Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration

A review of World Vision’s Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) project in East Rwanda, run in partnership with the World Agroforesty Centre (ICRAF), highlights growing support and increasing yields.

Since 2014, the number of FMNR adopters in East Rwanda has risen from 7 500 to 13 450, with much of that increase thanks to 139 community members who spread the word about the land regeneration techniques as FMNR Extension Agents.

The area being managed with FMNR practices increased from 49.5 hectares in 2014 to 79 hectares by mid-2015.

About 600,000 seedlings have been cultivated in tree nurseries; the majority have been planted while 50,000 have been sold, and 100,000 could not be planted due to drought.

Communities are earning money through the grafting of mango and avocado seedlings, with a 77 per cent grafting success rate. About 15 per cent of grafted fruit trees are sold and the remainder is planted by the community.

The project distributed 120 pigs to community members, and numbers have since increased by 50 per cent, allowing for animals to be distributed to more FMNR adopters.

Through Farmer Field Schools the project is teaching farmers about Natural Farming, erosion control and composting. Farmers have watched yields double as a result of these newly implemented practices.

The cultivation of land through FMNR techniques has also resulted in a boost for local law and order.

In Gashora Area Development Program (ADP) bushy thickets had been providing hiding places for thieves and young people who were getting into mischief.

After the community began practising FMNR on that land, thieves and youth stopped gathering in the area, which has been cleared of shrubby undergrowth and is a useful grazing site.