Smallholder timber and firewood marketing in the coffee and cotton/tobacco zones of eastern Mount Kenya

Recent analysis on tree management by farmers has moved away from the needs –based and conservation approaches that dominated much of the earlier work, and instead examines tree management in terms of farmer livelihood strategies and the dynamics of rural change. Trees in farming systems are most usefully seen in the context of farm household livelihood decision making and strategies. In Kenya, there is a tradition of agroforestry in the country, with the planting and retention of a variety of multi-purpose trees on farms. As long ago as 1994 the Kenya Forest Masterplan advised: closer linkages between industry and farm tree growers that could provide the rural population with increased earnings from sales of wood and other industrial raw material and from the various steps in tree product harvesting, transport and processing. Kenya is not alone in this situation, and with the decline in commodity prices of farmers principle cash crops e.g. coffee, farmers are increasingly viewing tress, wood products and timber as a viable alternative cash generating farm enterprise. This paper presents the results of two surveys designed to better understand the dynamics of timber harvesting and marketing at farm level conducted in the area of Eastern Mount Kenya. A household survey combined rural household sampling and interview techniques, farm walks, focus groups and key informant interviews to ascertain the decision making of landowners (householders/farmers). Concurrently on the same farms, a biomass survey was conducted to gain quantitative data on: stems, volumes, principle use, planting niches, diameter and age classes. 42.5% of farmers surveyed engaged in commercial marketing of tree products. Of those farmers engaged in selling trees, the numbers of trees (and concomitant volume calculations) sold from farms were found to be twice as many as those used for domestic purposes. There are however serious knowledge gaps towards farmers participating equitably in the timber and firewood markets. Often external actors with better market networks gather the greater benefits from trees on farms. Conclusions indicate that on-farm timber has the potential to contribute to the regional wood industry and small-holders livelihoods in the area surveyed.

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