Church on mission to plant millions of fruit trees
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints officials Beverly Opwora (centre) and Denis Mukasa (right) during the 2024 Trees for Food launch in Kikuyu in November 2024.
What you need to know:
- Challenges such as high demand for seedlings and logistical constraints were identified, as were lessons learned.
- By integrating trees into agriculture, the project is improving farmers' livelihoods through diversified income streams and increased crop yields.
While many people plant trees for shade or charcoal, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has embarked on an ambitious programme. The church is in a race to plant avocado, mango, lemon, orange, banana and other fruit trees.
It has already covered 30 counties, providing more than 600,000 seedlings to target groups. The remaining counties will benefit next year.
Since its launch in 2021, 10,000 groups have benefited from the Trees for Food programme.
In a report covering the 2021/24 period, the church says its aim is to ensure that the trees planted add value to communities through income, environmental conservation and improved livelihoods.
“Beyond the immediate benefits, the programme contributes to a world that is environmentally sustainable, economically viable and – most crucially – a world where trees are a source of sustenance and nutrition,” it says.
“It is not just about planting trees. It is about cultivating hope for a sustainable and nourished tomorrow, forging a path towards a future where communities thrive in harmony with the environment. The Trees for Food programme is a beacon of positivity, illustrating how collective efforts can create lasting change in the pursuit of a better and more resilient world.”
Benefits include improved nutrition, income generation, environmental conservation and job creation.
Challenges such as high demand for seedlings and logistical constraints were identified, as were lessons learned.
“In a world grappling with complex challenges like food insecurity, the degradation of the environment and climate change, sustainable and innovative solutions are important. The intersection of ecology and agriculture provides a promising avenue for addressing these issues,” the report adds.
According to the church, the project seamlessly aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2022 national initiative to plant five billion trees in 10 years.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints worked closely with the office of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki when he was Cabinet Secretary for Interior. Prof Kindiki's office says it looks forward to further engagement as government agencies race against time to meet President William Ruto's climate change target.
By integrating trees into agriculture, the project is improving farmers' livelihoods through diversified income streams and increased crop yields.
“It contributes to improved food security and the health of the ecosystem. The integration of sustainable agriculture aligns with Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), emphasising the importance of efficient resource utilisation, which is key to sustaining the livelihoods of current and future generations,” the report says.
Project Humanitarian Manager Denis Mukasa says the planting of fruit trees has had an impact on the environment by providing clean air.
In 2021, the church partnered with the National Assembly to plant 162,800 fruit trees in Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Laikipia, Nyandarua, Nakuru, Kericho, Uasin Gishu, Nyeri, Murang'a, Kiambu, Makueni, Taita Taveta and Kwale counties.
“The project has provided sustenance and become an avenue for generating income, empowering individuals to meet essential needs like school fees and household expenses,” the report says.
It quotes a beneficiary in Kajiado as saying: “Farmers usually take the fruits to the market. They sell and the money helps in paying school fees and buying food.”
According to Thierry Mutombo, the church's president of the Africa Central Area, the project has provided employment for many and boosted the local economy.
“Participants have made maximum use of land efficiency and diversified outputs,” Mutombo says.
He adds that the trees are a valuable source of animal feed, contributing to livestock well-being and supporting integrated farming.
This was highlighted by one of the farmers when the trees were pruned.
He said that Trees for Food has helped fight malnutrition by ensuring that children have access to a consistent source of food, thus improving academic performance and school attendance.
“I encourage the church to bring the fruit trees to schools. Children walk long distances to school. One avocado fruit can relieve hunger. Several children can share a pawpaw fruit,” said the beneficiary from Kwale.
Mutombo says the project has helped nomadic families find stability by addressing the need for constant movement.
Families can rely on the trees for food while the men look after the livestock, ending the problems associated with migration.
The biggest challenge is meeting the growing demand for fruit tree seedlings.
“One seedling usually costs around Sh150, but we are giving them out for free. This has made demand rise exponentially,” Mutombo says.
“It has been reported in every county we have been to.”
