High levels o poverty have led the 35,000 households in adjacent

ommunities to overexploit the orest resources, with timber and

on-timber orest products being harvested in an unsustainable

manner.

Ocimum kilimandscharicum - a potent remedy

One species endemic to Kakamega Forest is Ocimum

ilimandscharicum. This indigenous medicinal plant has been used

y the local population or generations, notably or the treatment

cold, us and coughs. Ocimum kilimandscharicum leaves contain

ssential aromatic oils. The leaves were traditionally added to boiling

water to release an aroma which was useul in the treatment o

espiratory problems and ailments when inhaled by the patient.he local population also used the plant as a mosquito repellant, a

ource o nectar or bees in apiculture, as a avoring agent, and to

rotect stored grains rom pests and insect inestation.

he Muliru Farmers Conservation Group ormed in 1997 with a vision

sustainably cultivating Ocimum kilimandscharicum as a means

conserving the Kakamega Forest and oering orest-adjacent

ommunities an alternative income source. The initiative combines

raditional knowledge with modern science and technology, and

rings together a diverse partnership rural armers, research

institutes and the private sector to harness the commercial vao this medicinal plant. The organization works with local arme

develop puried extracts o Ocimum kilimandscharicum which

developed into products under the brand Naturub. The brand

been ormally registered as a medicine in Kenya and is marketed

treatment or u, cold, chest congestion, aches and pain, insect b

and muscular pain.

The organization has our primary objectives:

i. Promote the commercial cultivation o Ocim

kilimandscharicum among the resource-poor commun

living adjacent to Kakamega Forest;

ii. Create revenue or the local community by processing Ocim

kilimandscharicumplant material, and producing and marke

Naturub products;

iii. Raise awareness about the value o conserving the Kakam

Forest; and

iv. Stimulate the participation o orest-adjacent communitie

conservation activities.

Background and Context


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55

Key Activities and Innovations

he Muliru Farmers Conservation Group mobilizes communities

ving adjacent to the Kakamega Forest to cultivate Ocimum

ilimandscharicum. As a high-value commercial crop, the medicinal

plant is an appealing livelihood option or the otherwise economically

marginalized local armers. Training is provided on domestication

nd processing. The plant is harvested by cutting the stems at

he base, and then plucking the leaves. Processing to extract the

ssential oil was previously undertaken on a small scale basis, mainly

t the household level. In 2005, however, Muliru built a centralized

processing acility. Farmers are supported to gather the Ocimum

ilimandscharicum leaves and then transport them to the processing

acility. At the processing acility, the plant material is weighed and

ried. Dried leaves are processed using hydro-distillation equipment,which produces essential oils. The puried essential oil is used in the

production o Naturub balms and ointments.

Production and marketing o Naturub

ince the processing acility opened, over 770 tons o community

ultivated Ocimum kilimandscharicum leaves have been processed

nd over 700 kg o essential oil have been produced. Over 400,000

nits o Naturub products have sold in both urban and rural areas

Kenya. The products have received wide acceptance in the market

nd are competitive with major international brands. Total revenue

rom the project thus ar has been over USD 70,000. Currently, over

60 rural households cultivate the plant on smallholder arms. Thecreage under Ocimum kilimandscharicum cultivation has increased

by 700%, rom 2.5 hectares in 2005 to 20 hectares in 2010.

n addition to producing and marketing Naturub products, Muliru

armers Conservation Group oers workshops on biodiversity

onservation and alternative livelihood solutions based on

ustainable natural resource management. It also operates several

ndigenous tree seedling nurseries, which are used or on-arm

planting, reorestation, and agroorestry trainings.

The most noteworthy innovation o the project is a new br

o registered medicine, developed and commercialized by l

communities. Not only is all cultivation o the plant commun

driven, the processing acility is ully owned, operated

managed by local armers. In addition to improved livelihoods, l

community members have attained new knowledge in mod

science and technology, industrial processing and production,

entrepreneurship, including in sales, marketing and managemThe initiative eectively combines traditional knowledge w

modern science and technology, and is an eective model

multi-stakeholder partnership.

Organizational structure

The Muliru Farmers Conservation Group is led by a Managem

Board comprising a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, V

Secretary, Treasurer, Organizing Secretary, and our Commi


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66

Members, each o whom is elected by the groups member armers

or multiple-year terms. The board is the highest governing authority

within the management structure o the MFCG medicinal plant

nterprise, and is tasked with selecting, evaluating, and approving

ppropriate compensation or the enterprises Overall Supervisor.

he primary responsibility o the board is to protect the armers

nterests and ensure they receive a decent return on their produce.

he Overall Supervisor, in turn, oversees the day-to-day running o

he enterprise, including human resource management, planning,nancial and physical resources management, undraising, and

roviding a link between the organizations sta and the Board.

The initiatives Field Extension Department provides initial train

to armers and links them to the Muliru enterprise. The departm

guarantees the quality o the raw materials used in processing,

ensures that armers are paid a air price or their produce. T

also assist armers in preparing arm plans and record keep

The Production Department, meanwhile, links the enterprise w

private partners in out-sourcing some o the production serv

that the enterprise cannot undertake.

Ater processing, Mulirus products are marketed by the initiati

dedicated Sales and Marketing department. Through this ofce,

organization has partnered with private marketing companie

undertake packaging design, market surveys, advertisements,

the distribution o products to dierent retailers. Through th

partnerships, MFCG has been able to engage with large Ken

retail chains such as Uchumi, Nakumatt, and Tuskys Supermarke

Finally, the group works at the local level through th

organizational units. The Farmers Cluster Representatives work

behal o small clusters o armers, representing their views du

planning meetings. The Plant Operators are responsible or the in

distillation o essential oils rom the raw plant materials. Nine you

our emale and ve male were trained in essential oil distilla

using hydro-distillers. They have since acted as Trainers o Train

passing on training to others in the operation and acilitating train

o schools and colleges that visit the enterprise. Finally, the gro

Security Ofcer is responsible or maintaining and saeguarding

enterprises properties, liaising with the provincial administratio

matters o security and reporting to the overall supervisor.

Fig. 1: Muliru Farmers Conservation Group organizational structure

Management Board

Overall Supervisor

Production Department

Plant Operators

Sales & Marketing

Department

Security Ocer

Field Extension Department

Farmers Cluster

Representative

ource: Muliru Farmers Conservation Group.


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7

Impacts

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS

The main biodiversity impact o the project has been the conservation

nd sustainable use o the Kakamega Forest, protecting its estimated

80 plant and 350 bird species. As well as improving local attitudes

o conservation o the orest, Mulirus sustainable harvesting oOcimum kilimandscharicum has been undertaken as part o the

devolved sustainable management o the orest under the Mwileshi

Community Forest Association.

Mwileshi Community Forest Association

Kenyas central government authority responsible or managemento the countrys orests, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is in the process o

developing participatory orest management plans or areas across

he country in close consultation rural communities. Communities

re able to partner with KFS and local county councils in the orm

o Community Forest Associations (CFAs) registered under the

ocieties Act, who can sue or be sued. CFAs enter into agreements

with KFS or management o a orest under a management plan.

Kakamega was among three orests in Kenya selected to pilot

ollaborative orest management between local communities and

he Forest Department this led to the ormation o the Mwileshi

CFA, registered in June 2009 with an initial 25 orest user groups

these have since grown to 31.) These groups include all community-

based organisations around the orest involved in conservationctivities, including the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group.

The association is predominantly involved in the management and

onservation o Kakamega Forest, which includes maintaining an

ndigenous tree nursery and active aorestation; 10,000 seedlings

were planted in September 2010 alone. They conduct their activities

ccording to the Kakamega Forest Management Plan. The association

s also involved in sensitizing communities on conservation,

monitoring the orest condition, monitoring activities carried out by

member groups, training groups in nursery management, developing

ecotourism, and assisting in orest policing, while environme

education is largely carried out by Muliru Farmers Conserva

Group in partnership with local primary and secondary sch

through the Kakamega Environmental Education Programme.

Changing attitudes to conservation

Based on surveys conducted by Muliru, o the 360 househ

participating in cultivation o Ocimum kilimandscharicum ove

percent participate in orest conservation activities. The sur

broken down by activity, nds: 49 percent promote conserva

awareness among other community members; 59 percent h

reduced their collection o rewood, odder and timber; 37 perhave deterred other community members rom misusing o

resources; 5 percent have reported poaching and illegal o

activities to local authorities.

The harvesting o Ocimum kilimandscharicum is environmen

riendly. Plants are able to regenerate naturally and the commu

has a source o income that does not damage or degrade

orest. In addition to reducing local dependence on unsustain

extractive activities, the initiative has been successul at improv

local awareness about the threats to Kakamega Forest and

importance o conserving biodiversity. Naturub products

a distinctive message on their packaging regarding biodive

conservation.

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS

Muliru activities cover ve districts in the vicinity o the Kakam

Forest, with a total participating population o roughly 2

community members, or 360 households. This is an economic

marginalized community with ew livelihood options. O

40 percent live below the poverty line and over 30 percen

households own less than 0.4 hectares o land, an important stat

in an economy where land is tantamount to earning capacity.


8/23

The Muliru Farmers Conservation Group has positively altered

he local economy, providing greater employment and income-

generation opportunities. Eight community members are

employed on a ull time basis to operate the initiative. Day-to-day

management needs include eld supervision, quality control, and

oil distillation. More importantly, the on-arm cultivation oOcimum

kilimandsharicum has created nearly 900 jobs or smallholder

armers. To date, over 400,000 units o Naturub have been sold. The

product is available in major national store chains such as Uchumi,Tuskys Mattresses, and Eastmatt. It is also available in other outlets

n Kenya, such as shops and chemists. Participating community

members receive a share o revenues rom Naturub products three

imes a year, and have increased their income by an average o 300

percent since the initiative began.

Spillover benefts

There have also been a number o secondary benets o Mulirus

work. Based on surveys conducted by the organization, 31 percent

o participating community members have used income generated

rom the project to start small businesses that provide an additional

nd needed source o income. Additionally, 83.5 percent use theirncome or ood security needs; 57 percent to cover school ees;

26 percent to purchase clothing; 17.5 percent to buy livest

(an additional source o income); and 7.65 percent have inve

in housing renovations. Hands-on training and workshops

provided by private sector and relevant NGO partners, which

also given community members new and marketable skills.

The initiative has equally been a source o commu

empowerment. Smallholder armers are directly involved in

decision-making and strategic direction o the organizationaddition to greater access to nance, inormation on sustain

arming, and training opportunities, the initiative has provide

orum or social networking among community groups, ther

improving community cohesion, trust and social capital a

which are essential ingredients o the collective action neede

address common challenges.

The initiative works to ensure gender equality in all o its activ

and has aimed to ensure that women receive equal acces

productive resources and equal engagement in marketing

enterprise development. Women orm the majority o participa

community members and have been elected into leader

positions to govern the group.

8


9/23

9

Sustainability and Replication

SUSTAINABILITYMuliru has established a 10-year plan or the distribution o net

rots rom the sale o Naturub products which will be allocated

s ollows: 10 percent or conservation activities around Kakamega

orest; 10 percent or a community development und, to be used or

rojects in and around Kakamega Forest; 60 percent or distribution

o participating members o the Muliru Farmers Conservation

Group; and 20 percent or a conservation research und or urther

iversication o other natural products.

According to projections made by Muliru, not only is the

rganization nancially sustainable, but it has signicant room orrowth. Naturub is the rst registered natural medicine by the

harmacy and Poisons Board o Kenya. As a pioneer in this space,

he organization has a competitive edge. Market intelligence has

stablished the total market or Naturub to be Kshs. 100 million

er annum. The market share has a geographic split o 80 percent

ural and 20 percent urban. Currently, retail chains contribute only

percent o the balm and ointment markets. The rural population

rovides the biggest potential growth demographic, and currently

ontributes 70 percent o the market.

ustainability has also depended on partnerships and outsourcing

ertain services beyond the local economy. Muliru has partnered

with advertising agencies or sales and marketing activities,igh-technology companies or manuacturing needs, and other

rivate sector companies that specialize in quality control. Other

mportant partnerships include the International Centre o Insect

hysiology and Ecology, University o Nairobi, World Agroorestry

Centre, Kenya Wildlie Service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute,

nd Global Biodiversity Development Institute. The types o support

nclude product development, quality control, incubation needs,

ntrepreneurship training, agroorestry guidance and advocacy, all

which are essential to the initiatives sustainability.

Eorts to make the initiative more resilient and sustainable

the uture include: expanding capacity building and training

communities in production, processing, and business managem

broadening local and international marketing eorts; put

research into the development o additional product lines; instituting changes in governance that balance corporate efcie

as well as the enhanced participation o women and youth.

REPLICATION

Muliru has shared its project model and experiences w

communities rom Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Arica

Nigeria. Over 830 people have visited the initiative to learn


10/23

Our advice to community-based

organizations would be: seek appropriate

partnerships for both technical and financia

assistance to be able to advance; sharing

knowledge can bring change; be ready to

invest time and personal involvement in theactivities of the initiative; be patient and

persistent as achievements take time and effo

to be realized; and be open to embracing new

technology.

James Ligare, Muliru Farmers Conservation Group

1010

and about their cultivation, production and marketing techniques.

nowledge generated rom the project has been exchanged through

ectures, demonstration activities, story-telling and exchange visits.

dditionally, the initiative has been covered by both national and

nternational television and radio media stations. As a result o

his coverage, two communities are actively applying the initiative

model: The East Usambara Farmers Conservation Group based

n Maramba, Tanzania (adjacent to the East Usambara mountain

orests) and The Budongo Community Development Organizationased in Masindi, Uganda (adjacent to the Budongo orest reserve).

n the opinion o the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, knowledge

xchange amongst peer groups is one o the most eective methods

learning new skills. It provides condence, drive and motivation

o undertake new initiatives.

PARTNERS

he initiative has established a robust partnership with the ollowing

takeholders:

International Centre or Insect Physiology and Ecology - A

leading international research institute which advances insect

and arthropod-related science, biodiversity research, and

biochemistry

University o Nairobi: This is a centre or learning and scholarship

committed to the promotion o academic achievement and

excellence in research through intellectual products

World Agroorestry Centre (ICRAF): The World Agroorestry

Centre is part o the Consultative Group on International

Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centres dedicated to generating

and applying the best available knowledge to stimulate

agricultural growth, raise armers incomes, and protect the

environment.

Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI): A centre o excellencein orestry research and technology development, KEFRI

provides inormation and technologies or sustainable orest

development and allied natural resources

Kenya Wildlie Service (KWS): The Kenya Wildlie Service

undertakes conservation and management o Kenyas wildlie.

It is a state corporation established by an Act o Parliament Cap

376 and enorces related laws and regulations.

GBDI: GBDI is a non-prot institute that works to help industries

gain access to emerging markets.

he project has also benetted rom unding rom the ollowing

ources:

UNDP/Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme

The Ford Foundation

The BioVision Foundation

The MacArthur Foundation

German Development Service (DED)

PACT-Kenya/USAID

WHO Multilateral Initiative on Malaria/Research and Training in

Tropical Diseases (TDR)


11/23

FURTHER REFERENCE

Muliru Farmers Conservation Group PhotoStory (Vimeo) vimeo.com/15780379

Video on Muliru Farmers Conservation Group (Vimeo) vimeo.com/43207923

Equator Initiative

Environment and Energy Group

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Tel: +1 646 781 4023

www.equatorinitiative.org

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change

onnecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizatio

o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.

2012 by Equator Initiative

All rights reserved

Click the thumbnails below to read more case studies like this:
http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348163563.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348153212.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348161007.pdf


12/23

Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities

Kenya

MULIRU FARMERSCONSERVATION GROUP

Empowered live

Resilient nations

Empowered live

Resilient nations


13/23

UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES

Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo

or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth

their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practitione

themselves guiding the narrative.

To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser

that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succe

to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models

replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power o Local Action: Lessons rom 10 Years

the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.

Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.

EditorsEditor-in-Chie: Joseph Corcoran

Managing Editor: Oliver Hughes

Contributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding

Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe

Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,

Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu

DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis

AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, and in particular the guidance and inp

o James Ligare. All photo credits courtesy o Muliru Farmers Conservation Group. Maps courtesy o CIA World Factbook and Wikipedi

Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, Kenya. Equator Initiative Case Study Series. New Yo

NY.
http://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858


14/23

PROJECT SUMMARYMuliru Farmers Conservation Group is a community-

based organization located near Kakamega Forest in

western Kenya. The group generates income through the

commercial cultivation and secondary processing o an

indigenous medicinal plant, to produce the Naturub brand

o medicinal products.

The enterprise reduces pressure on the biodiverse Kakamega

Forest by oering an alternative to the exploitation o orest

resources, while the commercialization o the medicinal

plant has heightened local appreciation o the value o theorests biodiversity. Over hal o the project participants

are women and 40 per cent o participants rely entirely

this initiative or their income. A portion o the enterprises

revenues are invested in orest conservation and biodiversity

research.

KEY FACTS

EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2010

FOUNDED: 1997

LOCATION: Western Province, Kenya

BENEFICIARIES: 360 households

BIODIVERSITY: Kakamega Forest

3

MULIRU FARMERS CONSERVATIONGROUPKenya

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background and Context 4

Key Activities and Innovations 5

Biodiversity Impacts 7

Socioeconomic Impacts 7

Sustainability 9

Replication 9

Partners 10


15/23

4

Kakamega Forest is the last surviving rainorest in Kenya. Locatedn the countrys Western Province, it is home to a unique variety o

cosystems and diversity o ora and auna. The orest is a cornerstone

local livelihoods, income and wellbeing. The orest provides

mber, uel wood, odder, building materials, and medicinal plants.

t contains watersheds that provide surrounding communities with

resh water, and sustains what is in essence a natural resource-based

ocal economy. Like many orest ecosystems, however, Kakamega is

nder threat rom population growth, local economic pressure, and

xtractive industries. The orest is being pushed beyond its natural

mits and is steadily being degraded. Human population density

round the orest is as high as 1,200 people per square kilometer.

High levels o poverty have led the 35,000 households in adjacent

ommunities to overexploit the orest resources, with timber and

on-timber orest products being harvested in an unsustainable

manner.

Ocimum kilimandscharicum - a potent remedy

One species endemic to Kakamega Forest is Ocimum

ilimandscharicum. This indigenous medicinal plant has been used

y the local population or generations, notably or the treatment

cold, us and coughs. Ocimum kilimandscharicum leaves contain

ssential aromatic oils. The leaves were traditionally added to boiling

water to release an aroma which was useul in the treatment o

espiratory problems and ailments when inhaled by the patient.he local population also used the plant as a mosquito repellant, a

ource o nectar or bees in apiculture, as a avoring agent, and to

rotect stored grains rom pests and insect inestation.

he Muliru Farmers Conservation Group ormed in 1997 with a vision

sustainably cultivating Ocimum kilimandscharicum as a means

conserving the Kakamega Forest and oering orest-adjacent

ommunities an alternative income source. The initiative combines

raditional knowledge with modern science and technology, and

rings together a diverse partnership rural armers, research

institutes and the private sector to harness the commercial vao this medicinal plant. The organization works with local arme

develop puried extracts o Ocimum kilimandscharicum which

developed into products under the brand Naturub. The brand

been ormally registered as a medicine in Kenya and is marketed

treatment or u, cold, chest congestion, aches and pain, insect b

and muscular pain.

The organization has our primary objectives:

i. Promote the commercial cultivation o Ocim

kilimandscharicum among the resource-poor commun

living adjacent to Kakamega Forest;

ii. Create revenue or the local community by processing Ocim

kilimandscharicumplant material, and producing and marke

Naturub products;

iii. Raise awareness about the value o conserving the Kakam

Forest; and

iv. Stimulate the participation o orest-adjacent communitie

conservation activities.

Background and Context


16/23

55

Key Activities and Innovations

he Muliru Farmers Conservation Group mobilizes communities

ving adjacent to the Kakamega Forest to cultivate Ocimum

ilimandscharicum. As a high-value commercial crop, the medicinal

plant is an appealing livelihood option or the otherwise economically

marginalized local armers. Training is provided on domestication

nd processing. The plant is harvested by cutting the stems at

he base, and then plucking the leaves. Processing to extract the

ssential oil was previously undertaken on a small scale basis, mainly

t the household level. In 2005, however, Muliru built a centralized

processing acility. Farmers are supported to gather the Ocimum

ilimandscharicum leaves and then transport them to the processing

acility. At the processing acility, the plant material is weighed and

ried. Dried leaves are processed using hydro-distillation equipment,which produces essential oils. The puried essential oil is used in the

production o Naturub balms and ointments.

Production and marketing o Naturub

ince the processing acility opened, over 770 tons o community

ultivated Ocimum kilimandscharicum leaves have been processed

nd over 700 kg o essential oil have been produced. Over 400,000

nits o Naturub products have sold in both urban and rural areas

Kenya. The products have received wide acceptance in the market

nd are competitive with major international brands. Total revenue

rom the project thus ar has been over USD 70,000. Currently, over

60 rural households cultivate the plant on smallholder arms. The

creage under Ocimum kilimandscharicum cultivation has increased

by 700%, rom 2.5 hectares in 2005 to 20 hectares in 2010.

n addition to producing and marketing Naturub products, Muliru

armers Conservation Group oers workshops on biodiversity

onservation and alternative livelihood solutions based on

ustainable natural resource management. It also operates several

ndigenous tree seedling nurseries, which are used or on-arm

planting, reorestation, and agroorestry trainings.

The most noteworthy innovation o the project is a new br

o registered medicine, developed and commercialized by l

communities. Not only is all cultivation o the plant commun

driven, the processing acility is ully owned, operated

managed by local armers. In addition to improved livelihoods, l

community members have attained new knowledge in mod

science and technology, industrial processing and production,

entrepreneurship, including in sales, marketing and managemThe initiative eectively combines traditional knowledge w

modern science and technology, and is an eective model

multi-stakeholder partnership.

Organizational structure

The Muliru Farmers Conservation Group is led by a Managem

Board comprising a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, V

Secretary, Treasurer, Organizing Secretary, and our Commi


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66

Members, each o whom is elected by the groups member armers

or multiple-year terms. The board is the highest governing authority

within the management structure o the MFCG medicinal plant

nterprise, and is tasked with selecting, evaluating, and approving

ppropriate compensation or the enterprises Overall Supervisor.

he primary responsibility o the board is to protect the armers

nterests and ensure they receive a decent return on their produce.

he Overall Supervisor, in turn, oversees the day-to-day running o

he enterprise, including human resource management, planning,

nancial and physical resources management, undraising, and

roviding a link between the organizations sta and the Board.

The initiatives Field Extension Department provides initial train

to armers and links them to the Muliru enterprise. The departm

guarantees the quality o the raw materials used in processing,

ensures that armers are paid a air price or their produce. T

also assist armers in preparing arm plans and record keep

The Production Department, meanwhile, links the enterprise w

private partners in out-sourcing some o the production serv

that the enterprise cannot undertake.

Ater processing, Mulirus products are marketed by the initiati

dedicated Sales and Marketing department. Through this ofce,

organization has partnered with private marketing companie

undertake packaging design, market surveys, advertisements,

the distribution o products to dierent retailers. Through th

partnerships, MFCG has been able to engage with large Ken

retail chains such as Uchumi, Nakumatt, and Tuskys Supermarke

Finally, the group works at the local level through th

organizational units. The Farmers Cluster Representatives work

behal o small clusters o armers, representing their views du

planning meetings. The Plant Operators are responsible or the indistillation o essential oils rom the raw plant materials. Nine you

our emale and ve male were trained in essential oil distilla

using hydro-distillers. They have since acted as Trainers o Train

passing on training to others in the operation and acilitating train

o schools and colleges that visit the enterprise. Finally, the gro

Security Ofcer is responsible or maintaining and saeguarding

enterprises properties, liaising with the provincial administratio

matters o security and reporting to the overall supervisor.

Fig. 1: Muliru Farmers Conservation Group organizational structure

Management Board

Overall Supervisor

Production Department

Plant Operators

Sales & MarketingDepartment

Security Ocer

Field Extension Department

Farmers Cluster

Representative

ource: Muliru Farmers Conservation Group.


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7

Impacts

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS

The main biodiversity impact o the project has been the conservation

nd sustainable use o the Kakamega Forest, protecting its estimated

80 plant and 350 bird species. As well as improving local attitudes

o conservation o the orest, Mulirus sustainable harvesting o

Ocimum kilimandscharicum has been undertaken as part o the

devolved sustainable management o the orest under the Mwileshi

Community Forest Association.

Mwileshi Community Forest Association

Kenyas central government authority responsible or managemento the countrys orests, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is in the process o

developing participatory orest management plans or areas across

he country in close consultation rural communities. Communities

re able to partner with KFS and local county councils in the orm

o Community Forest Associations (CFAs) registered under the

ocieties Act, who can sue or be sued. CFAs enter into agreements

with KFS or management o a orest under a management plan.

Kakamega was among three orests in Kenya selected to pilot

ollaborative orest management between local communities and

he Forest Department this led to the ormation o the Mwileshi

CFA, registered in June 2009 with an initial 25 orest user groups

these have since grown to 31.) These groups include all community-

based organisations around the orest involved in conservationctivities, including the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group.

The association is predominantly involved in the management and

onservation o Kakamega Forest, which includes maintaining an

ndigenous tree nursery and active aorestation; 10,000 seedlings

were planted in September 2010 alone. They conduct their activities

ccording to the Kakamega Forest Management Plan. The association

s also involved in sensitizing communities on conservation,

monitoring the orest condition, monitoring activities carried out by

member groups, training groups in nursery management, developing

ecotourism, and assisting in orest policing, while environme

education is largely carried out by Muliru Farmers Conserva

Group in partnership with local primary and secondary sch

through the Kakamega Environmental Education Programme.

Changing attitudes to conservation

Based on surveys conducted by Muliru, o the 360 househ

participating in cultivation o Ocimum kilimandscharicum ove

percent participate in orest conservation activities. The sur

broken down by activity, nds: 49 percent promote conserva

awareness among other community members; 59 percent h

reduced their collection o rewood, odder and timber; 37 perhave deterred other community members rom misusing o

resources; 5 percent have reported poaching and illegal o

activities to local authorities.

The harvesting o Ocimum kilimandscharicum is environmen

riendly. Plants are able to regenerate naturally and the commu

has a source o income that does not damage or degrade

orest. In addition to reducing local dependence on unsustain

extractive activities, the initiative has been successul at improv

local awareness about the threats to Kakamega Forest and

importance o conserving biodiversity. Naturub products

a distinctive message on their packaging regarding biodive

conservation.

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS

Muliru activities cover ve districts in the vicinity o the Kakam

Forest, with a total participating population o roughly 2

community members, or 360 households. This is an economic

marginalized community with ew livelihood options. O

40 percent live below the poverty line and over 30 percen

households own less than 0.4 hectares o land, an important stat

in an economy where land is tantamount to earning capacity.


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The Muliru Farmers Conservation Group has positively altered

he local economy, providing greater employment and income-

generation opportunities. Eight community members are

employed on a ull time basis to operate the initiative. Day-to-day

management needs include eld supervision, quality control, and

oil distillation. More importantly, the on-arm cultivation oOcimum

kilimandsharicum has created nearly 900 jobs or smallholder

armers. To date, over 400,000 units o Naturub have been sold. The

product is available in major national store chains such as Uchumi,Tuskys Mattresses, and Eastmatt. It is also available in other outlets

n Kenya, such as shops and chemists. Participating community

members receive a share o revenues rom Naturub products three

imes a year, and have increased their income by an average o 300

percent since the initiative began.

Spillover benefts

There have also been a number o secondary benets o Mulirus

work. Based on surveys conducted by the organization, 31 percent

o participating community members have used income generated

rom the project to start small businesses that provide an additional

nd needed source o income. Additionally, 83.5 percent use their

ncome or ood security needs; 57 percent to cover school ees;

26 percent to purchase clothing; 17.5 percent to buy livest

(an additional source o income); and 7.65 percent have inve

in housing renovations. Hands-on training and workshops

provided by private sector and relevant NGO partners, which

also given community members new and marketable skills.

The initiative has equally been a source o commu

empowerment. Smallholder armers are directly involved in

decision-making and strategic direction o the organizationaddition to greater access to nance, inormation on sustain

arming, and training opportunities, the initiative has provide

orum or social networking among community groups, ther

improving community cohesion, trust and social capital a

which are essential ingredients o the collective action neede

address common challenges.

The initiative works to ensure gender equality in all o its activ

and has aimed to ensure that women receive equal acces

productive resources and equal engagement in marketing

enterprise development. Women orm the majority o participa

community members and have been elected into leader

positions to govern the group.

8


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9

Sustainability and Replication

SUSTAINABILITY

Muliru has established a 10-year plan or the distribution o net

rots rom the sale o Naturub products which will be allocated

s ollows: 10 percent or conservation activities around Kakamega

orest; 10 percent or a community development und, to be used or

rojects in and around Kakamega Forest; 60 percent or distribution

o participating members o the Muliru Farmers Conservation

Group; and 20 percent or a conservation research und or urther

iversication o other natural products.

According to projections made by Muliru, not only is the

rganization nancially sustainable, but it has signicant room orrowth. Naturub is the rst registered natural medicine by the

harmacy and Poisons Board o Kenya. As a pioneer in this space,

he organization has a competitive edge. Market intelligence has

stablished the total market or Naturub to be Kshs. 100 million

er annum. The market share has a geographic split o 80 percent

ural and 20 percent urban. Currently, retail chains contribute only

percent o the balm and ointment markets. The rural population

rovides the biggest potential growth demographic, and currently

ontributes 70 percent o the market.

ustainability has also depended on partnerships and outsourcing

ertain services beyond the local economy. Muliru has partnered

with advertising agencies or sales and marketing activities,igh-technology companies or manuacturing needs, and other

rivate sector companies that specialize in quality control. Other

mportant partnerships include the International Centre o Insect

hysiology and Ecology, University o Nairobi, World Agroorestry

Centre, Kenya Wildlie Service, Kenya Forestry Research Institute,

nd Global Biodiversity Development Institute. The types o support

nclude product development, quality control, incubation needs,

ntrepreneurship training, agroorestry guidance and advocacy, all

which are essential to the initiatives sustainability.

Eorts to make the initiative more resilient and sustainable

the uture include: expanding capacity building and training

communities in production, processing, and business managem

broadening local and international marketing eorts; put

research into the development o additional product lines; instituting changes in governance that balance corporate efcie

as well as the enhanced participation o women and youth.

REPLICATION

Muliru has shared its project model and experiences w

communities rom Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Arica

Nigeria. Over 830 people have visited the initiative to learn


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Our advice to community-based

organizations would be: seek appropriate

partnerships for both technical and financia

assistance to be able to advance; sharing

knowledge can bring change; be ready to

invest time and personal involvement in theactivities of the initiative; be patient and

persistent as achievements take time and effo

to be realized; and be open to embracing ne

technology.

James Ligare, Muliru Farmers Conservation Group

1010

and about their cultivation, production and marketing techniques.

nowledge generated rom the project has been exchanged through

ctures, demonstration activities, story-telling and exchange visits.

dditionally, the initiative has been covered by both national and

ternational television and radio media stations. As a result o

his coverage, two communities are actively applying the initiative

model: The East Usambara Farmers Conservation Group based

Maramba, Tanzania (adjacent to the East Usambara mountain

orests) and The Budongo Community Development Organizationased in Masindi, Uganda (adjacent to the Budongo orest reserve).

the opinion o the Muliru Farmers Conservation Group, knowledge

xchange amongst peer groups is one o the most eective methods

learning new skills. It provides condence, drive and motivation

o undertake new initiatives.

ARTNERS

he initiative has established a robust partnership with the ollowing

akeholders:

International Centre or Insect Physiology and Ecology - A

leading international research institute which advances insect

and arthropod-related science, biodiversity research, and

biochemistry

University o Nairobi: This is a centre or learning and scholarship

committed to the promotion o academic achievement and

excellence in research through intellectual products

World Agroorestry Centre (ICRAF): The World Agroorestry

Centre is part o the Consultative Group on International

Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centres dedicated to generating

and applying the best available knowledge to stimulate

agricultural growth, raise armers incomes, and protect the

environment.

Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI): A centre o excellencein orestry research and technology development, KEFRI

provides inormation and technologies or sustainable orest

development and allied natural resources

Kenya Wildlie Service (KWS): The Kenya Wildlie Service

undertakes conservation and management o Kenyas wildlie.

It is a state corporation established by an Act o Parliament Cap

376 and enorces related laws and regulations.

GBDI: GBDI is a non-prot institute that works to help industries

gain access to emerging markets.

he project has also benetted rom unding rom the ollowing

ources:

UNDP/Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme

The Ford Foundation

The BioVision Foundation

The MacArthur Foundation

German Development Service (DED)

PACT-Kenya/USAID

WHO Multilateral Initiative on Malaria/Research and Training in

Tropical Diseases (TDR)


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FURTHER REFERENCE

Muliru Farmers Conservation Group PhotoStory (Vimeo) vimeo.com/15780379

Video on Muliru Farmers Conservation Group (Vimeo) vimeo.com/43207923

Equator Initiative

Environment and Energy Group

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Tel: +1 646 781 4023

www.equatorinitiative.org

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change and c

necting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizatio

o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.

2012 by Equator Initiative

All rights reserved
http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348163563.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348153212.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348161007.pdf

case studies undp: muliru farmers conservation group, kenya

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