Over-farming, unpredictable rainfalls caused by the changing climate and the excessive cutting down of trees has left soils depleted. Planting trees on farmed land has numerous benefits from conserving the soil itself, generating feed for animals and providing nutrients and medicine for community members.
A Community Based Approach
Dophia Agroforestry is a community-based organisation that works with 200 partner farmers in Kenya to plant high-value, multipurpose trees to increase farm productivity and improve livelihoods. Dophia provides produce seedlings and distributes them directly with small-scale farmers to build capacity in agroforestry as a way of improving the quality of soils and crop productivity.
Dophia is led by Phenny Omondi, an online Mastercard Foundation Scholar and current master’s student in International Development at the University of Edinburgh. Dophia received support from the Derek and Maureen Moss Student Climate Innovation Grants.
Reforesting Farms and Slopes
Since Dophia began working with farmers in January 2020, 20 acres of farms on slopes have been reforested using eucalyptus, grevillea, lucerne and fruit trees and partner farmers have realised the economic value of these species. With approximately 200 farmers now actively practising agroforestry each planting season, an increase in crop yields of over 50% has been seen.
As of September 2022, 30,000 moringa, lucerne, grevillea and fruit trees have been planted meaning farming families have benefited through improved soil health, community nutrition and better crop yields.
As Dophia’s founder, Phenny’s journey as an online student, entrepreneur, and Mastercard Foundation Scholar highlights the opportunities that the University of Edinburgh provides to those working at the front lines of the climate emergency.
Name: Phenny Adhiambo Omondi
Email: pomondi@earth.ac.cr
Website: https://mastercardfdn.org/reimagining-my-realities/
